Degenerative Disc disease (DDD)

If you have chronic back or neck pain, you may have degenerative disc disease. This degenerative spinal condition is not really a disease—it’s the normal wear and tear process of aging on your spine. Unfortunately, as we age, our intervertebral discs (pillow-like pads between the bones in your spine) lose their flexibility, elasticity, and shock absorbing characteristics. When this happens, the discs change from a supple, flexible state that allows fluid movement, to a stiff and rigid state that restricts your movement.