Sunday, June 23, 2013

Arthritis - Lessen the Pain of an Arthritic Neck


Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and post-traumatic arthritis are the three main causes of neck arthritis.

Joints on each side of the body are affected when a person has rheumatoid arthritis. This happens because the joint cartilage is inflamed, which gradually destroys it.

Neck arthritis is most often osteoarthritis, which over time means a wearing down of cartilage in the neck.

A breakdown of the material between the bones is responsible for this condition. Multiple stress injuries that produce hyper-extension or hyper flexion of the neck can often result in the development of post-traumatic arthritis at some time in the future. Symptoms may not develop until years after an injury.

Heredity is also a factor when someone gets arthritis. Certain genes can cause a person to develop neck arthritis. Because of the aging body's decreased healing ability, people over 40 are more susceptible to arthritis of the neck.

Damage to your neck when you were younger could result in arthritis of the neck later on. Arthritis of the neck can develop because of previous neck injuries that were sustained.

How To Tell Whether You Have Arthritis of the Neck

When the neck aches or is stiff, that's a good sign that the neck may be arthritic. Because of the force of gravity on the spine, symptoms could be more severe with standing than they are with lying down.

Symptoms can feel worse during sleep, because that's when the muscles let go and can't support the spine in their relaxed state. Those with this condition can also have neurological symptoms such as tingling, numbness, weakness or achiness of the arms and hands.

An additional symptom is having a headache, especially one that is felt in the back of the head. Less blood flow to the brain may mean that patients get dizzy or lose balance when the disease has progressed. Neck Arthritis Management

How bad the symptoms are, and the root causes which are discovered, are both used in determining the kind of treatment.

Most of the time, exercise will help arthritis of the neck, but just make sure they're recommended by either a medical doctor or a licensed physical therapist. At night, when the spinal structures are not being supported by relaxed neck muscles, wearing a collar bone will provide extra support and help reduce the inflammation.

The symptoms can also be addressed by following an anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritis diet. Minor bouts with neck arthritis can be adequately treated with heat, massage, ice, and targeted exercises.

Another way to deal with arthritis of the neck is to inject anesthetic at trigger points, including a painful muscular band. Radio-frequency neurotomy can be done on those who have neck pain that's chronic. Other things that can be taken to relieve neck arthritis are Tylenol or Advil, but these should be taken with a doctor's consent.

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