As you grow older the discs in your neck (and in your low back) slowly begin to wear out. This is typically a slow, gradual process that begins at a young age and progresses throughout your lifetime. It is important to understand that this process is not a disease or a disorder, but should be thought of as a “function of use” much like shock absorbers on a car become less shock absorbent as more miles are put on the car. Though this process occurs to everybody, it occurs at different rates in different people. Perhaps the most important factor influencing the rate of disc degeneration is genetics. However, other factors such as smoking history, trauma, work history and exposure to repetitive vibrational stresses (driving a truck, operating a jackhammer) may also play a significant role in accelerating this process.