An Overview Of Neck Arthritis

Neck arthritis can cause pain and affect the ability to turn and use the neck normally. It can be caused by the natural aging process or can be part of a larger arthritis disease called rheumatoid arthritis. A person may at first believe they simply have a stiff neck from sleeping wrong, but soon they will realize the pain and stiffness is not going away and that is when they discover they are suffering from it. It is important at this point to seek a doctor's advice on how to deal with the issue.

Any type of arthritis can severely affect a person. Arthritis is when joint and bones have swelling and cause movement to be impaired. Arthritis is most often associated with aging and usually occurs in older adults. This is because it takes time for the arthritis to settle into joints and bones. However, most arthritis is treatable and can be managed through a doctor's care.

If the neck arthritis is caused by a degenerative, age-related, condition then the symptoms may not be noticed early. In fact, the symptoms of degenerative neck arthritis can be seen on an x-ray long before they are felt by the person. However, in general the symptoms of neck arthritis include pain, stiffness, problems moving the neck and pain going into the head and shoulders. Symptoms can also include pain in the arms, problems with arm movement, weakness in arms or legs, clumsiness and headaches.

The treatments for neck arthritis vary. Treatment may be restricting the neck movement through the wearing of a brace. Using heat or massage therapy is another option. Typically, pain relief medications are used. Certain exercises may also help. The treatment is usually related to how sever the pain is and how severely effected the person is by the neck arthritis.

Neck arthritis is something that you will likely have to live with. It is hard to prevent, but thankfully there are many treatment options to help with the pain and discomfort you are feeling. This is a very globally condition, meaning that it can affect more then just your neck.

Getting treatment is important to being able to fully function and not suffering from side effects of the arthritis. It is possible to live a normal life with neck arthritis, but it all depends on your ability to handle the condition and your mindset in dealing with it.