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How Age Affects Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease refers to the deterioration of the soft, spongy spinal discs that sit between each of our vertebrae. Since this is a degenerative condition, it occurs gradually during the natural aging process.

Disc Changes Over the Years

As we grow older, several changes occur throughout our bodies, including in the neck, back and spine. Some of the changes that occur as a result of degenerative disc disease include:

• Drying out of the discs – At birth, our spinal discs are composed of about 80 percent water. This amount gradually decreases as we grow older, causing our spinal discs to harden and become less flexible, sometimes leading to bulging and herniated discs, bone spurs and other spinal conditions.
• Tearing of the discs – Spinal discs are composed of tough cartilage on the outside and a soft, jellylike substance on the inside. As discs are put under constant pressure throughout our lives, the outside cartilaginous layer can become susceptible to tearing.
• Reduced disc space – As our discs dry out and shrink, the spaces between our vertebrae become smaller. This results in less cushion for the spine, allows the vertebrae to press down on nerve roots, and also causes us to become shorter as we age.

What to Do

Many of these changes begin to occur in our twenties with most people experiencing the resulting symptoms of pain, numbness and tingling by their thirties or forties. If you’ve been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, the minimally invasive treatment options at Laser Spine Institute may help you rediscover your life without back or neck pain. Contact us for more information, and to receive a free MRI or CT scan review.

Please note: Laser Spine Institute currently does not perform endoscopic procedures on the thoracic spine.