Hi, what I can add is that the disc degeneration issue does get to many as they age. For me I know I've lost about 3 inches from my frame due to disc degeneration. I would NEVER do surgery, and have learned to live with it and a MD I listen to talks about gentle bodywork like mild chiro work can help. The MD I hear is a doctor who does Prolotheraphy work but I don't think it's a big treatment in the UK.

As for the young people, and the genetic issue, I don't know, could be. But I stay away from surgeries but it's a choice many choose., Surgery as I see it is the Very Last Resort.