I don't have DDD but did have problems with discs, bone spurs etc pressing on lower spinal cord. For 15 yrs or so I had only minor and tolerable nerve pain in legs, but two years ago things suddenly worsened: mobility became a big problem, neuropathuc pain much worse, and bowel problems.

I had an emergency spinal decompression operation to trim discs, remove bone spurs etc. This stopped the pressure on nerve, removed bowel probs and otherwise stabilised the situation i.e. now very poor walking ability and continuous neuropathic pain.

It seems that the pressure on spinal cord resulted in softening of the nerve(myelomalacia) which I'm told is irreversible. Wish I had had the op earlier...
But DDD is a different dimension.