Understanding Degenerative Disc Disease: Common Symptoms

7. An Injury

Sometimes an injury such as a fall can lead to a herniated disc, which may trigger degenerative disc disease. An injured individual with a healthy back may feel some pain following the accident, but the damage eventually heals. The person with disc degeneration not only experiences trauma from the injury, but also excessive swelling and additional degeneration symptoms. The injury is much more likely to damage the cartilage on the facet side of the vertebrae, which creates an extra burden on the disc. Years after the injury, these individuals are more likely to develop osteoarthritis or bone spurs.