Degenerative Disc Disease, or DDD, is actually not a disease, it is a condition. The condition is typically age-related, with onset often occurring in mid and later stages of life.

However, DDD is not infrequently found in younger people as well. Fundamentally, the condition is caused by the deterioration of the spongy, pliant pillows that rest between spinal vertebrae.


This deterioration can occur slowly over time, through heavy use of the back, or through the effects of certain lifestyle choices. Smoking for example will lead to dehydration of the discs, causing them to flatten, and thus lose the ability to perform their function.

The function of the spinal disc is to help support the loads bore by the spine, to serve as shock absorbers to the spine and to support the free motion of the spine.

When DDD is present, one or more disc is not performing this function, and as a result a number of conditions can form which result in immobility, pain and/or numbness. The pain and numbness is generally experienced in the neck and lower back, but referred pain and numbness can be found in the legs as well.

How and Why DDD Progresses

Some people are born with genetic predispositions to developing DDD, and for many of these people, onset can occur early in life, as early as the late teens and early twenties. But how the back is used (or misused) most frequently is the precipitating cause of the Disc Degeneration. Years of straining, heavy lifting, repetitive shock absorption, can simply wear out the disc, leaving it to go through one or more stages of decline.
This decline can include one or more of the following: bulging of the disc, hernia in the disc or dehydration of the disc.

When the disc experiences any of these conditions, it thins and the space between vertebrae decreases. Also adjacent areas of the spines are affected, which sets in motion other issue that can cause pain and numbness.

For example, the facet joints, which are responsible for mobility in the spine, begin to lose their ability to do their job effectively, as the protective cartilage around them wears. This wearing of the cartilage around the facet joint leads to an overly mobile joint, which can in turn lead to bone spurs, pinched nerves and spinal stenosis (which is a narrowing of the channel).

Though the processes associated with DDD tend progress slowly, Degenerative Disc Disease symptoms can manifest over a very short time, in the form of acute pain or loss of mobility. Back pain can be caused by a number of factors, but when it is associated with DDD, it is generally most experienced with bending, lifting or twisting, or when sitting in one position for long periods of time. Another common characteristic of DDD pain is that subsides with frequent position changes, when lying down or when walking and running.

Seeking Help for DDD

If pain is acute, is disabling or worsens, you should seek medical attention. Those with DDD often suffer acute and painful loss of mobility when standing or getting out of bed in the morning, or after twisting. Frequently, those with DDDsuffer acute loss of mobility and pain when standing, or twisting (such as when getting out of a car), or as they get out of bed in the morning.

Medical attention should be sought if pain worsens or becomes disabling. Frequently, with acute episodes of DDD, patients cannot stand upright or walk. Other signs that medical attention is required include: weakness, numbness, pain or tingling in the legs and loss of bladder or bowel control.
Diagnosis of DDD can be difficult, given its slow progression. Diagnosis of the conditions associated with DDD can be made easily, though these tests are not designed to determine the underlying cause of the DDD. Still, they can help identify the issue. Typically doctors will start an exam with questions about the nature of the pain, how it arose, how long it has been present, what if anything cause it to get better. They will then often feel the spine for alignment issues or nearby muscle spasms, and test your mobility.

After that, X-rays can be ordered that will determine the health of the spine. Simple X-rays can spot issues with stenosis, bone spurs, spinal alignment, scoliosis, fracture and osteoarthritis. X-rays can also determine range of motion. Doctors sometimes also order CT scans or MRIs, which help them to see whether is bulging, a hernia or other issues with spinal tissue.

Where DDD damage is suspected or determined, an electromyography (EMG) which measures nerve response, can also be ordered. Other diagnostics tools used in the diagnosis of DDD can include bone scans, discography, and myelogram. Exercises to Reduce Symptoms
Degenerative Disc Disease exercises can help reduce pain and increase mobility and are often suggested by doctors treating patients with DDD. There are many exercised that will help increase mobility and reduce the pain associated with DDD. While many patient’s can find them difficult to warm up to (given that they are in pain), when approached slowly and steadily, they have been found to be very effective.

When undertaking exercises for the condition, bear in mind that you want to go slow, always make sure your body is well supported, and that you want to focus on strengthening muscles that can help share the load with your spine (these would include the stomach, leg and buttocks muscles). Depending on your condition, you might also receive a recommendation to do back strengthening exercises, but sometimes these are held for when muscle spasms have subsided.

Overall, keep in mind that to seek and follow the advice of your health care practitioner

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