Despite the name, degenerative disc disease isn’t really a disease. It’s a natural, age-related change in your spine’s discs. But when the pain that comes with it sticks around, there can be more to the story.
Override specializes in chronic pain. Our virtual care team looks at the physical, neurological, and emotional factors that can influence ongoing pain, then builds a personalized care plan around your needs, goals, and life.
of appointments are fully virtual. In-network with most insurance plans in select states.
of patients report improvement*
satisfaction with Override providers*
*Source: Internal Override Health patient-reported outcomes data
“Degenerative disc disease” (sometimes abbreviated DDD) describes the natural drying-out and thinning of spinal discs that happens with age. Discs lose height and flexibility over time. This shows up on imaging for most people eventually, but it doesn’t always cause pain. When it does, it’s usually because the disc has lost enough cushioning to put extra stress on nearby joints and nerves.
Chronic, low-grade back pain that flares with certain movements
Pain that’s worse with sitting, bending, or lifting
Pain that eases with walking or changing position
Occasional radiating pain if a nearby nerve gets irritated
Chronic pain from DDD is also a nervous system story. Persistent pain, even from a slowly progressing structural change, can lead to a more sensitized nervous system over time. This is a real, physiological process, and it’s part of why a whole-person approach can matter even for a condition rooted in the spine itself.
When pain from disc degeneration lasts for months or years, it can start affecting much more than your back.
Pain can change how you sit, how you sleep, how much you move, and how confident you feel about the years ahead.
That’s why Override doesn’t treat degenerative disc disease as only a structural problem.
We look at the whole pain experience and build a personalized plan around your symptoms, history, goals, and the factors that may be contributing to your pain.
You may have already seen a doctor, tried physical therapy, or taken medication. Maybe something helped for a while. Maybe nothing did.
Override isn’t about asking one more treatment to solve every part of a complex pain experience. It’s about bringing the right care together.
Depending on your needs, your personalized care plan may include:
Pain specialists trained in pain neuroscience and non-opioid chronic pain management who can oversee your care plan and adjust medications when appropriate.
Movement specialists trained in chronic pain who help you build the strength and stability that a degenerating disc increasingly relies on.
Pain-focused therapists who help address the stress and worry that can come with a progressive-sounding diagnosis, and the patterns that can influence the pain experience.
Certified pain coaches help you build sustainable daily habits and stay supported between visits.
Your care is personalized to you. You may not need every service. The difference is that your providers can work together as one team, with one shared understanding of your pain and your goals.
Raymond K.
Override patient
There isn’t one treatment that resolves DDD for everyone, since it’s a long-term condition rather than something that fully resolves.
Treatment can include physical therapy, medications, and behavioral approaches, typically combined into an ongoing management plan rather than a single fix.
We’ve created a complete guide to back pain treatment options, including how different approaches work and when they may be considered.
Your symptoms have lasted three months or longer
Your pain keeps returning or interfering with your daily life
You’ve tried treatment without enough relief
Pain is affecting your movement, sleep, work, mood, or the things you want to do
Override isn’t emergency or acute injury care. If you have new loss of bowel or bladder control, numbness around the groin or saddle area, or severe or rapidly worsening weakness, seek appropriate in-person medical care right away.
Not in the traditional sense. It’s a descriptive term for age-related disc changes rather than a progressive illness in the way something like arthritis can be. Many people have it without significant symptoms.
The disc changes themselves aren’t reversible, but that doesn’t mean pain is permanent. Many people reduce their symptoms meaningfully with the right care and ongoing management.
The structural changes may progress slowly with age, though symptoms don’t necessarily follow the same path. Many people manage pain effectively for years with the right approach.
Degenerative disc disease is a gradual, age-related wear process. A herniated disc is a more acute event where disc material pushes through and often presses on a nerve. The two are related: a degenerating disc is more prone to herniating, but they’re different presentations.
Schedule your free consultation today to learn more.
