Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease describes age-related wear of the discs between the vertebrae. These discs act as shock absorbers and allow the spine to bend and twist.
Book a consultationHow Degenerative Disc Disease develops
With time, discs lose water and height, and small tears can develop. This can irritate surrounding nerves and joints, causing back or neck pain, stiffness and sometimes pain spreading into the arms or legs.
Common signs and symptoms
- Aching pain in the lower back or neck
- Pain that worsens with sitting, bending or lifting
- Stiffness, especially after rest
- Pain, numbness or tingling in an arm or leg
- Reduced mobility
Standard medical care
- Staying active, physiotherapy and posture advice
- Pain relief medicines and, in some cases, spinal injections
- Pain management programmes
- Surgery such as fusion or disc replacement if other measures fail
Regenerative research
Studies are examining whether cell-based therapies can support disc tissue and reduce pain. Animal studies report improvements in disc height, hydration and inflammation, while a systematic review of human studies reports pain improvement. The sources note that further clinical studies are needed to establish safety and feasibility.
Published research
Selected review articles and studies on regenerative approaches. Links open external sites, which are not controlled by Arkangel Clinic.
- Mesenchymal Stem Cells Can Improve Discogenic Pain in Patients with Intervertebral Disc Degeneration: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Stem Cell Therapy for Degenerative Disc Disease: Bridging the Gap Between Preclinical Promise and Clinical Potential
- Stem Cell Therapy in Discogenic Back Pain
Trusted patient information
Questions worth asking any clinic
- Is this treatment licensed, or part of a regulated clinical trial?
- What does the published evidence show, and what are the known risks?
- What would it cost, and what happens if it does not help?
- How will my own specialist or GP be kept informed?
