Skip to the free guide
- Home
- Disc problems
- Degenerative disc
Degenerative Disc Disease
What degenerative disc disease means, why it is common on MRI, and treatment options including exercise and stem cell injections.
- Reviewed by Dr James Bristol, MD, PhD
- Every claim cited
- Free doctor MRI review
Medically reviewed by Dr James Bristol, MD, PhD · Updated 2026-11-14
Degenerative disc disease is not really a disease: it describes discs that have dried and thinned with age. Disc changes are common on MRI in people without pain. When a worn disc does cause pain, treatment is mostly non-surgical.
Treatment
- Exercise and core strength
- Weight management
- Combined physical and psychological programmes for long-term pain
- Injections for flare-ups
- Stem cell injections have been studied specifically for degenerative disc pain in small trials
Back or leg pain for more than 6 weeks? Get the free guide and a doctor review of your scan.
Surgery
Fusion or disc replacement is reserved for selected cases; NICE advises against fusion for low back pain outside trials. See fusion alternatives.
How the free MRI review works
1Answer 4 questions
Takes 30 seconds. No sign-up.
2Send your MRI
A photo of the report is enough.
3A doctor replies
Which options could fit your back, including non-surgical ones.
Related guides
Bulging Disc: Treatment and When Surgery Is NeededWhat a bulging disc is, how it differs from a herniated disc, and bulging disc treatment without…Neck Disc HerniationHerniated disc in the neck: arm pain, urgent warning signs, treatment without surgery and when ACDF surgery…Ruptured Disc: Symptoms and TreatmentA ruptured disc is a herniated disc. Symptoms, why many heal without surgery, and when ruptured disc surgery…Sciatica TreatmentSciatica treatment options compared: exercise, physiotherapy, medicines, epidurals, PRP, stem cells and…Slipped Disc Treatment Without SurgeryHow to treat a slipped disc without surgery: movement, physiotherapy, pain relief and injections. How long it…Spinal Stenosis TreatmentLumbar spinal stenosis: symptoms, physical therapy versus surgery, injections and when decompression surgery…