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Arthritis of the Neck.Arthritis of the neck (and related neck and back pain) may be categorised as one of two types of arthritis: Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis.What are the main symptoms and treatments for Arthritis of the neck? Well, let's look at each of the above types in turn. Osteoarthritis is usually a natural part of the aging process. Most of us will have some amount of wear and tear in our neck by the age of 40. However, depending on its severity, its symptoms can range from mild to very severe in intensity. Rheumatoid arthritis is a medical condition requiring drug treatments as well as manual therapy. It is not a natural part of the aging process. It is a medical condition in itself with no known specific causes - but it does appear to be hereditary. Osteoarthritis of the neck is a natural degeneration of your spine in most cases. The surfaces of the joints in your neck anatomy become worn and dry in parts, and this can lead to stiff neck pain, shoulder pain and upper back pain. Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic inflammatory arthritis, which causes inflammation in your joints and can be very painful indeed. Thickening around the joint surfaces can result in nodules of hardened tissue around your joints, which can affect your movement. The symptoms of neck arthritis are usually pain and stiffness over one or both sides of the neck and upper back. Symptoms relating to arthritis are usually worse in the morning. They loosen out with movement generally. Treatment of this type of arthritis involves pain management and mobilisation to improve the movement in the affected joint, and muscle strengthening exercises to help unload the weight on the effected joint surfaces. In rheumatoid arthritis and severe osteoarthritis anti-inflammatory medications may be required intermittently to control the degenerative process as well as the pain. Your rheumatologist will advise you on this. Prevention of neck arthritis involves:
Let me tell you about Jessie - who came to me recently with arthritis in her neck. Jessie was 60 years of age and had been suffering with neck and head pain for about 16 years. She was diagnosed with neck arthritis by her doctor when she was 45 years of age and was told that she would have to live with the pain and stiffness as it was "just part of the aging process". So, being the compliant lady that she is she did just that! As the years went on, her pain and stiffness appeared to worsen and Jessie attended an Arthritis Ireland meeting (a voluntary support group for people suffering with arthritis). Jessie was amazed at what could be done to make arthritis easier to live with. Understandably, she was cross that she had not been aware of this group at the earlier stage of her arthritis. It was as a result of this meeting that Jessie came to see myself. Jessie did have a moderate amount of arthritis and her movement was very stiff. This was both as a result of the arthritis itself as well as the protective mechanism Jessie had developed by not moving her neck due to pain. This resulted in further stiffness. I really enjoyed working with Jessie - and we achieved some great results together. We mobilised her neck, taught her exercises to do at home and corrected her posture. Within three months she had twice the movement she had previously and a huge reduction in pain. Once we had achieved this excellent response to treatment I advised Jessie on home management using heat and exercises. I also encouraged her to attend my clinic once a month for physiotherapy and exercises in order to keep her neck arthritis under control. Jessie has been doing that for ten months now and continues to manage well. Although we cannot cure, or reverse, arthritis - we can always help you in the management of the symptoms. In many cases of osteoarthritis we can also prevent the condition from worsening. Never just acccept arthritis - help yourslelf by managing it! Early detection and intervention is always best with managing arthritis of the neck. Return from Arthritis of the Neck to Neck Pain Relief Return from Arthritis of the Neck to Back Arthritis Return from Arthritis of the Neck to Back Pain Relief Home |
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