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Spinal degeneration occurs in all of us to varying extents and at varying rates for three reasons: increasing age, genetic predisposition (what your parents give you), and environmental factors (stress imposed upon the body).
As the spine degenerates the discs lose height, water content (hydration) and can bulge, the facet joints become arthritic and the space for nerves can reduce (stenosis).
Most commonly this process is painless or episodically painful, though in an unfortunate few, can cause severe dysfunction, stiffness, mechanical back pain and/or spinal nerve compression (limb pain, weakness, numbness, pins and needles).
Treatment varies depending on ones symptoms more so than changes evident on imaging studies (X-Rays, etc).
