Like all joints, the cartilage between the vertebrae in your neck may wear away due to age. The bones can rub on each other, and may irritate or pinch nerves in your neck.
If non-surgical treatment such as physical therapy, medications, and injections don’t work, you may need to have surgery to stop the pinching.
Your surgeon will tell you the exact type of surgery you’re having. You may need to have physical therapy after the surgery.