• Question: what is degenerative disc disease?

    Asked by reecejack137 to Ben, Dave, Susana on 27 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: David Briggs

      David Briggs answered on 27 Jun 2013:

      Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is caused by the discs in your spine breaking down (degenerating) over time.

      This is similar to arthritis and is therefore right up my street!

      Your spine is made up of lots of segments called vertebrae, and in between these vertebrae are discs of cartilage – this cartilage acts like a shock absorber and lubricant and stops the bones scraping over each other and rubbing together.

      In DDD, these cartilage discs get damaged breakdown, and so your vertebrae rub together, which can cause a lot of swelling and pain. When this damage happens in the spine, right next to your spinal column, the pain can be really intense.

    • Photo: Benjamin Hall

      Benjamin Hall answered on 27 Jun 2013:

      I have nothing to add to Dave’s answer 🙂

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