Is there a difference in symptoms from a posterior disc osteophyte c4-c5 vs a anterior osteophyte. also normal for a young man in 20's? thank you.

Yes, nerve pinching: A posterior osteophyte is a bony growth that is behind the vertebral disc, adjacent to the spinal nerve exit opening (foramen) and the facet joint. The posterior osteophyte can cause narrowing of the foramen, pinching the nerve. An anterior osteophyte is a bony grown in front of the disc where no nerve roots or joints are present; relatively benign. Atypical for a 20 something unless injured.

The pathophysiology: is the same, but the location is different. Anterior osteophytes emanate from the anterior vertebral body, and very rarely cause symptoms. Posterior osteophytes extend posteriorly, where the nerve roots and spinal cord are, and can more often cause symptoms if large enough. Unusual but not unheard of to be present in your 20s.