While ddd is not hereditary we are all bound to get it. On all of my MRI reports congenital can be found every where. Short nerve endings etc. I spent my working life on my feet. 18 years of it at the USPS, bending/twisting/lifting. The bulk of done wrong. In my case it probably would not have mattered much as my troubles started with a hard dirt bike crash when I was 14-15. I highsided the bike at about 45mph and landed hip first on the wall of a berm. I am debating on having the big calcium/arthritis booger removed from my left hip. The booger is more then likely the result of the crash. I need a hip replacement on that side, doc that I have been seeing for it has suggested I just get my hip replaced.