Spinal degeneration affects all adults with the early signs being evident on radiological investigations undertaken from the early to mid 20s. Degeneration occurs due to wear in the intervertebral disc’s, small cartilaginous structures that lie between the vertebrae in the spine.

The discs comprise an outer fibrous envelope composed of a fibrous protein (collagen) and a core which is composed of a complex protein (proteoaminoglycans).  The core (nucleus pulposus) degenerates as we age and loses water content. This causes the disk to deflate and bulge out, much in the way a deflating car tyre might do. This can give rise to tears in the outer disc capsule.

Alternatively the disk may bulge out and compress neurological structures giving rise to symptoms in the arms or legs due to nerve or spinal cord compression. Degeneration of the disks can also give rise to painful tears in the outer disk envelope (annular tear).

The spine becomes increasingly unstable as the disks deflate further. This may accelerate the development of arthritis in the facet joints at the back of the spine which may give rise to pain. Additional strain is placed on the supporting soft tissues of the spine,  including the ligaments, disc capsule and envelopes around the facet joints.

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