Despite its name, degenerative disc disease isn’t truly a disease — it’s the normal wear of the intervertebral discs over time. As discs lose hydration and height, some people develop pain and stiffness, while many have no symptoms at all.
Symptoms
- Low back or neck pain that worsens with sitting, bending, or lifting
- Pain that flares with activity and eases with rest or changing position
- Occasional radiating symptoms if a disc also bulges or herniates
| A scan finding is not a diagnosis Disc degeneration appears on the MRIs of most pain-free adults over 40. We treat your symptoms and function — not the picture alone. |
How We Diagnose It
We start with your history and exam, and use imaging selectively. When pain is well-localized, diagnostic injections can help confirm whether a specific disc is the source before considering any procedure.
| Ready to stop the pain? Most patients are seen within the same week — most insurance accepted. Call (516) 743-9450 |
Treatment Options
Non-surgical care (first-line)
Core strengthening, physical therapy, posture and activity changes, and anti-inflammatory measures resolve most symptoms. Image-guided injections can calm flare-ups.
Disc replacement
For the right candidate, artificial disc replacement treats the painful level while preserving motion — an alternative to fusion in select cases.
Spinal fusion
When a single level is clearly the pain generator and conservative care has failed, a spinal fusion stabilizes that segment. Many fusions today are performed minimally invasively.
CLINICAL REFERENCES
- NASS. Degenerative Disc Disease. 2024.
- AAOS. Disc Degeneration and Low Back Pain. orthoinfo.org. 2025.
Common Questions
Is degenerative disc disease serious?
Usually not. It’s a normal age-related change that is often painless. When it does cause pain, most people improve without surgery.
What is the best treatment for degenerative disc disease?
First-line care is non-surgical — physical therapy, core strengthening, activity changes, and injections. Surgery is reserved for disabling, well-localized pain that fails conservative care.
Disc replacement or fusion — which is better?
It depends on the level, your anatomy, and goals. Disc replacement preserves motion in select candidates; fusion stabilizes a clearly painful segment. We review both with you.
Can degenerative disc disease be reversed?
The disc changes themselves can’t be reversed, but symptoms can very often be controlled and function restored without surgery.
