The gradual deterioration of the disc between the vertebrae is also referred to as Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD). As people age, the composition of the cartilage of the body changes, resulting in thinner and more fragile cartilage. These changes cause the intervertebral discs and the joints that stack the vertebrae (also known as facet joints) to wear over time. This degeneration of the disc is also referred to as spondylosis. Spondylosis can be seen on MRI scans of the spine as a narrowing of the normal disc space between adjacent vertebrae
Any level of the spine can be affected. Degeneration of the disc can cause local pain in the affected area. When Degenerative Disc Disease specifically affects the spine of the neck, it is more specifically referred to as cervical spondylosis. When the mid-back is affected, the condition is known as thoracic spondylosis. Degenerative Disc Disease affecting the lumbar spine is referred to as lumbar spondylosis.
Spondylosis is a chronic degenerative condition of the spine that affects the vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs as well as the contents of the spinal canal. Spondylosis progresses with age and often develops at multiple interspaces. Chronic degeneration is the most common cause of progressive spinal cord and nerve root compression. 
Spondylotic changes can result in spinal canal, lateral recess, and foraminal stenoses. Intervertebral discs lose hydration and elasticity with age, and these losses lead to cracks and fissures. The surrounding ligaments also lose their elastic properties and develop traction spurs. The disc subsequently collapses, causing the annulus to bulge outward. As the disc space narrows, the annulus bulges, and the facets override one another. 
Spondylosis is a common condition that is estimated to account for 2% of all hospital admissions. It is the most common cause of spinal cord dysfunction in patients older than 55 years. Approximately 90% of men older than 50 years and 90% of women older than 60 years have evidence of degenerative changes in the spine. Symptoms of cervical spondylosis may appear in those as young as 30 years, and spondylosis usually starts earlier in men than in women.

Treatment

Treatment is usually conservative in nature; the most commonly used treatments are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), physical modalities, and lifestyle modifications. Alternative therapies such as osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM), massage, trigger-point therapy, chiropractic and acupuncture may be utilized to control pain and maintain musculoskeletal function in some people. Surgery is occasionally performed. Many of the treatment modalities for cervical spondylosis have not been subjected to rigorous, controlled trials. Surgery is advocated for cervical radiculopathy in patients who have intractable pain, progressive symptoms, or weakness that fails to improve with conservative therapy. Surgical indications for cervical spondylosis with myelopathy (CSM) remain somewhat controversial, but "most clinicians recommend operative therapy over conservative therapy for moderate-to-severe myelopathy. Physical therapy may be effective for restoring range of motion, flexibility, and core strengthening. Decompressive therapies (i.e. manual mobilization, mechanical traction) may also help alleviate pain. However, physical therapy cannot "cure" the degeneration, and some people view that strong compliance with postural modification is necessary to realize maximum benefit from decompression and flexibility rehabilitation. Understanding anatomy is the key to conservative management of spondylosis.

Surgery