Degenerated Discs: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Without Surgery

Original Publication Date: January 2016

Updated October 2026

Though being told you have degenerated discs may sound scary, it often isn't cause for alarm. Disc wear is often a normal part of aging, and many people with it have no pain at all. And when it does cause pain, most people get better without surgery.

Keep reading to find out what a degenerated disc is, when it matters, and how we treat it.

What Is a Degenerated Disc?

Your spine is a stack of bones called vertebrae. Between each pair sits a disc, which is a rubbery cushion with a tough outer ring and a soft, gel-like center. Discs absorb shock and allow your spine to bend and twist.

As we age, discs lose water. They get thinner, stiffer, and less springy, and small cracks can form in the outer ring. Doctors call this disc degeneration. 

When it causes symptoms, you may hear it called degenerative disc disease. Despite the name, it is not really a disease; it is a description of wear.

Is Disc Degeneration Normal?

Yes, disc degeneration is normal for most people. A large review of 33 studies looked at spine scans of more than 3,000 people who had no back pain. Disc degeneration showed up in 37% of 20-year-olds and 96% of 80-year-olds. Disc bulges showed up in 30% of 20-year-olds and 84% of 80-year-olds.

The neck is no different. In a study of 1,211 adults with no symptoms, nearly 9 in 10 had at least one bulging disc in the neck on MRI, including people in their 20s.

So if your MRI report lists several worn or bulging discs, don't panic. The report describes what the spine looks like. It doesn't tell us which spot, if any, is causing your pain. That takes an exam and a careful look at your history.

What Causes Degenerated Discs?

Age is the main cause. Discs get most of their nutrients through the ends of the nearby bones, and that supply drops as we get older. Discs also carry our body weight every time we stand, sit, or lift.

Other factors can speed things up:  

  • Genes: Disc wear tends to run in families.
  • Smoking: Smoking reduces blood flow and is linked to faster disc wear.
  • Extra body weight: More weight means more pressure on the lower spine.
  • Past injury or heavy, repeated lifting: Some jobs and sports put more stress on the discs.

What Are the Symptoms of a Degenerated Disc?

Many degenerated discs cause no symptoms. When they do, common signs include: 

  • An ache in the low back or neck that comes and goes
  • Pain that gets worse from lifting, sitting, or bending, and eases when you walk or change position
  • Stiffness, especially in the morning
  • Flare-ups that last a few days to a few weeks, then settle down

A worn disc can also lead to other problems. It may bulge or tear and press on a nerve. That can send pain, numbness, or tingling down an arm or a leg. Pain down the leg is often called sciatica. Over time, disc wear can also narrow the space around the nerves, which is a condition called spinal stenosis.

How Is a Degenerated Disc Diagnosed?

We start with a conversation and an exam and explore where the pain is, what makes it better or worse, if it travels down an arm or leg, and if there is numbness or weakness. We also test your strength, reflexes, and how you move.

Imaging may also be necessary. An X-ray or MRI can help when pain lasts, when nerve symptoms are present, or when we are planning a procedure.  

How Do You Treat a Degenerated Disc without Surgery?

Most people improve with nonsurgical care. Physiatrists at Rocky Mountain Spine & Sport treat pain and restore function without surgery. We start with the least invasive option that fits your problem.  

  • Stay active. Gentle movement helps. Long bed rest tends to make back pain worse.
  • Physical therapy. A therapist teaches exercises that strengthen your core and back muscles, improving flexibility, mobility, and function. 
  • Medication for short-term relief. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help during a flare. Talk with your provider about what is safe for you.
  • Weight and lifestyle changes. Losing extra weight and quitting smoking reduce stress on your discs.
  • Injections. If a disc is pressing on a nerve, an epidural steroid injection places anti-inflammatory medicine near the irritated nerve. It can ease arm or leg pain enough for you to get back to therapy.
  • Other procedures. When pain comes from the small joints of the spine, options such as facet injections or radiofrequency ablation may help. Radiofrequency ablation uses heat to quiet the nerves that carry pain signals from those joints.

Surgery is rarely the first step. It may be worth considering if nerve symptoms get worse or if pain doesn't improve after a full trial of nonsurgical care. 

When Should You See a Doctor?

Book a visit if back or neck pain lasts more than a few weeks, keeps coming back, or limits your work or daily life. See us sooner if pain travels down an arm or leg, or if you notice numbness or weakness. These can be signs of a herniated disc or spinal stenosis.

Get emergency care right away if you have new trouble controlling your bladder or bowels, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, or weakness in your legs that is getting worse. 

Worried about your discs? Book a visit at our Idaho Falls or Rexburg clinic and let's find out what is causing your pain.