Degenerative disc disease describes the gradual breakdown of the spinal discs that cushion the vertebrae. As discs lose height, flexibility, and water content with age, they can cause chronic neck or back pain, stiffness, and — when they compress adjacent nerves — radiating arm or leg symptoms. Though common, it is manageable with the right treatment approach.
What are the symptoms?
- Chronic neck or low back pain that is dull or aching in quality
- Pain that worsens with prolonged sitting, bending, or lifting
- Stiffness in the morning or after periods of inactivity
- Intermittent episodes of acute, severe pain superimposed on a background of chronic discomfort
- Radiating arm or leg pain if the degenerated disc compresses a nearby nerve root
- Reduced range of motion in the neck or lower back
What causes it?
- Aging: Discs naturally lose hydration and elasticity beginning in the third decade of life
- Repetitive mechanical stress: Jobs or activities involving prolonged sitting, heavy lifting, or vibration accelerate disc degeneration
- Genetics: A significant inherited component exists — some individuals have disc tissue more prone to early breakdown
- Prior injury: Trauma to the disc from a fall or accident can initiate or accelerate degeneration
How is it diagnosed?
MRI is the most informative study, showing disc height loss, signal change within the disc (indicating dehydration), end plate changes, and any associated nerve compression. X-rays with flexion-extension views assess for instability at degenerated levels. Discography (provocative disc injection) is occasionally used to confirm which specific levels are the primary pain generators when multiple levels appear degenerated on imaging.
Your Non-Surgical Roadmap — Surgery Is the Last Step
Most patients with this condition get better without surgery. Here's the path Dr. Chavarria follows before an operation is ever on the table:
- 1
Start conservative
Physical therapy, activity changes, anti-inflammatory or nerve medication, and time — the first line for nearly every spine condition.
- 2
Add targeted relief
If symptoms persist, image-guided injections (epidural or nerve blocks) can calm inflammation and pinpoint the source of pain — often avoiding surgery entirely.
- 3
Re-evaluate together
Dr. Chavarria reviews your progress and imaging with you, honestly, and explains exactly where you stand — no pressure, no rush to the OR.
- 4
Surgery — only if it's truly the best option
Reserved for severe or worsening nerve compression, instability, or when conservative care has had a fair chance. When it is right, you'll understand why and what to expect.
Treatment Options in Reno, NV — Conservative Care First
Degenerative disc disease is first treated conservatively with anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy focused on core strengthening and posture, activity modification, and epidural or facet injections for pain flares. The majority of patients are managed successfully without surgery. When pain is severe, persistent, and clearly linked to a specific level with instability or neurological compression, Dr. Chavarria offers targeted surgical options including cervical disc replacement or ACDF for the cervical spine, and lumbar fusion (TLIF) or lateral interbody fusion (XLIF) for the lumbar spine.
Treatment Procedures
Lumbar Spinal Fusion (TLIF/PLIF)
Lumbar spinal fusion permanently connects two or more vertebrae together, eliminating painful motion at an unstable or severely degenerated spinal segment. Techniques such as TLIF (Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion) and PLIF (Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion) restore disc height, decompress the nerve, and stabilize the spine — and can be performed with minimally invasive techniques through small incisions.
Learn More →Lateral Approaches (XLIF / LLIF)
Lateral lumbar interbody fusion — performed through the patient's side rather than the back or front — allows Dr. Chavarria to place a large interbody cage between the vertebrae through a very small incision, with minimal blood loss and no disruption to the back muscles. XLIF and LLIF are powerful tools for treating multi-level disc disease, flatback deformity, and degenerative scoliosis.
Learn More →ACDF (Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion)
Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) is one of the most commonly performed and consistently successful spine surgeries. Through a small incision in the front of the neck, the damaged cervical disc is removed, the nerve is decompressed, and the vertebrae are fused — eliminating the source of neck and arm pain.
Learn More →Cervical Disc Replacement (Arthroplasty)
Cervical disc replacement (cervical arthroplasty) removes a diseased cervical disc and replaces it with an FDA-approved artificial disc implant — preserving the natural motion of that spinal segment rather than fusing the vertebrae together. For the right candidate, this motion-preserving approach may reduce stress on adjacent levels over time.
Learn More →Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Minimally invasive spine surgery uses specialized instruments and a small incision — often less than an inch — to treat many spine conditions with less muscle disruption than traditional open surgery. Most patients go home the same day and return to daily activities in weeks rather than months.
Learn More →