Well, you are running up against genetics as well as activity related wear. The collagen in your discs (the annular wall) is somewhat brittle and it seems that tears in your case are common leading to DDD (degenerative disc disease).
Activity will change the natural history of this disorder. The more impact your neck takes, the faster the wear will occur to some degree. Impact activities like running and tennis will increase the stress in the discs. Cycling and swimming are less likely to create increased pressure on the discs. Golf is generally OK. Skiing is a question. It depends upon your style, the area you ski (crud and bumps) and the conditions (soft vs. hard-packed).
Your choices are an ACDF, an ADR or a posterior foraminotomy for relief of compression of a nerve root. All have benefits and risks. The cervical artificial disc (ADR) will preserve motion but doesn’t seem to prevent breakdown of the levels above and below (genetics again). The ADR can also wear out over time and need to be converted to an ACDF.
The ACDF is the tried and true repair for a bad disc. It will stiffen the neck somewhat but if done on a disc level with significant degeneration, there should be only imperceptable changes in range of motion.
The posterior cervical foraminotomy is an “OK” procedure but for bone spurs (the most common cause of nerve compression), the procedure is not as effective. This surgery is also associated with increased neck pain.
Dr. Corenman
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.