3 Best Exercises for Degenerative Disc Disease

To get a copy of Will's new book, Thriving Beyond Fifty, you can find it on Amazon below:

In this episode, Farnham's leading over-50's physiotherapist, Will Harlow, reveals 3 great exercises for improving the symptoms of degenerative disc disease (DDD). These exercises can help to strengthen, mobilise and improve the flexibility of sufferers of this condition.

To get a copy of Will's new book, Thriving Beyond Fifty, you can find it on Amazon below:
(Amazon Affiliate links)

[monserivera]

I have DDD, I got diagnosed with it when I was 23. I'm now 35 years old, so I've been dealing with it for over a decade now, the pain is always there but I do all the exercise I can do have some better days than others, but overall, I live with pain everyday.

[Joeypeeps]

I did the 1st exercise, and I fell over out of my chair and rolled under my desk.
So I did the other one on the floor. I also found an outlet I didn't know I had.

[tamaradodd]

my bus crashed when I was travelling to college.
MRI in 2019 was told that I have DDD/spinal stenosis L5, S1 with a bulging disc at the time.
I'm now 27 years old, still experiencing pain no matter what I do. also known as long-term chronic pain.
Over the last 10 years, I have found that using a mixture of wall pilates, yoga, gymnastics, physio stretches, and exercises for lower back pain, to relief the pain and strengthen those muscles, also using an exercise/yoga ball.
I recommend doing simple/beginner exercises. The last thing anyone wants is to make it worse, little at a time and most importantly, find which ones work for you.

All of these has helped me to maintain strength, flexibility and mobility to a certain extent.

[JP-nllb]

I have had DDD since I was 10 years old, found out during a very hot Field Day in elementary school that scared my teachers enough to have my parent pick me up early. Sent me to the doctor of course, I remember the doctor saying "You have a disc the age of an old man already." Two decades later, my lower back disc will attack me out of nowhere and hurt for weeks. This makes working daunting to say the least. During these episodes, I can't wash my hands without feeling like I am going to fall and am in total agony. When these episodes occur, I compile and do many stretches from many professionals on YouTube, try strengthening work, and walk several hours cause mayo clinic says it should help.(I have walked 4-8 hours in a day trying to recover) Recently, I have been in one of my episodes and felt miserable, but you gave me one exercise that I've never seen before. Interestingly, it has "popped" my lower back and troubled disc. I have had a couple of days without pain. Thankfully, this has allowed me to drill into paperwork and not focus on shifting in my office chair or constantly having my disc on my mind. Thank you for saving me, I greatly appreciate your expertise and am glad to be a part of your community.

[humanchildofgod]

🙏🏽 ❤ thank you. I belong to a club that I did not want to join. Excruciating pain from L-4/5 SCIATICA! 63 yrs wise because I rather listen to you than have a FUSION SURGERY!

[PeardropsTwister-ikhd]

I'm 57 and just got a report to say I have wear and tear on my spine. I found this video very easy to understand and very informative.
Thank you

[msmith]

I think your videos are terrific--intelligent, cautious and kind. As an older person dealing with scoliosis, DDD and post-polio issues (really old--pre-vaccine!), I appreciate the fact that you don't talk down to your target demographic nor adopt a saccharin, rah-rah tone either. Really well done. As an aside, as someone who lives across the pond, it cracks me up every time you make a 3 sign with your hand. Canadians and Yanks do it differently, but I had this conversation with my Scottish grandchildren recently and am always on the watch for it. 😊

[Rhezoloution]

what a great video...glad you clarified that DDD is not Bulge or Herniated...i was confused about that.

[Mebbe]

I have DDD. This is most useful thoroughly recommend this young man’s advice

[fairygurl]

*Thanks for Choosing to Help Your Fellow Humans to Suffer Less 💞

Much Respect
🖖🥰

[hassanallyo]

Best explanation I came across, had severe back pain, neck etc and went mri and Dr said I got Osteoarthritis with Ddd, but i found your videos full of optimism, practical advice

[marvaquammie]

I am 73 yrs old and has DDD. Thk u for the exercises it is really helping. Thks again.

[PinkSallyProductions]

Thank you for this video, very helpful for me! I had a herniated L5 S1 disc aged 29, a laminectomy a year later. I suffered the worst sciatic pain I had ever known. Diagnosed with DDD 1yr after that as well as primary fibromyalgia. I still have sciatic pain, daily, but I am no longer in a wheelchair and I hope to manage without my stick soon. Exercise 2 and 3 are very useful for me. Thank you. Be well 🌹

[rickbackous]

I was diagnosed with DDD in my 20's. It was up to me to fix because there wasn't any way I was going to allow back surgery. I'm 62 now and do one or two of the following daily for a couple hours. Pickleball, bike, walk, swim, hike or lift weights, EVERY DAY. I'm very active and I see no end in sight. Is there some pain? Hell yes, it ranges from maybe a 2-6 everyday but if I chose the route of sitting around and doing pain pills or surgery, I'm sure it would be a 10 every day.
Living in a retirement community now and seeing all the people in wheelchairs and walkers I'm pretty confident I made the right choice with the cards I was delt.

[lindaellis]

Thank you for this wonderful video. Really needed this specific info! Sad about my xray findings. To see a specialist and have MRI. Was a tennis player, dancer, spin class participant, and water aerobics enthusiast (I'm 65). Have had about 8 extremely painful episodes of lumbar and thoracic pain/spasm over the 10 yrs. This week went to ER for lumbar pain (severe spasm, couldn't stand up straight, bend over or bend back). I was extremly hunched and by quads an psoas were tight and became fatigued). They prescribed Ibuprofen and muscle relaxers, which brought great relief. I needed to get back to work as an LMT. Will try these exercises- before your video, I was afraid to do any type of exercise, for fear of hurting myself.

[lilmuffin]

Thank you for this you have explained this so well I'm 48 and was just diagnosed and been so depressed bless your heart

[billrush]

Thanks Will! I’m 57 and I helped a friend put some trim on his new flooring yesterday… yikes.. I am paying for that today.. I did these exercises this morning, for my DDD, and I felt better right away… thank you!!! Looking forward to your other videos… and getting your book… thanks again!!!

[anuragkarki]

I’m a 22yr male with PIVD in L5-S1, and I have “Degenerative disc” after years of weightlifting, so when he said “this is common in 50s” 😢, hope you see this and address it in a video 🫠

[rhodakozak]

I was diagnosed with both RA and degenerative disc disease at age 40; it's been rough, to say the least! Between the random symptoms of RA and pain in my lower back, I'm pretty much a mess. I'm glad I came across this channel and I hope to make this a part of my daily routine. It might help with quite a few things. Will post an update at some point.

[gerrardtorresbabel]

Im 43 and have DDD on l4 l5. I get alot of back pain, some sciatic pain. I am active and still play non competive football. I get most pain when sleeping or sat down. I going to atart doing these exercises every day and report back.

Much appreciated 🙏