Degenerative Disc Disease - DDD

Most people’s discs degenerate over a lifetime, but in some, this aging process can become chronically painful, severely interfering with their quality of life.

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Degeneration of the intervertebral disc, which is often called degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the spine, is a common disorder of the lower spine. Disc degeneration can lead to disorders such as spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal that houses the spinal cord and nerve roots; can be lumbar or cervical), spondylolisthesis (forward slippage of the disc and vertebra), and retrolisthesis (backward slippage of the disc and vertebra).

Actually, DDD is not a disease but, rather, a degenerative condition that can be painful and can greatly affect the victim's quality of life. Disc degeneration is a normal part of aging and is generally not a problem by itself. However, when bone spurs grow adjacent to the discs, they can pinch or put pressure on the nearby nerve roots or spinal canal, and pain can occur.