well it is hard to answer. If the disc was healthy then it was probably in your best interest to leave it. The osteophyte or bone spurring, could have gotten worse for sure. Usually when they clip the osteophyte they do so from the anterior when the disc is removed. In order for them to get to that w/o removal of the disc is posterior.

It could most certainly be the source of pain btw. I can explain what I was told as I am C4-7 Myself, and it took two tries lol. The body senses trauma to the bone and sends signals to repair itself and then the bone starts to grow, this is how fusion is achieved. Now if there are bone spurs already present it can make them larger. Hope that helps a bit