Intervertebral Disc Degeneration (DDD)

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) describes the natural breakdown of anintervertebral disc of the spine. Despite its name, DDD is not considered a disease, nor is it progressively degenerative. On the contrary, disc degeneration is often the effect of natural daily stresses and minor injuries that cause spinal discs to gradually lose water as the annulus, or the rigid outer shell of a disc, weakens.

As discs weaken and lose water, they begin to collapse. This can result in pressure being put on the nerves in the spinal column, causing pain and weakness.