Synergy Spine and Nerve Center

Expert Chiropractic Care for Lasting Relief

Understanding degeneration: symptoms, causes & treatment options

Degenerative disc disease is caused by a lack of motion in the joints over years or decades. The good news? It can be slowed, and in earlier stages, dramatically improved.

What is it?

Quietly developing, often unnoticed.

Degeneration of one or more intervertebral discs of the spine , often called “degenerative disc disease” (DDD) or “degenerative disc disorder”, is a condition that can be painful and can greatly affect the quality of one's life. Disc degeneration is caused by lack of motion to the joints over an extended period of time, usually years or decades. Many people have degenerative disc disease and don't know it.

Degenerative disc disease can be present without pain in the early stages. This is one reason that recommends every person be checked periodically in order to prevent it from happening.

With symptomatic degenerative disc disease, chronic back pain sometimes radiates to the hips or down the legs. Similar pain may be felt or may increase while sitting, bending, lifting, and twisting. Chronic neck pain can also come from the cervical spine, with pain radiating to the head, shoulders, arms and hands.

Chiropractor evaluating patient with degenerative disc disease at Synergy Spine and Nerve Center for spinal health.

Degeneration model

Seeing what years of restriction can do

The 4 phases

How spinal degeneration progresses.

  1. Phase 1

    Years 110

    Subtle subluxation

    Joint motion is slightly restricted. Most people feel little to no pain. The body adapts, but scar tissue is already starting to form.

  2. Phase 2

    Years 1020

    Disc narrowing

    Discs lose hydration and height. Bone spurs begin to develop, and posture starts to shift. Pain may come and go.

  3. Phase 3

    Years 2030

    Advanced osteoarthritis

    Significant disc degeneration with visible bone spurs on imaging. Range of motion is clearly limited. Pain becomes chronic.

  4. Phase 4

    Years 30+

    Joint fusion

    Joints essentially fuse from years of immobility. Nerve compromise can be severe. This stage is irreversible, but progression can still be slowed.

Symptoms

Signs to watch for.

Symptoms vary widely from one person to the next. Some folks feel constant aching pain. Others have flare-ups triggered by certain movements. The earlier we catch it, the more we can do.

Bottom line

If you are experiencing pain you may also have some degree of degeneration, and it's a good idea to do whatever it takes to keep it from advancing.

  • Chronic back pain that may radiate to hips or legs
  • Pain that worsens with sitting, bending, lifting or twisting
  • Chronic neck pain
  • Pain radiating to the head, shoulders, arms and hands
  • Stiffness, especially after periods of inactivity
  • Reduced range of motion in the spine

Our approach

How chiropractic care helps slow it down.

  • 01

    Restore motion

    Targeted chiropractic adjustments restore joint motion, the single most important factor in preventing further degeneration.

  • 02

    Reduce nerve interference

    Correcting subluxation removes pressure on the nerves and lets your body coordinate healing the way it was designed to.

  • 03

    Strengthen support

    Posture work, ergonomic guidance, and at-home exercises keep what we restore in the office holding between visits.

  • 04

    Track progress

    Periodic reassessments, and follow-up imaging when indicated, show real, measurable change over the course of care.

Catch it early

The best time was 10 years ago. The next best time is now.

A periodic spinal check is the simplest way to keep degeneration from quietly advancing.

Don't wait until it's irreversible.

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