Degenerative Disc Disease
Worn Discs in the Lower Back
Age-related degenerative changes of the intervertebral disc: NOT actually a "disease" but a normal aging process present in virtually everyone over 40 on MRI. Becomes clinically relevant when associated with discogenic pain (internal disc disruption). The challenge: disc degeneration on MRI is ubiquitous and poorly correlated with symptoms. Discogenic pain is diagnosed definitively only by provocative discography (invasive, rarely performed).
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