Degenerative Disc Disease

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What is Degenerative Disc Disease?

Degenerative disc disease is part of the natural process of aging. It may also be due to structural damage. Intervertebral discs lose their flexibility, elasticity, and shock absorbing characteristics, ligaments that surround the disc become brittle and the disc starts to dry out and shrink.

Common symptoms reported by people with Degenerative Disc Disease

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Amphetamine-Dextroamphetamine, Modafinil, Rest
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Sertraline, Venlafaxine, Duloxetine
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen, Tramadol, Ibuprofen
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Amitriptyline, Trazodone, Zolpidem
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Alprazolam, Lorazepam, Clonazepam
Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, insomnia, fatigue, and pain) regardless of condition.
Last updated:

Treatments taken by people with Degenerative Disc Disease

You’ve tried
Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Home Physical Therapy)
Type
Physical Therapy
How many have tried
138
Tried for
Degenerative Disc Disease (138) Pain (2)
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Advil)
Type
Over the Counter Drug
How many have tried
89
Tried for
Degenerative Disc Disease (83) Pain (34)
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Ultram)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
71
Tried for
Pain (70) Degenerative Disc Disease (6)
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Vicodin)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
68
Tried for
Pain (65) Degenerative Disc Disease (5)
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Neurontin)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
61
Tried for
Pain (55) Degenerative Disc Disease (4)
3 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Cymbalta)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
51
Tried for
Depressed mood (44) Degenerative Disc Disease (5)
4 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Aleve)
Type
Over the Counter Drug
How many have tried
46
Tried for
Degenerative Disc Disease (44) Pain (5)
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Elavil)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
43
Tried for
Insomnia (30) Pain (28)
2 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Percocet 5/325)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
41
Tried for
Pain (40) Degenerative Disc Disease (3)
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Lyrica)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
40
Tried for
Pain (34) Degenerative Disc Disease (6)
1 more
Data from patients with Degenerative Disc Disease, who reported starting treatments within the last 5 years.
Last updated:
You’ve tried this treatment.

Compare treatments taken by people with Degenerative Disc Disease

You’ve tried
Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
How many evaluations
Tried for
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Home Physical Therapy)
Perceived effectiveness
for Degenerative Disc Disease (65 evaluations)
Side effects
Pain Back pain 24 more
How many evaluations
80
Tried for
Degenerative Disc Disease (138) Pain (2)
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Advil)
Perceived effectiveness
for Degenerative Disc Disease (14 evaluations)
Side effects
Acid reflux Dry mouth 3 more
How many evaluations
22
Tried for
Degenerative Disc Disease (83) Pain (34)
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Ultram)
Perceived effectiveness
for Pain (26 evaluations)
Side effects
Constipation Nausea 13 more
How many evaluations
29
Tried for
Pain (70) Degenerative Disc Disease (6)
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Vicodin)
Perceived effectiveness
for Pain (30 evaluations)
Side effects
Constipation Abdominal cramps 13 more
How many evaluations
31
Tried for
Pain (65) Degenerative Disc Disease (5)
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Neurontin)
Perceived effectiveness
for Pain (36 evaluations)
Side effects
Weight gain Dizziness 24 more
How many evaluations
48
Tried for
Pain (55) Degenerative Disc Disease (4)
3 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Cymbalta)
Perceived effectiveness
for Depressed mood (26 evaluations)
Side effects
Drowsiness Dry mouth 17 more
How many evaluations
38
Tried for
Depressed mood (44) Degenerative Disc Disease (5)
4 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Aleve)
Perceived effectiveness
for Degenerative Disc Disease (10 evaluations)
Side effects
Acid reflux Abdominal cramps 5 more
How many evaluations
15
Tried for
Degenerative Disc Disease (44) Pain (5)
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Elavil)
Perceived effectiveness
for Insomnia (27 evaluations)
Side effects
Dry mouth Constipation 18 more
How many evaluations
36
Tried for
Insomnia (30) Pain (28)
2 more
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Percocet 5/325)
Perceived effectiveness
for Pain (18 evaluations)
Side effects
Drowsiness Chronic constipation 12 more
How many evaluations
19
Tried for
Pain (40) Degenerative Disc Disease (3)
Check to add this treatment to your profile
Treatment name(s)

(Lyrica)
Perceived effectiveness
for Pain (24 evaluations)
Side effects
Weight gain Anxious mood 51 more
How many evaluations
34
Tried for
Pain (34) Degenerative Disc Disease (6)
1 more
Data from patients with Degenerative Disc Disease, who reported starting treatments within the last 5 years.
Last updated:
You’ve tried this treatment.
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None

Who has Degenerative Disc Disease on PatientsLikeMe?

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 1
20s 76
30s 486
40s 1,139
50s 1,326
60s 574
70+ 89

Sex

Distribution of sex

88% Female
12% Male
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 201
20-29 years 636
30-39 years 840
40-49 years 615
50-59 years 199
60-69 years 23
70+ years 0
Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 3,125
Not Diagnosed 35
These charts show data from Degenerative Disc Disease patients who have completed their condition history
Last updated: