Spinal degeneration or osteoarthritis of the spine generally occurs after years of wear and tear of the spinal joints and discs. We normally see phase one degeneration begin in the late thirties to early forties. How we care for our spine will determine if, when or how long it will take to proceed through all of the phases. Trauma such as whiplash from automobile accidents, falls or improper lifting can cause the degenerative process to begin much earlier. Unfortunately, with improper postures from texting and gaming, phase one degeneration in the neck is being seen in the early teen years. Which, if left unchanged, will proceed into the other phases early in life.