Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease occurs when the cushion in your spine begins to wear away. The condition is most common in older adults. After age 40, most people experience some spinal degeneration.

Your spinal discs act as a cushion to absorb shock between the vertebrae during movement. As a result of aging or injury, sometimes the spinal disc loses its cushioning effect which may result in a loss of disc height. This loss of disc height reduces the distance between the vertebral bodies and may cause irritation or pinching of the nerves. The spinal disc may also bulge or herniate, where the disc material contained within the intervertebral disc is pushed into the spinal canal. This may cause inflammation and pressure on the local nerve.

The loss of disc height and / or bulge of the disc may result in the following symptoms.

• • Pain or discomfort in the neck or back
  • Tingling or loss of feeling in arms or legs
  • Shooting pain or discomfort in one or both legs
  • Discomfort that worsens upon standing or activity

When the cushions (discs) wear away, the bones can start to rub together. This contact can cause pain and other problems, such as:

• • Adult scoliosis, where the spine curves
  • A herniated disc, also called a bulged, slipped, or ruptured disc
  • Spinal stenosis, when the spaces around your spine narrow
  • Spondylolisthesis, when vertebrae move in and out of place (slip forward, backward, or sideways)