Cervical degenerative disc disease is used to describe the normal changes that occur in your spinal discs as you age. They are soft and compressible separating the interlocking vertebrae of the spine. They get thicker while we sleep and in the morning we often feel stiff until our upright position and the Cervical Disc Degeneration pressure from the pressing vertebrae flattens them causing the stiffness to go away. The discs are firm rubber-like shock absorbers for the spine. Degenerative disc disease can occur throughout the spine but it is seen most often in the lower back (lumbar area) and in the neck (cervical area). These discs allow us to flex, bend and twist.