Degenerative disc disease can sound intimidating, but it does not always mean something dangerous is happening. In many cases, it refers to natural changes in the spinal discs over time. These changes may cause pain for some patients, while others may have disc degeneration on imaging without major symptoms.
If you are searching for degenerative disc disease treatment, the most important thing to know is that treatment should depend on the patient’s symptoms, pain source, movement limitations, nerve involvement, and long-term goals.
At Gramercy Pain & Neuroscience Center, we provide advanced care for spine, joint, and nerve-related pain with a focus on personalized treatment, minimally invasive options, regenerative therapies when appropriate, and long-term function. Our goal is to help patients understand what may be causing their pain and explore care options that support comfort, movement, and quality of life.
First, What Is Degenerative Disc Disease?
The spine contains discs that sit between the vertebrae. These discs help absorb pressure, support movement, and provide cushioning between the bones of the spine.
Over time, discs may lose hydration, flexibility, and height. This can affect how the spine moves and how pressure is distributed across the back or neck.
Degenerative disc disease may involve:
- Disc dehydration
- Reduced disc height
- Disc irritation
- Inflammation
- Stiffness
- Reduced spinal mobility
- Nerve irritation in some cases
- Pain that worsens with certain movements or positions
Degenerative disc disease can affect the neck, mid-back, or lower back. On our thoracic pain condition page, we explain that thoracic disc degenerative disease occurs when discs in the middle back break down due to age, wear and tear, or injury, causing the discs to lose hydration and flexibility. This may lead to pain, stiffness, and reduced spinal stability.
A Treatment Ladder for Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease treatment is not usually one single step. A helpful way to think about care is as a treatment ladder.
The first step is understanding the pain source.
The next step may include conservative care.
If symptoms continue, targeted treatments may be considered.
For selected patients, minimally invasive or regenerative options may be part of the plan.
The goal is not to jump immediately to the most aggressive option. The goal is to choose the right level of care based on the diagnosis.
Step 1: Understand Whether the Disc Is Truly the Pain Source
Degenerative disc changes are common, especially with age. But not every disc change causes pain.
This is why evaluation matters.
At Gramercy, we look at the full clinical picture before recommending treatment. This may include:
- Pain location
- Pain pattern
- Medical history
- Movement limitations
- Nerve symptoms
- Previous treatments
- Imaging when appropriate
- Daily function and lifestyle goals
Lower back pain may come from several causes, including degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, vertebral fractures, spinal infections, or post-surgical changes. On our low back pain page, degenerative disc disease is included among possible causes of spine-related pain, including vertebrogenic pain patterns.
The key point is simple: treatment should match the source of pain, not just the imaging report.
Step 2: Conservative Care and Movement Support
Many patients with degenerative disc disease begin with conservative treatment.
Conservative care may include:
Physical therapy
A guided program may help improve strength, flexibility, posture, core stability, and safe movement.
Activity modification
Patients may need to reduce movements that worsen symptoms, such as heavy lifting, prolonged sitting, repeated bending, or twisting during flare-ups.
Medication when appropriate
A provider may recommend anti-inflammatory medication, pain relievers, muscle relaxants, or nerve-related medication depending on symptoms and medical history.
Posture and ergonomic changes
Improving sitting posture, workstation setup, and lifting mechanics may reduce repeated stress on the spine.
Low-impact movement
Walking, stretching, swimming, or other low-impact exercises may support mobility when approved by a provider.
The goal of conservative care is to reduce irritation, support the spine, and improve daily function.
Step 3: Spinal Injections for Targeted Pain Relief
When pain is related to inflammation, nerve irritation, or painful spinal structures, spinal injections may be considered.
At Gramercy, treatment options may include epidural steroid injections and facet joint injections, depending on the diagnosis. Epidural steroid injections are designed to provide targeted relief from spinal pain by reducing inflammation and supporting mobility. Facet joint injections may provide precise relief for chronic pain related to the small joints of the spine.
Spinal injections may be considered when:
- Pain travels into the arm or leg
- Inflammation around a nerve is suspected
- Facet joints may be contributing to pain
- Conservative care has not provided enough relief
- The patient wants to explore non-surgical options
- The pain source needs to be clarified
Spinal injections are not right for every patient, but they may be useful as part of a personalized degenerative disc disease treatment plan.
Step 4: Nerve-Focused Treatment When Pain Radiates
Degenerative disc disease may sometimes irritate nearby nerves. When this happens, pain may travel away from the spine.
In the lower back, symptoms may travel into the buttock, hip, leg, or foot.
In the neck, symptoms may travel into the shoulder, arm, hand, or fingers.
Nerve-related symptoms may include:
- Burning pain
- Shooting pain
- Tingling
- Numbness
- Electric-like pain
- Weakness
- Pain that follows a nerve pathway
At Gramercy, nerve-focused treatment options may include nerve blocks, neuromodulation, and pulsed radiofrequency neuromodulation when appropriate.
We use pulsed radiofrequency neuromodulation as a minimally invasive option for certain chronic back and neck pain conditions, including pain related to herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, and spinal arthritis. This treatment uses controlled pulses near targeted nerves to help modulate pain signals while preserving nerve function.
Step 5: Minimally Invasive Spine Procedures
Some patients may need more than conservative care or injections, but may not need traditional open surgery.
At Gramercy, we specialize in minimally invasive spine treatments for selected chronic pain conditions. These procedures are designed to reduce tissue disruption while supporting better recovery, improved function, and decreased pain when appropriate.
One example is basivertebral nerve ablation, which may be considered for selected patients with chronic vertebrogenic back pain. This treatment targets the basivertebral nerve inside the vertebrae and may help reduce pain signals when the diagnosis and imaging findings support this approach. Basivertebral nerve ablation is listed among our minimally invasive spine treatment options.
Minimally invasive spine treatment may be considered when:
- Pain is chronic
- Function is limited
- Conservative care has not helped enough
- The pain source has been identified
- The patient wants to explore options before major surgery
- The condition fits a minimally invasive approach
A proper evaluation is needed to determine whether these treatments are appropriate.
Step 6: Regenerative Therapies for Selected Patients
Some patients ask whether regenerative medicine may be helpful for degenerative disc disease or related spine pain.
Regenerative medicine may be considered for selected spine, joint, ligament, tendon, or soft tissue conditions as part of a personalized treatment approach. These therapies are designed to support the body’s natural healing response and may help improve pain, function, and mobility for selected patients.
At Gramercy, treatment options may include regenerative therapies such as Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy and Bone Marrow Aspirate, depending on the patient’s condition and goals. Our treatment options include regenerative therapies that use the body’s own cells and tissues, such as blood or bone marrow, to support healing and function.
Regenerative medicine is not a guaranteed cure and may not be suitable for every patient. A proper medical evaluation is important to determine whether these treatments may be appropriate.
Step 7: Long-Term Spine Health and Longevity
Degenerative disc disease treatment should not only focus on short-term pain relief. For many patients, the bigger goal is staying active, moving better, and maintaining long-term quality of life.
A long-term plan may include:
- Building core and hip strength
- Improving posture
- Reducing repeated spinal stress
- Supporting mobility
- Managing flare-ups early
- Using low-impact exercise
- Avoiding long periods of inactivity
- Following a personalized treatment plan
- Monitoring symptoms over time
At Gramercy, we focus on care that supports pain relief, function, and longevity. Movement matters, and treatment should help patients stay active when possible.
When Surgery May Be Needed
Many patients with degenerative disc disease can begin with non-surgical or minimally invasive care. However, surgery may be needed in some cases.
Surgical evaluation may be necessary if there is:
- Severe nerve compression
- Progressive weakness
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Numbness in the groin or saddle area
- Severe spinal instability
- Major structural damage
- Pain that does not improve with appropriate care
- Serious neurological symptoms
The goal is not to avoid surgery in every situation. The goal is to choose the safest and most appropriate treatment for the patient’s condition.
Degenerative Disc Disease Treatment in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Brentwood, and Santa Monica
Patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Brentwood, and Santa Monica often search for degenerative disc disease treatment when back or neck pain begins affecting sleep, work, exercise, and daily movement.
At Gramercy Pain & Neuroscience Center in Beverly Hills, we provide advanced spine, joint, and nerve care using personalized treatment plans. Care options may include conservative guidance, spinal injections, nerve blocks, pulsed radiofrequency neuromodulation, minimally invasive spine procedures, regenerative therapies, and long-term pain management strategies when appropriate.
If you are searching for degenerative disc disease treatment, the first step is understanding whether the disc is truly the source of pain and which treatment path fits your condition.
Final Thoughts
Degenerative disc disease treatment depends on the patient’s symptoms, pain source, nerve involvement, imaging findings, and long-term goals.
Some patients may improve with physical therapy, activity modification, medication when appropriate, and lifestyle changes. Others may benefit from spinal injections, nerve-focused treatments, pulsed radiofrequency neuromodulation, minimally invasive spine care, or regenerative therapies when appropriate.
At Gramercy Pain & Neuroscience Center, we help patients understand the source of their spine pain and explore advanced treatment options designed to support comfort, movement, function, and long-term quality of life.