when would cervical ddd appear
Causes of cervical degenerative disc disease. As a person ages, the discs in the spine and neck may begin to break down. This can lead to degenerative disc disease, which is a term used to describe the normal changes in your spinal discs as you age. Neck pain can be caused by cervical (neck) disc degeneration. 2  The spinal discs act as shock absorbers between the vertebrae, allowing the spine and neck to bend and twist. 3  A fall or injury can cause degeneration of the discs, but the most common cause is wear and tear over time.