01 — What it is
Degenerative change in the discs is common with age and is often seen on imaging in people who have no symptoms at all. It becomes a clinical problem when loss of disc height transfers load to the facet joints, narrows the openings the nerves pass through, or affects the stability of the segment.
02 — Symptoms
- Aching back or neck pain, worse with sustained postures
- Morning stiffness that eases with movement
- Episodic flares between better periods
- Radiating symptoms if the nerve openings narrow
03 — Causes
- Normal age-related change in the intervertebral disc
- Individual and familial predisposition
- Smoking and vascular disease
- Previous fracture or surgery at an adjacent level
04 — How it is diagnosed
Imaging is interpreted alongside the examination, never on its own. Standing films assess alignment and any slip. MRI shows disc and endplate changes. Much of the diagnostic work is establishing which degenerated level, if any, explains the symptoms.
05 — Treatment approach
Conditioning, weight management, smoking cessation and targeted therapy are the mainstay of treatment. Where surgery is considered, it is for a level that is both symptomatic and identifiable as the source, and the discussion includes what surgery can and cannot be expected to change.
General information only. Your own diagnosis and plan depend on your examination and imaging. Nothing here replaces a consultation.
