Methods are provided that better describe, and localize the pain generator or suspected pain generator in and around spinal discs in relation to neck or back pain so as to improve the diagnosis of degenerative disc disease. In some embodiments, there are methods for diagnosing a pain generator or a suspected pain generator in a patient suffering from back pain, the methods comprise labeling an inflammatory, vascular, neuronal, and/or metabolic pain marker at a location inside of or adjacent to an intervertebral disc in the patient suffering from back pain to increase an image of the pain marker with an imaging procedure; and imaging the labeled inflammatory, vascular, neuronal, and/or metabolic pain marker in a manner sufficient to diagnose the pain generator or suspected pain generator.