Degenerative Disk Disease

What is degenerative disc disease?

Degenerative Disc Disease is not really a disease but a term used to describe the normal changes in your spinal discs as you age. Spinal discs are soft, compressible discs that separate the interlocking bones vertebrae that make up the spine. The discs act as shock absorbers for the spine, allowing it to flex, bend, and twist.

Degenerative disc disease can take place throughout the spine, but it most often occurs in the discs in the lower back (lumbar region) and the neck (cervical region).