Degenerative Disc Disease

About Degenerative Disc Disease

Debilitating back pain disrupts your life. You can’t work or go to school; you can barely get out of bed. Don’t let this happen to you. Visit a back specialist to have your back examined. If you have degenerative disc disease, you need treatment to get back on your feet. Dr. Amr Hosny and his team of best pain doctors at the Spine & Rehab Group are the experts you seek. With eight locations in New York City and northern New Jersey, there’s an office near you. Call for an appointment today.

What Is Degenerative Disc Disease?

Degenerative disc disease refers to the gradual breakdown of the intervertebral discs that act as cushions between the bones of your spine. This process often occurs due to natural aging, repetitive stress, injuries, or genetic factors. Although it’s a common part of getting older, not everyone with disc degeneration experiences pain.

When the discs lose height and flexibility, the space between vertebrae narrows, which can lead to pressure on spinal joints or nerves. This may cause persistent back or neck pain, stiffness, or reduced mobility. Without proper treatment, the discomfort can worsen over time and interfere with your ability to perform daily activities.

At The Spine & Rehab Group, our board-certified specialists carefully assess each case to provide personalized, effective treatment aimed at relieving pain, restoring mobility, and improving quality of life.

Is Degenerative Disc Disease an Old-Age Problem?

Degenerative disc disease is a medical condition that’s commonly caused by the wear and tear from old age. But other causes can trigger the disease in younger people. In fact, it usually affects people aged 30 to 50. If left untreated, the condition often leads to further deterioration of the affected spinal discs.

Degenerative disc disease is one of the main reasons you may be suffering from:

• Shoulder or arm pain
• Leg or buttocks pain (sciatica)
• Lower back pain
• Neck pain
• Upper back pain
• Even middle back pain

Getting diagnosed early helps you get treatment before the condition becomes too severe. Consulting with top spine specialists like Dr. Amr Hosny and his team at the Spine & Rehab Group is the best choice for diagnosing and treating degenerative disc disease. Convenient locations in Union County, Morris County and Bergen County in New Jersey — and in Greenwich Village, the Financial District and Midtown Manhattan in NYC — make it easy to find an pain center near you.

Our Board certified doctors Amr Hosny, MD, MBA, FASA Book Now David Chu, MD, FAAPMR Book Now Vivek Mehta, MD, FAAPMR Book Now Deepali Gupta, MD, DABA, DABPM Book Now

What Causes Degenerative Disc Disease?

Intervertebral discs are the spongy shock absorbers that sit in between your spinal bones. They help cushion the bones and add flexibility to your spine as you move. Over time, the aging process or another cause makes the discs lose their sponginess and elasticity, which causes the bones to rub against one another when you move. The resulting friction leads to inflammation of the surrounding tissues. This condition can occur anywhere in your spine, including in the cervical, thoracic or lumbar region.

Other ways discs can get damaged include:

• A sports Injury that causes a lower back sprain, a mid-back sprain or a neck sprain
• Trauma from a car accident or fall
• Poor posture while sitting or standing over a long period
• Extra body weight, which puts more pressure on your spinal bones
• Weak core and back muscles
• Incorrectly lifting heavy objects, a practice that can also cause shoulder injuries and knee injuries

What Are the Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease?

Some people with severe disc degeneration feel no pain, while others with a mild form of the disease suffer from intense pain. Because of this anomaly, diagnosis for degenerative disc disease can be difficult. Choose a spine specialist who knows how to identify the disease and knows how to treat degenerative disc disease.

That’s the best way to ensure you get proper, targeted degenerative disc disease treatment. There are often noticeable symptoms that point your spine doctor to a diagnosis of degenerative disc disease.

These signs accompany your back pain and may include:

• Mild to disabling back pain, depending on the severity and location of the damaged disc
• Most often in your lumbar spine area
• Pain that comes and goes
• Pain that gets worse from sitting for a while
• Increasing pain after you lift something heavy or twist your spine
• Feeling better when you walk or lie down
• Pain that affects not only your spine, but also your buttocks, thighs, neck, arms and hands
• Weakness in your legs
• Numbness and tingling sensations in your extremities

What Are Degenerative Disc Disease Treatments?

At The Spine & Rehab Group, our team of board-certified pain management specialists provides comprehensive, personalized treatment for degenerative disc disease in both New York City and New Jersey.

Non-surgical treatments are often recommended and may include:

• Physical therapy: Our skilled physical therapists, physiatrists, and back pain doctors create customized rehabilitation programs to strengthen muscles, restore flexibility, and reduce inflammation caused by degenerative discs.
• Interventional pain management: Minimally invasive procedures are used to decrease pain and inflammation while helping patients avoid surgery.
• Alternative treatments: Complementary therapies such as acupuncture and medical massage may support recovery, enhance circulation, and improve overall comfort.

In addition to conservative care, our specialists also offer advanced pain management procedures tailored to each patient’s condition:

• Cervical epidural steroid injections to reduce pain from degenerative disc disease or a bulging disc in the neck.
• Mid-back (thoracic) epidural steroid injections to address discomfort in the middle spine.
• Lumbar epidural steroid injections for lower back pain associated with degenerative or bulging discs.
• Caudal epidural steroid injections to treat rare cases involving the tailbone region.
• Trigger point injections for targeted pain relief in affected muscles.
• Facet joint injections to calm inflammation in the joints surrounding the spine.
• Radiofrequency rhizotomy (neurotomy) to reduce nerve-related pain by disrupting pain signals from irritated nerves.

Because back pain can stem from various causes, an accurate diagnosis is essential. Dr. Hosny and his experienced team use advanced imaging and diagnostic tools to determine the exact source of your discomfort and develop a treatment plan that fits your individual needs.

Living with degenerative disc disease can be challenging, but the right care can make a significant difference in your comfort and mobility. At The Spine & Rehab Group, our experienced team focuses on relieving pain, restoring movement, and preventing future flare-ups through personalized, advanced treatment. Don’t let back pain control your life—contact us today to start your path toward recovery.

Dr. Hosny is a distinguished physician, educator, and healthcare leader with a commitment to advancing health equity and accessibility in the rapidly evolving landscape of modern healthcare. After completing his residency at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center, affiliated with Columbia University in New York City, he pursued an Interventional Spine Fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, part of Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA.

Dr. Hosny has held prominent roles in academic medicine, including serving as an Associate Clinical Professor at New York Medical College and as the Interventional Spine Fellowship Program Director. These positions reflect his dedication to mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals and advancing the field of interventional spine care.

More About Dr. Hosny

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