Purpose Discoblock is effective in relieving discogenic low back pain, but it can also cause intervertebral disk degeneration (IDD). The effect of species, concentration and volume of local anesthetics on IDD with discoblock have not been reported. The purpose was to study the effect of species, concentration and volume of local anesthetics on IDD in rats undergoing discoblock. Methods The effects of local anesthetics on nucleus pulposus cell (NPC) viability in vitro were studied. NPCs were exposed to lidocaine, bupivacaine and ropivacaine at different concentrations. NPC viability was measured. The least cytotoxic local anesthetic was used in vivo. The concentration and volume of local anesthetics on IDD in rat with discoblocks were tested in vivo. Detection indicators included X-ray, MRI, water content of the disk and histological changes. Results The toxicity of local anesthetics to NPCs was dose and time dependent, and the cytotoxicity of different local anesthetics was different. Among the three local anesthetics, ropivacaine was the least toxic to NPCs. The effect of ropivacaine concentration on IDD was not significant, as detected by X-ray, MRI, disk water content and histology (P < 0.05). The volume of ropivacaine has a significant effect on IDD, as supported by X-ray, MRI, disk water content and histology (P < 0.05). Acupuncture itself significantly increased IDD, as detected by MRI, disk water content and histology (P < 0.05). Conclusion Ropivacaine should be selected for its low cytotoxicity. A lower volume and slow injection speed should be used to reduce IDD during discoblock.