Unlike the muscles in the back, the discs of the lumbar spine do not have a natural blood supply and therefore cannot heal themselves; the painful symptoms of DDD can therefore become chronic. Degenerative disc disease (DDD) tends to be linked to the aging process and refers to a syndrome in which a painful disc can cause associated chronic lower back pain, which can radiate to the hip region. The condition generally occurs as a consequence of some form of injury to the lower back and the associated structures, such as the intervertebral discs. A sustained injury can cause an...