What Is Degenerative Disc Disease?

Degenerative disc disease occurs when the intervertebral discs (the cushions between your spinal bones) gradually lose height, flexibility, and elasticity. This can happen due to natural aging, repetitive stress, injuries, or genetics. When discs lose their shock-absorbing ability, the vertebrae can rub against each other, causing inflammation, stiffness, and pressure on spinal nerves. Degenerative disc disease symptoms may include persistent back or neck pain, limited mobility, and reduced quality of life. Our degenerative disc specialists at The Spine & Rehab Group carefully assess each patient to develop effective, non-surgical degenerative disc disease treatment plans aimed at relieving pain and restoring function.

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Is Degenerative Disc Disease Only an Age-Related Condition?

While wear and tear from aging is a common cause, degenerative disc disease can affect adults aged 30 to 50 and even younger patients due to trauma, lifestyle, or genetics.

Early diagnosis and treatment by a degenerative disc doctor can prevent further disc deterioration and alleviate symptoms such as:

Shoulder, arm, or neck pain
Leg, buttocks, or lower back pain (sciatica)
Upper, middle, or lower back pain

With convenient offices in New Jersey (Union, Morris, Bergen counties) and NYC locations (Greenwich Village, Financial District, Midtown), finding a degenerative disc specialist near you is easy.

What Causes Degenerative Disc Disease?

Intervertebral discs act as cushions and allow spinal flexibility. Over time, aging or injury can reduce disc elasticity, causing friction between spinal bones and inflammation of surrounding tissues.

Other contributing factors of degenerative disc disease include:

Sports injuries (lower back, mid-back, neck sprains)
Car accidents or falls
Poor posture over long periods
Excess body weight increasing spinal stress
Weak core and back muscles
Improper lifting techniques

Understanding the cause allows your degenerative disc doctor to provide a tailored treatment plan.

Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease symptoms vary widely; some patients have severe disc degeneration with minimal pain, while others experience intense discomfort.

Common signs include:

Mild to disabling back or neck pain depending on disc location
Pain that worsens with sitting, lifting, or twisting
Pain that improves when walking or lying down
Pain radiating to the buttocks, thighs, arms, or hands
Weakness, numbness, or tingling in the extremities

Consulting a degenerative disc specialist ensures proper diagnosis and targeted degenerative disc treatment.

Degenerative Disc Disease Treatments

At The Spine & Rehab Group, our degenerative disc specialists provide comprehensive non-surgical degenerative disc treatment, including:

Physical therapy – Customized programs to strengthen muscles, restore flexibility, and reduce inflammation caused by degenerative discs.
Interventional Treatments – Minimally invasive procedures to relieve pain and inflammation while avoiding surgery.
Alternative Therapies – Acupuncture, medical massage, and other therapies to improve comfort and circulation.

Advanced procedures tailored to your condition may include:

Cervical, thoracic, or lumbar epidural steroid injections
Caudal epidural injections for tailbone pain
Trigger point and facet joint injections
Radiofrequency rhizotomy (neurotomy) for nerve-related pain

Our degenerative disc doctors use advanced diagnostics, imaging, and personalized plans to ensure the best outcomes for each patient.

patient TESTIMONIALS ★★★★★

I've been a patient here at Spine & Rehab Group for 3 years now and have nothing but good things to say. An absolutely wonderful staff including my PA, Melanie Fillian who is extremely knowledgeable and caring and has great bedside manners. I have a total of 5 disc herniations, spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease from years in construction and their aggressive regimen of procedures and the right meds have helped me tremendously. I refer friends there as well with great results! Easy to reach and make appointments, great understanding and caring staff and convenient location. I highly recommend this practice for anyone who suffers from chronic pain and or sports injuries.

Pete M. ★★★★★

You've come to the right place if you're looking for a good orthopedic specialist for a worn-out disc or other spinal degeneration symptoms. One of the best and most compassionate medical teams I've ever met. Their upbeat attitude and empathy for patients are unmatched; they go above and beyond the most hoped-for expectations in their willingness to do everything it takes to provide the right treatment or to show sympathy for your situation and promote a good attitude. In other words, if they are not the best, they are outcompeting those who believe they are.

Gary D.

★★★★★ Latest treatments ★★★★★ Non-Invasive approach ★★★★★ Same-day appointments ★★★★★ Convenient Locations ★★★★★ State-of-the-art facility

Our Board Certified Doctors for Degenerative Disc Disease

Amr Hosny, MD, MBA, FASA Book Now

David Chu, MD, FAAPMR Book Now

Vivek Mehta, MD, FAAPMR Board Certified Interventional Spine Medicine

Vivek Mehta, MD, FAAPMR Book Now

Deepali Gupta, MD, DABA, DABPM Board Certified Interventional Spine Specialist

Deepali Gupta, MD, DABA, DABPM Book Now

Expert Degenerative Disc Treatment from Top Spine Specialists

Living with degenerative disc disease can be challenging, but the right degenerative disc treatment can significantly improve your comfort and mobility. At The Spine & Rehab Group, our experienced degenerative disc specialists focus on relieving pain, restoring movement, and preventing future flare-ups through personalized, advanced degenerative disc care. Don’t let neck or back pain control your life — contact us today to schedule an appointment with a top degenerative disc doctor near you and start your path to recovery.

This content was co-authored and medically reviewed by the expert physician team at The Spine & Rehab Group, a multi-location practice specializing in interventional spine care and minimally invasive orthopedic treatments. The team is led by Amr Hosny, a board-certified interventional spine specialist with over 15 years of experience in image-guided, non-surgical treatments for neck, back, joint, and musculoskeletal pain. Together, Dr. Hosny and the team have performed over 10,000 outpatient interventional procedures across New Jersey and New York, including epidural steroid injections, facet joint interventions, and radiofrequency ablation. Their extensive experience ensures all website content aligns with current, evidence-based standards in spine diagnosis, rehabilitation, and musculoskeletal care.

The Spine & Rehab Group
140 NJ-17,
Paramus, NJ 07652
(212) 242-8160

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