MatureSpine.com/ Symptoms / Structural

	Pain
	Stiffness/Tightness
	Tingling

Pain, stiffness (or tightness), and tingling are all structural symptoms. These symptoms indicate that an anatomical structure in your spine has failed to maintain its normal structure and/or function, for example, as a result of wear and tear (degeneration or structural damage).

Pain
When you feel pain, it is really a reaction to signals transmitted throughout your body. These signals are sent from the pain source, such as a sore back, through the nerves in the spinal cord, and up to the brain, where they are perceived as pain.

Stiffness/Tightness
Stiffness (or tightness) in the back, neck, arms, and legs is most often caused by changes in your muscles. More than 80 percent of neck and back problems are a result of tight, achy muscles brought on by years of bad posture.

Tingling
When a nerve root is pinched, the compression may impede the blood supply to the nerve, making it give off abnormal signals (a tingling or pins-and-needles sensation). The term paresthesia is used to describe this symptom.