My uncle has DDD (Degenerative Disc Disease). He took treatments you know therapy, medication and stuff and has been all well for a year and now he's complaining about the same pain he had a year ago because he picked up a heavy load last week. 

What English verb can be used to describe a disease _coming back_ (usually after an improvement)? I'd be glad to put an example here to provide the context but I'm not sure how this verb is used in a sentence i.e. with a personal subject here _my uncle_ or an impersonal one like _DDD_ here.

Thanks