Particular attention has been paid here to reduced oxygen concentration. Another cause may be mechanical trauma (this includes degeneration at the L5/S1 level). Other factors leading to degeneration are lifestyle and stimulants (e.g. smoking).

Research into the influence of genetic factors on the genes encoding the structural proteins of the intervertebral disc is still ongoing. Diagnosis of discopathy requires computed tomography, X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging. Symptoms of discopathy include pain in a particular section of the spine, numbness, tingling, sensory disturbances and many others.