What happens to aging discs
Discs gradually lose water content and height, the outer ring can develop small tears, and the joints behind the disc take on more load and develop arthritis. These changes can cause pain directly from the disc, narrow the space for nerves, or allow abnormal motion between vertebrae.
Symptoms
- Chronic, aching low back or neck pain, often worse with sitting, bending or lifting
- Flare-ups of more intense pain lasting days to weeks
- Pain radiating to the buttocks or shoulders
- Arm or leg symptoms when degeneration leads to nerve compression
Treatment
The foundation of treatment is nonsurgical care: a physical therapy program focused on core strength and endurance, weight management, staying active, and medication for flare-ups. Facet and epidural injections can help identify and treat specific pain sources.
Surgery is considered for a limited group of patients, such as those with nerve compression, instability or spondylolisthesis, or severe single-level disease with disabling pain that hasn't improved after extensive conservative care. In these cases, a spinal fusion, often performed with minimally invasive techniques, can stabilize the painful segment.
Common questions
Is degenerative disc disease a disability?
For most people it's a manageable condition. Severe cases with nerve compression may limit work. Disability determinations depend on functional limitations and are made by insurers or agencies, not by imaging findings alone.
Can degenerative discs be reversed?
Disc degeneration can't be reversed, but symptoms can be greatly improved. Many people with significant changes on MRI have little or no pain.