Many patients walk into our clinic believing that the degeneration shown on their x-ray or MRI is the reason for their back pain. It is a common assumption, but research tells a very different story. Lumbar disc degeneration is a normal part of aging and, in most cases, is not the true source of pain. If you have been told your pain is due to “degenerative disc disease,” you are not alone. You also may not have been given the full picture.
This article explains why degeneration rarely causes pain and what is actually driving symptoms for most people.
Disc Degeneration Is a Normal Part of Aging
The discs in your spine naturally change over time. By the age of 40, more than half of people have measurable disc degeneration on imaging. By age 60, that number increases significantly. Most importantly, many of these people have no symptoms at all.
Degeneration alone does not predict pain. It is often an incidental x-ray or MRI finding rather than a meaningful diagnosis.
If Degeneration Is Not the Cause, What Is?
Lower back pain usually comes from changes in function, not changes in disc structure. Here are the most common sources:
1. Segmental Instability
Your spine depends on deep stabilizing muscles like the multifidus to control motion at each joint. When these muscles become weak, the spine doesn't move like it is meant to move. This this improper movement irritates joints, discs, and soft tissues, leading to pain.
2. Inflammation From Movement Patterns
Repetitive bending, long periods of sitting, poor posture, and poor lifting mechanics can stress the spine and create inflammation. Even without a disc bulge, inflamed tissues can produce significant pain.
3. Nerve Irritation
A disc bulge can cause pain when it irritates the nerve root, but this is not the same as degeneration. A person can have degeneration without any nerve root irritation at all.
These three issues are far more strongly linked to painful symptoms than degeneration itself.
Why Targeted Spinal Rehabilitation Works
Improving spinal function requires more than stretching and general strengthening. The deep stabilizers must be trained in a precise, controlled way.
At The Center for Total Back Care, we use MedX spinal rehabilitation systems. These technologies allow us to:
- Identify the exact spinal weakness
- Strengthen the deep stabilizers responsible for controlling movement
- Restore stability and reduce mechanical irritation
- Improve posture and proper movement patterns
- Reduce recurring flare ups
- Build long term resilience
Patients consistently improve even when their x-ray or MRI still shows disc degeneration. That is because we are addressing the functional problem, not the appearance of the disc.
You Do Not Need a Perfect MRI
A perfect MRI does not guarantee a pain free back. A stable and well supported spine does.
Once the deep stabilizers regain strength and spinal movement patterns improve, inflammation decreases and pain drops. Most patients who have struggled for years find relief when they finally treat the true source of the problem.
Who Benefits From This Approach
We see excellent results for patients dealing with:
- Chronic lower back pain
- Pain that increases with sitting
- Pain that returns again and again
- Stiffness or weakness in the lower back
- Lower back feels tired towards the end of the day
- Post injury pain that never fully resolved
- Failed previous treatments
- Inaccurate diagnoses based on x-ray or MRI findings alone
If your MRI showed disc degeneration and you were told that is the cause of your pain, you may be a strong candidate for targeted spinal rehabilitation.
Conclusion
Disc degeneration is common. Pain is not. The key difference is stability. When your spine is supported by strong, well functioning stabilizers, you can move with confidence and live without chronic pain.
If you live in Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, or Tempe and want to address the real source of your back pain, we can help.
Schedule Your Evaluation
The Center for Total Back Care Mesa, Arizona Book online at: totalback.com Call: 480 633 8293