Changes in your spine are considered a normal part of aging. The spine likely begins this wearing-down process sometime in your 30s. By age 60, almost nine in 10 people have cervical spondylosis.

Who is most at risk for getting cervical spondylosis?

Older age is a risk factor for cervical spondylosis. In addition to age, you are more likely to experience neck pain or other symptoms related to cervical spondylosis if you:

Those in middle age, the disks between your vertebrae start to change. These changes can include:

Degeneration:

The spinal disks in your neck may slowly wear down (degenerate). With time, the disks become thinner, and the soft tissue has less elasticity. If you or your parents measure in a little shorter in height than you did years ago, this is normal collapsing or settling of your disks. Herniation: Normal aging can cause part of your spinal disk to tear or crack. This is called a herniated disk. The herniation can allow the disk to bulge out, pressing on nearby tissue or a spinal nerve. This pressure can cause pain, tingling or numbness.

Osteoarthritis:

Osteoarthritis is a progressive (ongoing) condition that causes cartilage in your joints to degenerate (wear down with time). With osteoarthritis, cartilage degenerates faster than with normal aging.

Bone Spurs:

When cartilage in the joints of the vertebrae in your spine starts to degenerate and bone tissue rubs directly against other bone tissue, abnormal bone growths develop along the edges of vertebrae. These growths (called osteophytes or bone spurs) are common as you age. Often, they cause no symptoms.

What are the most common cervical spondylosis symptoms?

You may have cervical spondylosis and not even know it. It’s common to have no symptoms related to this condition.

If you do experience symptoms, symptoms typically include: