An unfortunate name. It is not really a disease, and calling it one has caused a great deal of unnecessary fear.
In more detail
- The term describes the normal age-related changes in discs — drying out, losing height, developing fissures and bone spurs at the margins.
- It is not progressive in the way the word ‘degenerative’ implies to most people, and it is not a disease in the sense of something that will spread or take over.
- Many clinicians now prefer ‘age-related disc change’ precisely because the older term frightens patients into inactivity, which makes outcomes worse.
What it means for you
Being told you have degenerative disc disease at forty is roughly equivalent to being told you have grey hair. It matters only where a specific level is producing specific symptoms, and it is treated on that basis.
Remember the general rule. Findings like this one are common in people with no pain at all, and become steadily more common with age. A finding on a report is not a diagnosis until someone has matched it to your symptoms and your examination. See understanding your MRI report.
Bring your scan and report in and we will go through it with you. Call (314) 310-5577 or request an appointment.
Common questions
Will it keep getting worse until I cannot walk?
No. This is the fear the name creates and it is not what happens. Symptoms typically fluctuate and often improve.
Should I stop exercising?
The opposite. Inactivity is the thing that reliably makes this worse.
Hurt in an accident? Start here.
You do not need a lawyer, a police report or a referral to be seen. Bring your symptoms and we will work out the rest.
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Same-day appointments are often available for new accident and injury patients.