“My dad had a bad back. Now I have the same problem. Did I inherit the disease?"
“My mom had degenerative disc disease. Am I genetically predisposed to get it, too?"
These are common questions. Patients with spinal conditions often wonder if their genes play a role in back pain. The answer is…maybe. It depends on the type of spine condition.
Many health conditions do have a genetic component. That’s why your physician asks about your family’s health history. Diabetes, for example, tends to run in families, but not everybody who has diabetes in their family develops the disease. Some people develop diabetes even though no one in their family has had the disease.
Spinal conditions are similar. Some spine problems are considered genetic; for others, genetics is just one of many contributing factors.
Is Degenerative Disc Disease Genetic?
Degenerative disc disease is one of the most prevalent causes of persistent low back pain. If a family member has experienced similar back pain, your chances of developing persistent back pain are greater.
Degenerative disc disease causes symptoms of back or neck pain due to the gradual degeneration of a spinal disc. Over time, discs degrade and dry out, diminishing their shock-absorbing capacity. The result of disk degeneration may include symptoms like back pain, weakness, numbness, and hot, shooting sensations in the arms or legs (radicular pain).
Everyone experiences some degeneration of the spinal discs as they age. Not everyone experiences debilitating symptoms, but as many as 85 percent of people 50 and older in the U.S. will have disc degeneration.
Research shows that those with an immediate family member with disc-related lower back pain are four times more likely to suffer from lower back pain themselves.1 Those with a second-degree relative (aunt, uncle or grandparent) or third-degree relative (cousin) with the condition also have at least some increased level of risk.
Other studies have identified at least two versions of a gene that appears closely linked to sciatica and disc herniation.2
Keep in mind that lifestyle habits may also contribute to spinal degeneration. Lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle may contribute to disc degeneration as much as genetics.
Similarly, some research suggests that taller people are more prone to back pain. If you are tall with parents who have back pain, you may be more likely to experience back pain too.3
Genetic Diseases of the Spine
Other spinal conditions that appear to have a genetic component include:4
• Scoliosis, a structural curvature of the spine tends to develop during adolescence. The exact cause is unknown, but research suggests that people (especially women) are more likely to develop scoliosis if there is a family history of the condition.
• Kyphosis, sometimes referred to as hunchback, is another curvature disorder that involves an excessive forward curvature of the upper spine. As with scoliosis, the causes are not well understood, but genetics appear to be a contributing factor, especially with regard to osteoporosis/osteopenia.
• Spondylolisthesis, a spinal condition in which one vertebra slips forward relative to the bone below may be due to injury, but there is also a significant genetic component again, especially for women. Alert your spine specialist if this condition runs in your family.
• Ankylosing Spondylitis is a form of inflammatory arthritis affecting the spine or other large joints. Genetics play a significant role; people with an HLA-B27 gene are at a much higher risk of developing ankylosing spondylitis; however, not everyone with the gene will develop the condition.
Maximizing Your Chances
There’s not much anyone can do to change their genes. More often lifestyle and health habits play a large role in preserving spine health.
Steps you can take:
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Exercise regularly
• Take care of your health, with regular check-ups with your doctor to monitor blood pressure, cholesterol, and pain.
• Avoid smoking and excessive drinking
• Learn and follow safe practices for lifting, to minimize stress and strain on your spine.
It’s useful to know if genetics may contribute to back problems now or in the future. In the long run, focus on variables you can control to improve your spine health, increase exercise, and monitor your overall health to boost your chances of avoiding debilitating back pain.
If symptoms persist, please see your doctor or seek a referral to a spine specialist, who can make the right diagnosis and start treatment.
Post reviewed by Dr. Rey Bosita, an orthopedic spine surgeon on the medical staff of Texas Health Center for Diagnostics and Surgery in Plano.
[1] J Bone Joint Surg Am
2011 Feb 2;93(3):225-9. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.J.00276.
Evidence for an inherited predisposition to lumbar disc disease https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21266637/
[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12014433/
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4480023/
[4] Which Spinal Conditions Have a Genetic Component? https://sinicropispine.com/which-spinal-conditions-have-a-hereditary-connection/