These changes are normal and they occur in everyone. They may also narrow the foramen-the small openings on each side of the spinal column where the nerve roots exit-and pinch the nerve root.ĭegenerative changes in the disks are often called arthritis or spondylosis. These bone spurs contribute to the stiffening of the spine. The body responds to the collapsed disk by forming more bone -called bone spurs-around the disk to strengthen it. This problem causes settling, or collapse, of the disk spaces and loss of disk space height.Īs the disks lose height, the vertebrae move closer together. They also lose water content, begin to dry out, and become stiffer.
As the disks in the spine age, they lose height and begin to bulge.