Degenerative Disc Disease: What’s in a Name?

<p>Members of the Section on Biologics &amp; Basic Research, W. Mark Erwin, DC, PhD and Zorica Buser, PhD, MBA, discuss the term “DDD” and what accepted science defines as DDD as well as what the salient cellular, molecular and imaging characteristics are that define DDD as compared to normal ‘ageing’ changes. Additional questions addressed include: What characteristics and symptoms are shared and NOT shared with the ageing disc? &nbsp;&nbsp;How does one delineate these distinctions clinically? &nbsp;Is it possible? &nbsp;How do the cellular/molecular changes associated with the degenerative disc correlate with a patient’s symptoms? &nbsp;How much degeneration is ‘necessary’ before symptoms manifest? &nbsp;Is this even known?</p>