Are degenerative disc disease and arthritis the same?

Yes: Degenerative disc disease (ddd) and arthritis are very similar, and often are considered the same. Arthritis, however, is a broader term that can include arthritis to any joint in the body and can include different causes, such as autoimmune, infectious, overuse, traumatic, aging, etc. Ddd is specific to the spine and refers to arthritis that is usually age or overuse related.

No: Degenerative disc disease is a mislabeling as it is a description used for the natural aging process of the discs. This degeneration can lead to inflammation which is what arthritis is, an inflammation of a joint. Not all degenerative joints are arthritic.

Pretty much: The most common type of arthritis is known as degenerative arthritis and describes the gradual wearing down of the cartilage cushion in a particular joint. In the spine, the disc serves as the cartilage cushion between the vertebrae. When it gets worn down this is known as degenerative disc disease, which essentially is a degenerative arthritis of the spine. Thank you for your question.