4 Stages of Degenerative Disc Disease

What is degenerative disc disease? Degenerative disc disease is a condition where spinal disc between vertebrae, break down or wear down during aging, injury, and just natural wear and tear. The moisture is removed from your disc, and they become thinner, resulting in cracking and/or chronic pain.

1. 1. Stage 1: This is the initial phase where spinal disc begins losing water and starts developing tiny tears. This is when the spinal structure starts to shift.
   2. Stage 2: At this stage the water loss continues, and this leads to reduced height, and flexibility loss.
   3. Stage 3: During the third stage known as stabilization, this involves chronic pain and bone spur formation. In this phase instability is common.
   4.  Stage 4: Stage 4 is the final most severe stage known as the collapsing stage. In this phase it’s common to have bone to bone friction causing extreme chronic pain, and the treatment often requires surgery.

If you’re experiencing any similar symptoms, please feel free to give Axis Spine and Orthopedics a call!