Understanding Degenerative Disc Disease: Common Symptoms

9. Continuous Pain or Intermittent Pain

Pain from degenerative disc disease may last for a few days or continue for months. Sometimes the pain is low and constant, or it may become severe and disabling. Although the condition can occur in any part of the back, the neck and lower back are the most common sites. Any movement, including coughing, sneezing, or standing for long periods, could lead to pain that spreads from the back to the buttocks and upper thighs. The condition starts with disc damage, but it soon affects the entire spine.