Everything You Need To Know About Degenerative Disc Disease

Risks

Degenerative disc disease is part of the normal aging process, but it is more common in individuals who smoke cigarettes and who do heavy lifting or physical work. Obesity also puts individuals at an increased risk of degenerative disc disease because the spinal cord works harder to carry around excess weight and may break down sooner. Degenerative disc disease may occur when an individual experiences a sudden fall and develops a herniated disc as well.

Bone Spurs

Bone spurs occur when the space between the vertebrae becomes smaller, which creates unstable conditions as there is less space between discs. The body responds by developing bone growths called bone spurs or osteophytes. Bone spurs may cause pain that can affect nerve function as they put pressure on the spinal nerve roots. They occur when spinal discs break down and the vertebrae in the back grind against each other. Bone spurs are a common symptom of osteoarthritis as well.