Worn Discs Don't Have to
Wear You Down.
Degenerative disc disease is common. Living in constant pain with it doesn't have to be.
Degenerative Disc Disease Treatment and Surgery in San Antonio
If an MRI has shown worn, thinning or collapsed discs in your neck or lower back, you have probably heard the words "degenerative disc disease." It sounds scary, but it is one of the most common causes of chronic neck and back pain, and it is very treatable.
At Texas Disc Replacement Center, Dr. Antonio Webb helps people in San Antonio find out whether conservative care, or degenerative disc disease surgery that preserves motion, is the right next step.
What Is Degenerative Disc Disease?
Your spinal discs are the cushions between your vertebrae. Over time they lose water, height and flexibility. When that wear starts causing pain, numbness or stiffness, it is called degenerative disc disease.
Despite the name, it isn't really a disease. It is a condition that describes how a disc is aging. Many people have disc wear on an MRI and feel fine. Others have significant pain from a single worn level. In my practice, the goal is to connect what your imaging shows with what you actually feel.
Neck vs. Lower Back
Cervical degenerative disc disease affects the discs in the neck and can cause neck pain, headaches and pain or tingling that travels into the shoulders and arms.
Lumbar degenerative disc disease affects the lower back and can cause aching low back pain, pain with sitting, and pain or numbness that travels into the hips and legs.
The 4 Stages of Degenerative Disc Disease
Many spine specialists describe disc degeneration in four general stages. Where you fall helps shape which treatments make sense.
Degenerative Disc Disease Symptoms
Degenerative disc disease symptoms vary depending on the affected area of the spine and the severity of disc wear. Common signs include:
Neck or lower back pain that flares with sitting, bending, lifting or twisting
Pain that comes and goes in episodes lasting days or weeks
Radiating pain, numbness or tingling into the arms or legs
Stiffness and reduced range of motion
Weakness in the hands, arms or legs
Pain that eases when you walk or change position and returns when you sit still
Signs Your Disc Pain Needs a Real Evaluation
Pain that is getting worse, not better, over weeks or months
Numbness, tingling or weakness in your arms, hands, legs or feet
Pain that disrupts sleep or daily activity
Pain that hasn't responded to rest, physical therapy or medication
Loss of bladder or bowel control (seek emergency care right away)
Degenerative Disc Disease Treatment Options
Treatment for degenerative disc disease depends on which discs are involved, how far they have worn, and whether nerves are affected. Here is how I typically approach it, starting with the least invasive option.
Fusion is still an option for cases involving instability or severe deformity. For many people with disc-related pain, it isn't where treatment has to end up.
1. Conservative Care: Physical therapy, core strengthening, activity changes and anti-inflammatory medication are the right starting point for most people and often bring real relief.
2. Minimally Invasive Decompression: When a bone spur or narrowed canal is pressing on a nerve, relieving that pressure through a small incision can ease arm or leg symptoms.
3. Motion Preserving Disc Replacement: When a worn disc is the source of the pain, replacing it with an artificial disc treats the root cause while keeping that segment moving. No fusion required.
When Is Surgery for Degenerative Disc Disease Needed?
Degenerative disc disease surgery is usually considered when pain or nerve symptoms continue after several months of conservative care, when weakness is getting worse, or when imaging clearly shows which disc is causing the problem. Not everyone qualifies for disc replacement, which is why a careful review of your imaging comes first.
When Disc Replacement Fits Degenerative Disc Disease
For patients with degenerative disc disease who haven't found relief through conservative treatments, artificial disc replacement may offer a motion-preserving alternative to spinal fusion. Key benefits include:
Targets the Source: Replaces the worn disc that is driving the pain, not just the symptoms.
Keeps Your Motion: Unlike fusion, the treated level keeps moving.
Faster Return to Life: Many people return to light activity within weeks.
Protects Nearby Levels: Preserving motion can reduce extra stress on the discs above and below.
The right treatment depends on the cause of your back pain, how long symptoms have lasted, what treatments you have already tried, and whether motion-preserving surgery is an option for your spine.
Frequently Asked Questions About degenerative disc disease
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Many spine specialists describe four general stages: dysfunction, dehydration, stabilization and collapse. Early stages often respond well to conservative care, while later stages are more likely to involve nerve pressure or significant loss of disc height.
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It depends on the cause of your pain. Physical therapy, core strengthening and anti-inflammatory medication help many people. When a single worn disc is clearly the source and conservative care has not worked, disc replacement can address the problem directly.
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Worn disc tissue does not grow back on its own. Symptoms, though, can often be managed well, and when a disc is the source of ongoing pain, it can be replaced with an artificial disc that keeps the segment moving.
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Genetics can play a role in how quickly discs wear down. Age, past injuries, smoking, body weight and physically demanding work also contribute.
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Paralysis is rare. Severe cases in the neck can compress the spinal cord, which is why worsening weakness, balance problems or loss of bladder or bowel control need prompt medical attention.
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Many people with cervical degenerative disc disease manage well with conservative care. It becomes more serious when worn discs pinch nerves or the spinal cord, causing arm pain, numbness, weakness or trouble with fine hand movements.
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Treatment depends on which levels are causing symptoms, not just which levels look worn on an MRI. Some people need treatment at one level, others at two. A careful review of your imaging and exam determines the plan.
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Surgery is usually considered when pain or nerve symptoms continue after several months of conservative treatment, when weakness is getting worse, or when imaging clearly identifies the disc causing the problem.
“You’ve been told you need a spinal fusion. But that may not be your only option.”
Dr. Antonio Webb explains how artificial disc replacement can help patients with degenerative disc disease find relief while preserving natural spinal motion. Learn why this procedure may be an alternative to traditional spinal fusion.
For patients with worn or damaged spinal discs, artificial disc replacement may offer a way to address the source of pain, maintain flexibility, and return to everyday activities sooner.
Meet Dr. Antonio Webb
"My philosophy is simple: Move, Not Fuse. I believe surgery should enhance your life, not limit it." Dr. Webb’s expertise in motion preservation allows him to offer solutions that many general surgeons overlook. Trained at the world-renowned Texas Back Institute, he focuses on the latest technology to ensure his patients stay active and pain-free.
Ready to Treat the Disc, Not Just the Pain?
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Webb and find out which degenerative disc disease treatment fits your spine.
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