Degenerative Disc Disease Treatment | Jonathan G. Hobbs, M.D.

The condition

What Is Degenerative Disc Disease?

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a condition in which the spinal discs — the soft, compressible cushions between the vertebrae — gradually break down due to age-related wear and tear. Despite its name, DDD is not actually a disease but rather a natural process of disc aging that can cause pain in some people.

Spinal discs act as shock absorbers and allow flexibility in the spine. Over time, they lose water content, become thinner, and develop small tears in the outer wall. These changes can lead to chronic pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. DDD can occur anywhere in the spine but most commonly affects the lumbar spine (lower back) and the cervical spine (neck).

While virtually everyone experiences some disc degeneration as they age, not everyone develops symptoms. When DDD does cause pain, effective treatments are available — from conservative therapies to advanced minimally invasive surgical solutions.

At a glance

What it is: Age-related drying, thinning, and tearing of the spinal discs — a process, not a disease
Where: Most often the lumbar spine (lower back) and cervical spine (neck)
Why it hurts: Irritated disc wall, overloaded facet joints, bone spurs, or narrowed nerve openings
Typical course: Low-grade ache with flare-ups lasting days to months, then settling
First-line care: Physical therapy, anti-inflammatories, epidural injections, weight and activity changes
If surgery is needed: Minimally invasive decompression or navigation-guided fusion of the affected level
Can it be reversed?: No — but symptoms are very treatable, and most people improve without surgery

Interactive — pick a stage

How a Disc Wears Down

One disc, over the decades. Tap a stage to see what changes inside the disc, what you might feel, and what helps at that point.

Realistic lumbar cutaway showing a full-height healthy disc with a hydrated gel center and intact layered outer ring. — **Healthy disc — full height, gel center, intact outer ring** Two lumbar vertebrae with the disc between them

Matching lumbar cutaway showing a smaller, less hydrated disc center and reduced disc height. — **Healthy disc — full height, gel center, intact outer ring** Two lumbar vertebrae with the disc between them

3D educational illustrations — not patient scans. Stages overlap, progression varies, and disc changes do not always cause pain.

Symptoms

Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease

Disc pain has a signature: a low-grade ache that flares, feels worse when you load the spine, and eases when you move or lie down.

Chronic, low-grade back or neck pain with occasional flare-ups of more severe pain

Pain that worsens with sitting, bending, lifting, or twisting

Pain that improves with walking, changing positions, or lying down

Stiffness in the back or neck, especially in the morning

Radiating pain, numbness, or tingling in the arms or legs (if nerves are compressed)

Periods of severe pain lasting days to months, then subsiding

Reduced range of motion in the spine

Why the pain comes and goes

A worn disc is usually quiet until something irritates it — a long car ride, a heavy lift, an awkward twist. Inflammation in the disc wall and the joints behind it then produces a flare that can last days to months before settling. Flare-ups are not a sign the spine is being damaged; they are a sign the level is irritated.

Causes & risk factors

Causes and Risk Factors

Aging — The primary factor. Discs naturally lose water content and elasticity over time
Genetics — Family history of disc problems significantly increases your risk
Smoking — Reduces oxygen supply to the discs, accelerating degeneration
Obesity — Excess weight places increased mechanical stress on spinal discs
Occupation — Repetitive heavy lifting, bending, or exposure to whole-body vibration
Prior injury — Previous spinal injuries can accelerate disc degeneration

Diagnosis

How Dr. Hobbs Diagnoses Degenerative Disc Disease

Because nearly every adult has some disc wear on imaging, the goal is to confirm that a worn disc is actually the source of your pain.

History & Examination

What makes the pain better or worse, how flare-ups behave, and a neurological exam of strength, sensation, and reflexes to check whether a nerve is involved.

X-rays

Show disc height loss, bone spurs, and alignment. Flexion and extension views reveal whether the worn level moves abnormally, which matters when fusion is being considered.

MRI

Shows disc hydration, tears in the outer ring, bulging, and whether nerves are compressed. A dried disc appears darker than its neighbors on MRI.

Your MRI report mentions “disc desiccation” or “loss of disc height”? Decode the terms in your lumbar MRI

Treatment

Treatment Options

Dr. Hobbs always explores nonsurgical treatments first. Many patients with DDD achieve excellent pain relief without surgery.

Step one

Conservative Treatment

Physical therapy — Core strengthening, flexibility exercises, and postural training to support the spine and reduce pain
Anti-inflammatory medications — NSAIDs and other medications to manage pain and inflammation
Epidural steroid injections — Targeted injections to reduce inflammation around compressed nerves
Lifestyle modifications — Weight management, smoking cessation, ergonomic adjustments, and regular low-impact exercise

If conservative care is not enough

Surgical Treatment

Minimally invasive decompression — When a worn disc or bone spur is pressing on a nerve, Dr. Hobbs relieves the pressure through small incisions using image-guided navigation, preserving the surrounding muscle.
Minimally invasive fusion — When the affected level is unstable or is the clear source of ongoing pain, navigation-guided fusion stabilizes it with smaller incisions and faster recovery, often with AI-assisted planning to tailor the procedure to your anatomy.

Procedures & resources

Explore the Options for a Worn Disc

If surgery becomes part of the plan, these are the approaches and tools Dr. Hobbs relies on.

Spinal Fusion & Stabilization
How a painful, worn level is joined into one solid unit

Minimally Invasive Surgery
Muscle-sparing techniques, less pain, and a faster return home

Personalized Implants
aprevo® interbody devices designed from your own CT scan

Understand Your Lumbar MRI
Plain-English guide to desiccation, bulges, and disc height loss

Worn disc or herniated disc?

Degeneration is slow thinning and drying. A herniation is the disc’s center pushing out through a tear, often suddenly, and usually with leg or arm pain. A worn disc is more likely to herniate, so the two often travel together.

Herniated disc

Jonathan G. Hobbs, M.D.

Board-Certified Neurosurgeon · Spine Surgery

ABNS
Certified

Residency
Chicago

M.D.
Kentucky

Why Dr. Hobbs

Why Choose Dr. Hobbs for Degenerative Disc Disease

Board-Certified Neurosurgeon
Certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery, with specialized experience treating degenerative disc disease.
Elite Training
University of Kentucky medical degree; neurosurgery residency at the University of Chicago, serving as chief resident.
Minimally Invasive Surgery
Navigation-guided, minimally invasive treatment tailored to your spine.
Conservative-First
Nonsurgical solutions always explored before recommending surgery.
Planned to Your Anatomy
AI-assisted planning and patient-specific implants when fusion is the right answer.
Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute
Practicing at Northwest Indiana's most preferred orthopedic and spine practice, with offices in Crown Point & Chesterton.

Call (219) 250-5010 How fusion works

Frequently Asked Questions About DDD

Despite its name, degenerative disc disease is not technically a disease. It is a natural, age-related process where the spinal discs gradually lose hydration, height, and flexibility. While virtually everyone experiences some degree of disc degeneration as they age, not everyone develops pain from it. The term "disease" is somewhat misleading — it is more accurately described as a condition of wear and tear.

DDD cannot be reversed, as the natural aging process of the discs cannot be undone. However, the symptoms can be very effectively managed and treated. Many patients achieve excellent pain relief through conservative treatments. When surgery is needed, Dr. Hobbs offers minimally invasive, navigation-guided decompression and fusion, tailored to each patient with AI-assisted planning.

When conservative care does not relieve symptoms, Dr. Hobbs treats degenerative disc disease with minimally invasive, navigation-guided surgery. Depending on the case this may include decompression to relieve nerve pressure and minimally invasive fusion to stabilize the affected level, with AI-assisted planning tailored to each patient.

Pain can arise from several sources: the degenerated disc itself can generate pain through micro-motion and inflammation, collapsed disc height causes facet joints to bear more load leading to arthritis, bone spurs can compress nerves, and reduced disc height can narrow the openings where nerves exit the spine. Dr. Hobbs performs a thorough evaluation to identify the specific source and target treatment accordingly.

Not everyone with degenerative disc disease needs a fusion. Many patients improve with conservative care or a minimally invasive decompression. When the affected level is unstable or a source of ongoing pain, a minimally invasive fusion may be recommended. Dr. Hobbs evaluates each patient individually and recommends the option that will provide the best long-term outcome.

Get Treatment for Degenerative Disc Disease

Dr. Hobbs offers the latest minimally invasive treatments and conservative care. Call today for your consultation.

(219) 250-5010

Monday – Friday · 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Crown Point Office

500 E. 109th Avenue
Crown Point, IN 46307

Chesterton Office

601 Gateway Boulevard
Chesterton, IN 46304

Your next step

Discuss your spine care with Dr. Hobbs

Jonathan G. Hobbs, M.D. is a board-certified neurosurgeon at Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute. For questions about degenerative disc disease treatment, call the office to arrange an individual evaluation and discuss which options may be appropriate.

Consultation offices: Crown Point, Chesterton. Your symptoms, examination, imaging, and prior treatment help guide the discussion.

Call (219) 250-5010 Appointments & insurance

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