This degenerative joint condition affects nearly everyone as we age. Wear and tear on the joints can slowly deteriorate cartilage, the protective tissue that covers the surface of the joints of the vertebrae. Osteoporosis can also affect men, though the numbers are not as great. Degenerative disc disease. As a natural part of the aging process, discs lose their water content and degenerate.
Tears can occur in the disc's annulus and bone spurs can form.
Although these degenerative processes are part of the natural aging of the spine, the discs of some people degenerate much more quickly and profoundly than others. A disc can also bulge without rupturing, sometimes compressing or irritating a nearby nerve root. This disorder is more common after the age of 50, although it can occur in younger people. This issue of The Well Street Journal is available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format for offline reading or printing.