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Intervertebral disc stages
“Intervertebral disc stages” can refer to two related concepts:

1. Stages of Disc Degeneration (Degenerative Disc Disease)

Clinicians often describe disc degeneration in 4 stages:

Stage 1 — Dysfunction

Early tears in the annulus fibrosus

Mild loss of disc hydration

Little to no height loss

Episodic back pain may start

Stage 2 — Dehydration / Prolapse (Early Disc Bulging)

Disc loses water → becomes thinner and less flexible

Annulus weakens → disc may begin to bulge outward

Pain, stiffness, and intermittent nerve irritation possible

Stage 3 — Disc Protrusion / Extrusion

Annulus develops larger tears

Nucleus pulposus pushes through (herniates)

Clear nerve root compression may occur

More consistent pain, possible sciatica or radiculopathy

Stage 4 — Fibrosis / Stabilization (Advanced Degeneration)

Disc height significantly reduced (“collapsed disc”)

Bone spurs (osteophytes) may form

Segment becomes stiff

Pain may decrease but mobility decreases

2. Stages of Disc Herniation (Herniation Classification)

Disc herniation itself is often described in four stages:

Disc Degeneration – Annulus begins to weaken

Prolapse – Disc bulges but outer layers remain intact

Extrusion – Nucleus breaks through the annulus but remains attached

Sequestration – Disc fragment breaks off entirely

3. Pfirrmann Grading (MRI-based Disc Degeneration Scale)

Frequently used in radiology (Grades I–V):

Grade I: Healthy, high water content

Grade II: Mild degeneration

Grade III: Moderate degeneration, height loss

Grade IV: Severe dark disc, reduced height

Grade V: Collapsed disc