Many of you out there with back pain may have been told you have “degenerative disk disease“. It is explained to you as a bad thing….like you are doomed to pain and an inability to function. What you SHOULD KNOW is that if you live beyond 35 yrs of age, any image of your back will begin to show “degenerative disks”. This is NORMAL AGING, and there is nothing to worry about. And it is not directly linked to any pain or dysfunction.

Here is the story. These disks are the cushioning between each of your vertebra. They are filled with a jelly like fluid and remain puffed up until your late 20s or early 30s. It is during this time that you are your tallest in your life. Then this fluid begins to dry up so to speak. The disk becomes less jelly like and stiffer. Then by the time you hit your 40s these disks will begin to shrink or compress some. Hence why at your physical when you are 45 yrs old you are shorter then when you were 25. This process continues throughout your lifetime. It is also why grandma is now like 4 foot 5 instead of 5 foot 4.

So why did my doctor tell me I have degenerative disks? Because they have NO IDEA the reason you hurt or what to do for you…so they just tell you this is your problem so you will leave them alone and just go live with it. Cynical view, maybe, but it is not far from the truth. Back pain is not proven from any image (x-ray or MRI) of the spine. I can show you any number of studies proving even healthy individuals have spinal abnormalities on imaging (HERE is one), but that is not the point.

Back pain is highly complex condition and the solution lies in a detailed discussion with a competent healthcare provider such as a physical therapist. Physical therapists seek conservative solutions for patients with back pain. This means no pills, injections, or surgery, as these interventions have not been proven to be effective for most with back pain. Worse yet, many individuals who undergo back pain still suffer with pain.

What to do? Don’t push for any imaging of your spine unless you develop foot drop or have bowel or bladder issues that came on after your back pain. Beyond that, let the physician determine whether it is necessary if you have failed to respond to conservative care. And by conservative care I don’t just mean taking pain pills and hoping it will go away. Next, don’t worry if a doctor mentions this term to you. Now you know it is just normal aging and has nothing to do with pain or inability to function.

Well if the degenerative disks are not my problem, what is the solution? Trying seeking out a physical therapist who specializes in treating those with back pain. Find one who will truly spend all their time with you and not pass you off to support personal. Studies have shown patients exclusively treated by the primary physical therapist tend to respond better and faster.

Looking for that next step to treat your back pain. Here are 2 options. 1) Start with some more information about how you may be able to self-treat your back. 2) If that doesn’t work for you, then request your personalized Discovery Session, where you can learn more about your back issue and get a personalized plan to get you moving again.