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Degenerative disc disease refers to the natural breakdown of spinal discs that occurs with aging. Your discs act as shock absorbers between the vertebrae, helping you bend, twist, and move comfortably throughout your day. Over time, these discs can lose height, dry out, and begin to collapse, putting pressure on the surrounding nerves and spinal cord.
When healthy discs break down, the vertebrae move closer together and can begin to grind against each other. This causes pain, stiffness, and in some cases numbness or weakness. Degenerative disc disease can affect the cervical spine in the neck or the lumbar spine in the lower back, and symptoms can range from occasional discomfort to constant, debilitating pain that affects your ability to work and enjoy daily life.
Causes of Degenerative Disc Disease
Aging is the primary factor: disc degeneration becomes more common with age, and some individuals begin to experience changes as early as their 30s. Over time, discs naturally lose water content, become thinner, and lose their ability to absorb shock effectively.
Repetitive physical activity - People who do a lot of lifting, bending, or participate in sports with repetitive motion are more likely to experience disc damage. These activities place constant stress on the spine and accelerate the degenerative process over time.
Injury to the spine - A single traumatic event or repeated minor injuries can speed up disc degeneration significantly. Any form of repetitive motion or spinal injury increases the risk of developing this condition earlier than expected.
Smoking - Smoking reduces blood flow to the spinal discs, which limits the nutrients they need to stay healthy. Over time, this accelerates degeneration and increases the risk of degenerative disc disease.
Poor posture and lifestyle habits - Prolonged sitting, poor lifting techniques, and a lack of regular physical activity all place unnecessary stress on the spine. These habits do not cause degenerative disc disease on their own, but they can significantly worsen existing disc damage.
Degenerative disc disease doesn't always present immediately. Some patients show changes on imaging but feel perfectly fine, while others experience significant pain with only minor abnormalities on scans. Knowing what to look for is important.
Pain in the neck or lower back - The most common symptom, depending on where the disc damage is located. Pain often flares up with activities like bending, twisting, or lifting.
Radiating pain - When damage is in the lumbar spine, pain can radiate down into the legs, a condition known as sciatica. Damage in the cervical spine can cause pain that radiates into the shoulders or arms.
Numbness or tingling - In more advanced cases, pressure on the nerves can cause numbness, tingling, or a pins-and-needles sensation in the hands, arms, legs, or feet.
Muscle weakness - If the spinal cord or nerve roots are being compressed, patients may notice weakness in their legs or arms that worsens over time.
Getting an accurate diagnosis - A thorough physical exam is always the first step. While X-rays provide some useful information, an MRI is the gold standard for diagnosing degenerative disc disease. Dr. Wascher will review your MRI free of charge, even if imaging was done at another facility.
Conservative treatment comes first - At Wascher Cervical Spine Institute, we always start with the least invasive options. Anti-inflammatory medications and muscle relaxants can reduce pain and inflammation effectively while your body works to heal.
Epidural injections for targeted relief - For patients with more severe pain, epidural injections deliver medication directly to the affected area of the spine. This provides significant relief for many patients and buys time for other treatments to take effect.
Physical therapy and exercise - A targeted exercise program designed to strengthen the muscles around the spine is one of the most important parts of long-term treatment. Combined with stretching and proper lifting techniques, this approach helps reduce stress on the discs and prevents further damage.
Lifestyle modifications - Learning proper body mechanics, maintaining a healthy weight, and reducing repetitive strain on the spine all play a role in managing degenerative disc disease and slowing its progression over time.
Microsurgery when needed - In cases that do not respond to conservative treatment, surgery may be the right next step. Dr. Wascher personally performs every surgery using the most advanced microsurgical techniques available. Smaller incisions mean less tissue disruption and faster recovery, with most patients returning home the same day or after an overnight stay.
Vanessa had years of neck pain leaving her unable to even do her daily work. But with Dr. Wascher’s quick and timely intervention that included multiple viewings of MRIs, muscle and nerve tests, followed by a 3-Level Anterior Cervical Fusion, she is now happy without any neck issues. “I can happily say that by following the recommendations of Dr. Wascher, I am now pain-free,” says Vanessa as she talks about how great Dr. Wascher and his team were to work with.
When Nanette experienced deep pain in her shoulder, she got tests performed, only to discover that she, in fact, had issues with her neck instead. After a few MRIs and scans, she contacted Dr. Wascher, who told her that she has bone spurs going into the spinal cord. Within a span of 3 weeks, she was able to go through surgery and get on the road to recovery. “I cannot say enough about Dr. Wascher’s expertise and empathy”, says Nanette as she joins an ever-growing community of people who, through Dr. Wascher and his team, have found happiness again.
Dr. Thomas Wascher brings over 30 years of specialized cervical spine expertise to patients throughout Wisconsin. His microscopic surgical techniques result in smaller scars, less pain, and faster recovery compared to traditional approaches. Located in Appleton at 5320 W. Michaels Dr., the practice offers free MRI reviews and second opinions to all potential patients.
Dr. Wascher graduated valedictorian from high school, college, and medical school and has been recognized as one of America's Top Surgeons since 2007. His philosophy of treating everyone as a family member with a unique approach ensures personalized care rather than one-size-fits-all treatment.
Degenerative disc disease is a condition where the spinal discs break down over time due to aging, wear, and tear. Healthy discs act as shock absorbers between the vertebrae, but as they degenerate they lose height, dry out, and can collapse or bulge. This puts pressure on surrounding nerves and the spinal cord, leading to pain, stiffness, and in some cases numbness or weakness. It can affect the cervical spine in the neck or the lumbar spine in the lower back, and the right treatment depends on where the damage is and how severe it has become.
Yes, and that is always our first priority at Wascher Cervical Spine Institute. Conservative treatments include anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxants, epidural injections, physical therapy, and a targeted exercise program to strengthen the muscles around the spine. Many patients find significant and lasting relief through these approaches alone. Surgery is only recommended when conservative treatments have been tried for an appropriate period of time and symptoms are not improving or are getting worse.
Diagnosis starts with a thorough physical exam and a full review of your symptoms. X-rays can provide some useful information, but an MRI is the gold standard for diagnosing degenerative disc disease. MRI imaging gives us a detailed view of the discs, nerves, and spinal cord so we can pinpoint exactly where the problem is. Dr. Wascher will review your MRI free of charge, even if you were diagnosed or imaged at another facility.