Frequently-Asked Questions

DDD stands for Degenerative Disc Disease and is one of the most common causes of neck and back pain. It refers to the breakdown of one or more discs (shock absorbing soft tissue structure between each vertebra) in the spine and is linked to neck or back pain with or without shooting pain, numbness and weakness in the arms or legs.

DDD isn't really a disease but a way to refer to the natural breakdown of spinal discs over time. DDD can lead to a loss of disc height that may cause pain, numbness or weakness in the neck, back, arms or legs.

Sometimes, an injury causing severe damage to spinal discs can disrupt them causing a disc to bulge, stick out or lose height, regardless of the aging process, leading to identical symptoms of degenerative disc disease.

There are several risk factors for getting DDD. The most common one is aging, as DDD is a natural, age-related process. Some other risk factors are: traumatic injury, being over weight, playing contact sports, heavy lifting and repetitive motions involving the back.

The symptoms of DDD may include back pain with or without arm or leg pain as well as arm or leg weakness, tingling or numbness. DDD pain often gets worse with movement like bending or twisting. Only a licensed spine specialist can accurately diagnose a spinal condition, like DDD.

A DDD diagnosis starts with a standard questionnaire that details the patient’s symptoms and where they occur. Then, a spine specialist performs a routine physical exam of the back, arms, hands, legs and feet while testing for strength, flexibility, range of motion, reflexes and pain.

The spine specialist may also order some tests, like a bone scan, discogram/discography or myleogram to assist in the diagnosis.

• Bone Scan: A bone scan can be used to identify health concerns like osteoarthritis, fractures or infections. It is a non-invasive test where a small amount of radioactive medicine is injected into the blood and then absorbed by the bone. More of the medicine will be absorbed in bony areas that are abnormal or problematic. A scan of the spine is then taken and the areas where the medicine has been absorbed will be seen as hot spots and light up on the scan. These hot spots identify where the problem maybe in the spine.
• Discogram or discography: A test to determine if a specific spinal disc is causing pain or other discomfort. A discogram/discography is a non-invasive test where a medical dye is injected into a suspected problem disc and an x-ray is taken. If the dye stays within the disc space then, the disc is normal. If the dye leaks out, then the disc has a problem, like a herniation or bulge. The test pinpoints the problem disc for the spine specialist to treat.
• Myelogram: A myelogram is a non-invasive test to determine if the problem is with the spinal cord or in the spinal canal (the bony opening surrounding the spinal cord). A medical dye is injected into the spinal canal and then an x-ray or CT scan is taken. The scan or image will show a detailed picture of the spine and surrounding bones and nerves. By reviewing the scan, the spine specialists can identify any abnormalities or problem areas.

In addition to these tests, the specialist may also order x-rays, computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to get a visual understanding of the spine and associated abnormalities or areas of concern. A CT or MRI shows the soft tissue of the spine, not just the bones like an x-ray, so the spine specialist can identify the location and nature of the problem causing discomfort.

There are many nonsurgical treatments for DDD. Some of the nonsurgical treatment options that may be discussed with a doctor are: pain management, bracing and physical therapy, among others. Only once these non-surgical treatments have been utilized will your physician or surgeon likely discuss surgical options.