From Anne Asher,
Your Guide to Back & Neck Pain.
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Cervical spondylosis is caused by degenerative changes in the bones and intervertebral disks of the neck. A less technical name for this condition is osteoarthritis of the neck, or degenerative disk disease of the neck.

Cervical spondylosis is primarily due to aging. The condition usually first starts after the age of 40 and continues to progress as you age. Men tend to develop cervical spondylosis at an earlier age than women. The condition often leads to myelopathy. Cervical spondylosis is the most common condition of the neck that can affect the spinal cord.

What Happens
With age, osteophytes, or bone spurs, form on vertebral bodies. It's the body’s way of attempting to increase the surface area and stabilize the vertebral joint. Generally not successful in this mission, the bone spurs can become painful as they put pressure on spinal nerves, and in some cases the spinal cord. This pressure often produces weakness, numbness and/or incontinence of either the bowels or the bladder.

See below for a photo of the condition, and links for more detailed information on symptoms and treatments.