Degenerative disc disease refers to age-related wear of the discs between the spinal bones, which can contribute to pain or stiffness.
Symptoms may include ongoing neck or back pain, stiffness, pain that worsens with sitting, bending, lifting, or twisting, and sometimes pain or numbness into an arm or leg.
Imaging helps when symptoms persist, when nerve involvement is suspected, or when doctors need to distinguish disc-related wear from another spinal problem.
X-rays and MRI help show disc height loss, dehydration, bulging, and any associated nerve compression.
Treatment often includes physiotherapy, pain relief, posture changes, injections, and occasionally surgery.
This entry explains the condition. The next step is having a radiologist interpret your specific scan, not a general definition.
