Symptoms
Common symptoms
- Chronic neck or back pain
- Pain worse with sitting or activity
- Stiffness and reduced motion
- Radiating pain if a disc bulges into a nerve
- Episodes of acute flare-up
Degenerative
Disc Disease .
A condition where spinal discs gradually wear down over time, losing flexibility and height. This can cause chronic neck or back pain, stiffness, and sometimes nerve irritation if discs bulge or collapse.
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Diagnosis first. Treatment second.
Cervical, Thoracic, or Lumbar spine condition treated with conservative options first and motion-preserving surgery when needed.
4
LA offices
Region
Cervical, Thoracic, or Lumbar
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Degenerative Disc Disease at a glance
- What it is: A condition where spinal discs gradually wear down over time, losing flexibility and height. This can cause chronic neck or back pain, stiffness, and sometimes nerve irritation if discs bulge or collapse.
- Common symptoms: Chronic neck or back pain; Pain worse with sitting or activity; Stiffness and reduced motion.
- First-line treatment: Activity modification & physical therapy — Core strengthening, postural correction, and ergonomic adjustments.
- When surgery is considered: progressive symptoms, neurological changes, or pain unresponsive to conservative care.
Symptoms & causes
Understanding degenerative disc disease
Causes
Common causes
- Age-related disc wear (most common)
- Repetitive load or injury
- Genetic factors
- Smoking (accelerates disc degeneration)
- Obesity
How Dr. Yasmeh treats it
Treatment options
Dr. Yasmeh starts with the least-invasive option that fits your case and only escalates when clearly needed.
Conservative care
Step 1Conservative care first
Most patients improve without surgery. Dr. Yasmeh sequences therapy, medication, and targeted injections before considering operative options.
- Activity modification & physical therapy — Core strengthening, postural correction, and ergonomic adjustments.
- Medication — NSAIDs and short courses of muscle relaxants or neuropathic-pain medication.
- Targeted injections — Facet joint or epidural injections for inflammatory flare-ups.
Surgical care
When neededWhen surgery is the right answer
When non-operative care has not worked or symptoms are progressive, Dr. Yasmeh offers motion-preserving techniques whenever clinically appropriate.
- Artificial disc replacement — A motion-preserving alternative to fusion for selected single-level disease.
- Fusion — Reserved for cases where motion-preservation is not appropriate.
Common questions
About degenerative disc disease.
- Most patients improve with conservative care — physical therapy, medication, and targeted injections. Dr. Yasmeh only recommends surgery when symptoms are progressive, when there is neurological compromise, or when conservative care has not resolved the problem.
- Diagnosis combines a careful history, physical exam, and imaging (typically MRI). Dr. Yasmeh reviews your imaging with you in plain language so you understand what's happening.
- Yes — Dr. Yasmeh offers second opinions, especially for patients told they need fusion. He evaluates motion-preserving alternatives like laminoplasty or artificial disc replacement when clinically appropriate.
- Dr. Yasmeh sees patients at four offices across Greater Los Angeles: East LA (1700 E Cesar Chavez Ave), Glendale (1505 Wilson Terrace), Santa Fe Springs (12215 Telegraph Rd), and Tarzana (18840 Ventura Blvd).
Related procedures
Procedures Dr. Yasmeh performs for this condition
Artificial Disc Replacement
Learn more about this procedure and when Dr. Yasmeh recommends it.
Read moreSpinal Fusion
Learn more about this procedure and when Dr. Yasmeh recommends it.
Read moreEpidural Steroid Injection
Learn more about this procedure and when Dr. Yasmeh recommends it.
Read moreMinimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Learn more about this procedure and when Dr. Yasmeh recommends it.
Read moreReady when you are
Get clarity on your degenerative disc disease today.
Same-week appointments. Four Greater LA offices. Most insurance accepted.