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
Epidural Steroid Injection Trigger Point Injections Physical Therapy
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Physical Therapy Walking Stick/Cane Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Listen to Music Prayer/meditation Aromatherapy
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Gabapentin Pregabalin Microdiscectomy
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen Epidural Steroid Injection Lumbar Spinal Fusion
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
Amphetamine-Dextroamphetamine Modafinil Rest
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Clonazepam Alprazolam Lorazepam
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Duloxetine Sertraline Venlafaxine
Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
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Treatments taken by people with degenerative disc disease

Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Home Physical Therapy)
Type
Physical Therapy
How many have tried
104
Tried for
degenerative disc disease (99) pain in lower back (12)
4 more
Treatment name(s)

(Neurontin)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
69
Tried for
pain (60) degenerative disc disease (7)
4 more
Treatment name(s)

(Norco)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
65
Tried for
pain (45) pain in lower back (42)
2 more
Treatment name(s)

(Ibuprofen Prescription)
Type
Over the Counter Drug
How many have tried
63
Tried for
degenerative disc disease (54) pain (32)
1 more
Treatment name(s)

(Ultram)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
52
Tried for
pain (48) degenerative disc disease (5)
1 more
Treatment name(s)

(Naproxen Prescription)
Type
Over the Counter Drug
How many have tried
38
Tried for
degenerative disc disease (25) pain (15)
2 more
Treatment name(s)

(Cymbalta)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
33
Tried for
depressed mood (29) pain (4)
3 more
Treatment name(s)

(Flexeril)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
32
Tried for
pain (28) degenerative disc disease (5)
1 more
Treatment name(s)

(Percocet)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
32
Tried for
pain (28) degenerative disc disease (5)
1 more
Treatment name(s)

(Oxycodone IR)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
28
Tried for
pain (24) degenerative disc disease (6)
2 more
Data from patients with degenerative disc disease, who reported starting treatments within the last 5 years.
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Compare treatments taken by people with degenerative disc disease

Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Home Physical Therapy)
Perceived effectiveness
for degenerative disc disease (52 evaluations)
Side effects
muscle soreness pain 11 more
Total evaluations
63
Tried for
degenerative disc disease (99) pain in lower back (12)
4 more
Treatment name(s)

(Neurontin)
Perceived effectiveness
for pain (44 evaluations)
Side effects
weight gain blurry vision 30 more
Total evaluations
62
Tried for
pain (60) degenerative disc disease (7)
4 more
Treatment name(s)

(Norco)
Perceived effectiveness
for pain (24 evaluations)
Side effects
constipation insomnia 9 more
Total evaluations
29
Tried for
pain (45) pain in lower back (42)
2 more
Treatment name(s)

(Ibuprofen Prescription)
Perceived effectiveness
for degenerative disc disease (26 evaluations)
Side effects
acid reflux bruising 4 more
Total evaluations
39
Tried for
degenerative disc disease (54) pain (32)
1 more
Treatment name(s)

(Ultram)
Perceived effectiveness
for pain (37 evaluations)
Side effects
dizziness drowsiness 14 more
Total evaluations
40
Tried for
pain (48) degenerative disc disease (5)
1 more
Treatment name(s)

(Naproxen Prescription)
Perceived effectiveness
for degenerative disc disease (16 evaluations)
Side effects
stomach pain acid reflux 3 more
Total evaluations
26
Tried for
degenerative disc disease (25) pain (15)
2 more
Treatment name(s)

(Cymbalta)
Perceived effectiveness
for depressed mood (18 evaluations)
Side effects
constipation decreased appetite 4 more
Total evaluations
22
Tried for
depressed mood (29) pain (4)
3 more
Treatment name(s)

(Flexeril)
Perceived effectiveness
for pain (19 evaluations)
Side effects
excessive daytime sleepiness (somnolence) dizziness 5 more
Total evaluations
21
Tried for
pain (28) degenerative disc disease (5)
1 more
Treatment name(s)

(Percocet)
Perceived effectiveness
for pain (12 evaluations)
Side effects
constipation itching 14 more
Total evaluations
16
Tried for
pain (28) degenerative disc disease (5)
1 more
Treatment name(s)

(Oxycodone IR)
Perceived effectiveness
for pain (17 evaluations)
Side effects
constipation chronic constipation 5 more
Total evaluations
19
Tried for
pain (24) degenerative disc disease (6)
2 more
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None
Data from patients with degenerative disc disease, who reported starting treatments within the last 5 years.
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Who has degenerative disc disease on PatientsLikeMe?

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 2
20s 83
30s 617
40s 1589
50s 2044
60s 1098
70+ 213
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 252
20-29 years 777
30-39 years 1034
40-49 years 796
50-59 years 282
60-69 years 39
70+ years 4

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 643
Female 5012
Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 4237
Not Diagnosed 42
These charts show data from degenerative disc disease patients who have completed their condition history
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