When we talk about degeneration of the spine we talk about two different areas that most often have degeneration at the same time. The first area is the discs in the spine. The second area is the small joints at the back of the spine that regulate the movement of the spine. These joints are called facet joints.
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It is more complicated
When discs degenerate, they loose their space, their thickness. But it is the discs that hold the vertebrae apart and thus give space for the nerves.
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When the discs loose their space, the vertebrae come closer together and the facets then jam into each other. This causes these facets to degenerate. And so, you have a snow ball effect. As the discs degenerate more then the facets also degenerate more.
Copyright 1999
Dr. Victor Jean Ouellette
All Rights Reserved
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