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  1. Degenerative disc disease
    Degenerative disc diseaseMedical condition
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  2. Degenerative disc disease - Overview

    Verified Expert
    Also known as: DDD, degeneration of the intervertebral disc
    A condition where one or more discs in the spine deteriorates due to age, which results in back or neck pain.
    How common is condition?
    Common (More than 200,000 cases per year in US)
    Is condition treatable?
    Treatments can help manage condition, no known cure
    Does diagnosis require lab test or imaging?
    Requires lab test or imaging
    Time taken for recovery
    Can last several years or be lifelong
    Condition Highlight
    Common for ages 60 and older
    See more

    Causes

    Verified Expert

    DDD is an age-related condition and mainly caused by the wear and tear of spinal discs.

    • Occurs due to drying out of the discs over time making the discs lose their support and function
    • DDD can also be caused by an injury or overuse due to repetitive activities or sports
    • May be due to bone spur formation
    • Herniated disc can also cause DDD and accompanying symptoms

    Risk factors include

    • Family history of musculoskeletal disorders
    • Strain on lumbar discs due to wrong sitting posture for a prolonged period
    • Obesity
    • Smoking

    See more

    Symptoms

    Verified Expert
    Contact your provider if experiencing new, severe, or persistent symptoms.

    Pain in the neck or back is the most common symptom. While the specific symptom depend on the position of the weak disc, which may include:

    • Pain in the legs, thighs and buttocks, lower back, neck
    • Severe pain when sitting and may feel better with walking
    • Worsens with bending or twisting
    • Occasional pain, which may last for few days to several months

    See more
    What is degenerative disc disease?
    Degenerative Disc Disease is a condition characterized by the gradual deterioration of the discs that act as cushions between the vertebrae in the spine. To comprehend the stages of DDD, it’s essential to differentiate between healthy, normal discs and those affected by degeneration. What causes degenerative disc disease?
    spine.md

    Treatment

    Verified Expert

    Treatment includes exercise, medication, physical therapy, pain-relieving medication, and surgery.

    Medication

    Analgesics: Used to manage pain.

    Ibuprofen . Acetaminophen

    See more
    degenerative disc disease_en
    Microsoft Start Health

    Diagnosis

    Verified Expert
    One or more of these tests may be recommended by your medical provider.
    Diagnosis involves physical examination, evaluation of symptoms and taking health history, imaging studies.

    Common tests & procedures

    Physical examination: This is done to check for the physical changes associated with DDD

    Imaging tests: Tests like X-ray, MRI can help in detection of DDD, evaluation of the extent of damage and in ruling out other causes of pain.

    See more
    Source: Focus Medica. For informational purposes only. Consult a medical professional for advice. | Disclaimer: Opinions are from external health professionals and should not be considered as Microsoft's opinion or a substitute for professional help. Consult a health professional for medical advice.
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    Table of Contents
    Overview
    Causes
    Symptoms
    What is degenerative disc disease?
    Treatment
    Health guide
    Diagnosis
     

  1. What is severe degenerative disc disease?

    Answered by verified global health professionals
    Dr. Mayank SaxenaDoctor of Medicine (MBBS) · 1 years of exp

    Severe degenerative disc disease is a condition in which the intervertebral discs, which cushion the vertebrae in the spine, have become severely damaged and worn down. This can cause the vertebrae to rub against each other, leading to pain, inflammation, and stiffness.

    See all questions on Degenerative Disc Disease

    Disclaimer: Opinions are from external health professionals and should not be considered as Microsoft's opinion or a substitute for professional help. Consult a health professional for medical advice.
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  2. Degenerative disc disease is a medical condition in which there are anatomic changes and a loss of function of varying degrees of one or more intervertebral discs of the spine of sufficient magnitude as to cause symptoms1. Some of the most common symptoms of DDD include pain that primarily affects the lower back2. DDD is primarily caused by wear and tear of spinal discs2. Age is one of the greatest risk factors for DDD2. An MRI can help detect DDD2. DDD treatments may include one or more of the following options2:
    • Exercise for DDD
    • Medications
    • Physical therapy
    • Surgery
    Learn more:

    Degenerative disc disease is a medical condition in which there are anatomic changes and a loss of function of varying degrees of one or more intervertebral discs of the spine of sufficient magnitude as to cause symptoms. The root cause is thought to be loss of soluble proteins within the fluid contained in the disc with resultant reduction of the oncotic pressure, which in turn causes loss of fluid volume. Normal downward...

    Degenerative disc disease - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degenerative_disc_disease

    Everything You Should Know About Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)

    • Symptoms Some of the most common symptoms of DDD include pain that: primarily affects the lower back ...

    Degenerative Disc Disease: Symptoms, Tr…

    www.healthline.com/health/degenerative-disc-dise…
  3. People also ask
    How does degenerative disk disease affect the spine?
    As degenerative disk disease begins, the spinal disks start to lose fluidity. They become dehydrated and are not as rubbery or soft. This leads to the disks shrinking and losing height. Often, the disks that are low in the spine degenerate first. As degeneration progresses further, the disks dry out even more and may begin pushing on nerves.

    Mayo Clinic Q and A: What is degenerative disk disease?

    newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org
    Do you have degenerative disc disease?
    Nearly everyone's spinal discs show signs of wear as they age. Not everyone, however, will have degenerative disc disease. Not actually a disease, this is a condition in which a damaged disc causes pain. A wide range of symptoms and severity is associated with this condition.

    Degenerative Disc Disease - Cedars-Sinai

    cedars-sinai.org
    What is degenerative disc disease?
    Degenerative Disc Disease is a condition characterized by the gradual deterioration of the discs that act as cushions between the vertebrae in the spine. To comprehend the stages of DDD, it’s essential to differentiate between healthy, normal discs and those affected by degeneration. What causes degenerative disc disease?

    4 Stages of Degenerative Disc Disease - Spine MD - Spine Surgery

    spine.md
    What causes degenerative disk disease?
    Degenerative disk disease is most common in older adults. Some factors increase your risk of developing degenerative disk disease, including: Acute injuries, such as falling. Obesity. Biological sex, with women being more likely to experience symptoms. Smoking. Working a physically demanding job.

    Degenerative Disk Disease: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment - Cleveland …

    my.clevelandclinic.org
    What is degenerative disc disease (DDD)?
    Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) is a common spinal condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Understanding the progression of DDD through its various stages is crucial for effective management and treatment. Dr.

    4 Stages of Degenerative Disc Disease - Spine MD - Spine Surgery

    spine.md
    How does age affect degenerative disk disease?
    Age and time increase the odds of developing degenerative disk disease. Women are more likely than men to develop degenerative disk disease. Carrying excess body weight increases your risk, as well as spine strain due to manual labor, poor posture or heavy lifting. Your symptoms and pain depend on the progression of your disease.

    Mayo Clinic Q and A: What is degenerative disk disease?

    newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org
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  4. Cleveland Clinic
    https://my.clevelandclinic.org › health › diseases

    Degenerative Disk Disease: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

  5. WebMD
    https://www.webmd.com › back-pain › degenerative-disk...

    Degenerative Disk Disease: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, …

    Tags:
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    Back Pain
    Degenerative Disk Disease
  6. Johns Hopkins Medicine
    https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org › healt…

    Degenerative Disc Disease - Johns Hopkins Medicine

    Learn about the causes, symptoms and treatment of degenerative disc disease, a form of arthritis that affects the spine joints. Find out how to prevent and manage the pain and nerve damage caused by this condition.

    Other articles from hopkinsmedicine.org
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    Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
  7. Spine.MD
    https://www.spine.md › insights › stages …

    4 Stages of Degenerative Disc Disease - Spine MD

    Nov 28, 2023 · Learn about the four stages of degenerative disc disease, a condition that affects the spinal discs and causes back pain and nerve compression. Find out the risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment options, …

    Tags:
    Degenerative disc disease
    Ddd
  8. National Center for Biotechnology Information
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov › books

    Lumbar Degenerative Disk Disease - StatPearls - NCBI …

    Aug 4, 2023 · Describe the pathophysiology of lumbar degenerative disc disease. Outline the components of proper evaluation and assessment of a patient presenting with lumbar degenerative disc disease, including any …

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    Herniated Discs
    Treatment of Degenerative Disc
    Degenerative Disc Disease L5 S1
  9. Mayo Clinic News Network
    https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org › dis…

    Mayo Clinic Q and A: What is degenerative disk disease?

    Jan 26, 2023 · Degenerative disk disease is a condition that affects the fluid-filled cushions between the bones in your spine. It can cause back pain, nerve compression and disk herniation. Learn about the anatomy, progression …

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    Back Pain
    Degenerative Disk Disease Mayo Clinic
    Mayo Clinic Q and A
  10. Healthline
    https://www.healthline.com › health › de…

    Degenerative Disc Disease: Symptoms, Treatment, and …

    Aug 14, 2018 · DDD is a condition where spinal discs lose their strength and cause pain and stiffness. Learn about the causes, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment options for DDD, including exercises and surgery.

    Tags:
    Back Pain
    Herniated Discs
    Cause of Degenerative Disc
    Ddd Lumbar
  11. Arthritis Foundation
    https://www.arthritis.org › diseases › de…

    Degenerative Disc Disease - Arthritis Foundation

    Learn about the causes, symptoms and treatments of degenerative disc disease, a condition that affects the discs between the vertebrae in the back and neck. Find out how to prevent and manage this common cause of back pain …

    Tags:
    Degenerative Disc Disease
    Back Pain
    Herniated Discs
  12. Spine-health
    https://www.spine-health.com › condition…

    What Is Degenerative Disc Disease? - Spine-health

    Degenerative disc disease is a condition of spinal disc wear-and-tear that causes back or neck pain, often with intermittent episodes of more severe pain. Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for this …

    Tags:
    Degenerative disc disease
    Back Pain
    Long Island Brain & Spine
  13. Cedars-Sinai
    https://www.cedars-sinai.org › health-libr…

    Degenerative Disc Disease - Cedars-Sinai

    Learn about the causes, symptoms and treatment options for degenerative disc disease, a condition in which a damaged disc causes pain. Find out how to prevent and manage this condition with tips and resources from Cedars-Sinai.

    Tags:
    Degenerative Disc Disease
    Back Pain
    Herniated Discs