Stages of Spinal Degeneration

Melissa Macias is a neurosurgeon with medical experience in the states of Illinois, Texas, and Wisconsin. Currently a neurosurgeon at Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Melissa Macias specializes in central and peripheral nervous system and also has training in the treatment of degenerative spine disease.

Degenerative spinal diseases, which are conditions that cause the loss of normal spinal function, are generally classified in four stages. These include:

- Stage 1 - An early phase of degeneration in which issues of the spine can often be corrected. Although an individual in this phase often feels no pain, they will often lose normal balance and curvature of the spine.

- Stage 2 – The second phase of degeneration entails a narrowing of discs and more severe degradation of posture and the bones of the spine. An individual in this stage will often feel pain as well, although the issues may still be reversed with treatment.

- Stage 3 - A more severe phase of degeneration where treatment may lead to improvements but full correction is usually impossible. Stage three involves a loss of height, energy, and more discomfort and pain.

- Stage 4 – an irreversible phase that involves severe nerve damage and scar tissue. In this phase, spinal degeneration has become permanent and pain management is often the only course of action.