Video: Causes of Degenerative Disc Disease

To help you understand the causes of degenerative disc disease, SpineUniverse brought in Dr. Richard Fessler, a professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at Northwestern University.  In this video, he goes over the typical causes, such as aging and injury to the spine.

He explains what happens when your intervertebral discs—the cushions between your vertebrae that make it easier for you to move—begin to degenerate.  The disc may bulge or even herniate, which can then push on a nerve and cause your pain or other symptoms.  Dr. Fessler also covers other causes of pain with degenerative disc disease, including bone spurs.

If you want to read more, try this article about the causes of DDD.