What Can Happen If You Have Degenerative Discs in Your Back?

Your spine has soft cushions that are found between vertebrae known as discs. Over the years, these discs lose their elasticity and begin to cause pain.

Identification

• Necksurgery.com identifies degenerative disc disease as one of the side-effects of aging. The outer covering of the discs will start to break down and lose their ability to offer pain-free movement.

Herniated Discs

• One of the possible effects of a degenerated disc is a herniated disc. When the outer covering of the disc breaks down, the material in the middle will protrude out of the vertebrae and put pressure on the nerves surrounding the spine.

Referred Pain

• In many cases a degenerated disc will cause referred pain. This is pain that originates in one part of the spine but is felt in another part of the body. Medicinenet.com offers the example of a degenerated disc putting pressure on the sciatic nerve in the back but the pain being felt radiating down the leg.

Neck Pain

• A common place for discs to degenerate more rapidly than others is in the neck. This can cause chronic neck pain that may also radiate to the shoulder and down the arm.

Treatment

• Treatment depends on the severity of the condition. In some cases, medication and physical therapy may be used to manage the pain. Surgery may be required in more severe cases to remove the portion of the disc that is putting pressure on the nerves.