What is Degenerative Disc Disease? Ans.
Degenerative disc disease is not defined by any one set of generally accepted criteria. Confusion arises with the difficulty in distinguishing between age-related changes and those arising from a disease process. Degeneration is a progressive irreversible process that occurs in all connective tissue structures including the intervertebral disc. Distinguishing benign degenerative changes from disease seems to hinge on the relationship between specific structural or biochemical changes and the presence of symptoms or impaired function. Some investigators may interpret impaired functioning in performance terms, such as a restriction of normal activities, or by other researchers in structural terms, such as a loss in mechanical properties of the disc. The age related changes may be present for years and may remain asymptomatic.
