As you age, spinal discs can lose water content and become less flexible, making them more susceptible to bulging or herniation. When a disc bulges outward, it starts to press on nearby nerve roots exiting the spinal cord, leading to radiating pain along the affected nerve’s path. The bulging disc also irritates surrounding tissues, causing an inflammatory response that results in localized pain in the back or neck. This pressure stretches the disc outer layer, which contains pain-sensitive nerve fibers. In response, the body tightens nearby muscles, often causing painful muscle spasms.