Tuesday, July 16, 2013

How To Tell If Neck Pain Is Caused By Arthritis


It should come to no surprise that everybody wants to be healthy and free from sickness and disease. Nobody wants to have any conditions or illnesses that can negatively affect how we live our day to day lives. Sometimes, however, we simply cannot avoid them, even if we take great precautions to keep ourselves healthy.

Neck pain is one of those difficulties that we sometimes just have very little choice about. It can happen suddenly, for a number of different reasons. It can be caused by having a bad sleeping position, muscle strain or injury caused by sudden movement, or even stiffness from holding the same posture for a long period of time. Our neck muscles and joints become painful, and moving our head and neck becomes difficult.

For many of these cases, the pain and stiffness usually goes away with a little rest. Our bodies are able to heal, our muscles eventually relax, and we can carry on as we usually do. However, in some cases, the pain becomes recurring, and the stiffness is a daily occurrence. This form of neck pain may very well be caused by arthritis.

As it is, any problems with your neck can be a cause for some concern, after all many of the nerves that course through the body are connected through the spinal cord, which is protected by the bones in the neck. While many cases of neck pain can and do sort themselves out with some rest and maybe some pain medication, some neck injuries can affect the spinal cord, which can then affect the rest of the body.

In the case of neck pain caused by arthritis, the condition can lead to damaged neck vertebrae, which is in turn a result of damage to connective tissues. In some cases, this can lead to pinched nerves, weakness of the body, loss of feeling in the limbs, and even loss of balance and physical coordination.

Most cases of arthritic pain in the neck is a result of daily wear and tear that your body simply cannot keep up with and repair on its own. Injuries and other strains, as well as infections and other diseases can contribute to the development of this kind of neck pain as well. In a few other cases, this may be a result of a form of arthritis that affects the neck joints in particular. Whichever the case, the end result could be very bad for the affected individual.

If your neck pain is recurring, you should be concerned, as it could be caused by arthritis; more so if you feel weakness and loss of sensation in your limbs. At this point, the best thing to do would be to consult with your doctor immediately, so that the cause can be diagnosed, and correct treatment started. Early diagnosis may very well mean the difference that allows you to avoid permanent damage to your spinal cord and spine.

If you suspect your neck pain is caused by arthritis, do not self-diagnose! Arthritis in the neck can be very difficult to treat effectively, as it is not only a matter of making sure that the neck is free of pain. Make sure that you get the best treatment possible, from the best specialists and professionals available.

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