Degenerative Spine: Causes, Symptoms, and What You Can Do

When your spine starts to break down over time, it’s not just aging—it’s degenerative spine, a progressive condition where spinal discs and joints lose their normal structure and function. Also known as spinal degeneration, it’s one of the most common reasons adults over 40 struggle with back or neck pain. This isn’t a sudden injury. It’s the slow wear and tear of cartilage, discs, and bones that once moved smoothly but now grind, bulge, or pinch nerves.

What makes it worse? Sitting too long, lifting heavy things the wrong way, or carrying extra weight all speed up the damage. The osteoarthritis, a joint disease that breaks down protective cartilage in your spine plays a big role. As that cushion disappears, bones rub together, forming bone spurs. Those spurs can press on nerves, leading to spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal that causes numbness, tingling, or weakness in arms and legs. You might not feel it at first, but over time, simple tasks like standing up from a chair or walking more than a few blocks become harder.

Many people think surgery is the only fix, but most cases respond well to movement, targeted exercises, and simple pain management. Physical therapy isn’t just about stretching—it’s about retraining how your muscles support your spine. NSAIDs help with flare-ups, but long-term relief comes from strengthening your core and improving posture. Even small changes—like swapping your chair, walking daily, or sleeping on a firmer mattress—can slow down the process.

What you’ll find in the posts below isn’t just theory. It’s real advice from people who’ve lived with this. You’ll see how certain medications affect back pain, how lifestyle shifts make a measurable difference, and what treatments actually work without going under the knife. No fluff. No hype. Just what helps—and what doesn’t.