Can Arthritis Be Removed From The Neck

When You Should Consider Surgery

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For most people with arthritis of the neck, time and nonsurgical measures will relieve the discomfort. But if you have a herniated disk that causes spinal nerve compression with symptoms like pain, weakness and numbness that dont go away, it may be time to consider surgery.

One way to surgically correct a pinched nerve is with a diskectomy. The surgeon removes part of the damaged disk to relieve pressure on the nerve. Then the vertebrae may be fused or welded together to stabilize the spine. Another surgical option is a posterior foraminotomy, which widens the opening of the spine where the nerve passes through, and removes any bone spurs that are pressing on the nerve.

Compression of the spinal cord can be treated several ways surgically. They all create more space for the nerves. Anterior decompression and fusion surgery is similar to the treatment of a pinched nerve. Cord compression can also be addressed by removing a part of the vertebra called the lamina or a procedure called a laminoplasty.

The vast majority of people with a pinched nerve will improve following surgery. People with spinal cord compression also improve, but the extent of improvement depends on the severity of neurological dysfunction before the surgery, says Dr. Mroz.

This article originally appeared in Cleveland Clinic Arthritis Advisor.

Surgery For Neck Arthritis

Surgery is usually a last resort for neck arthritis, says Dr. Milani. Your doctor may recommend it if you have severe pain that isnt relieved with nonsurgical treatment or if you have signs of neurologic injury. Surgery may be needed if the arthritis causes instability, or more importantly, impingement of nerves and/or the spinal cord, says Dr. Shah.

When & How To Seek Medical Care

You should consult a neurosurgeon for neck pain if you have the above listed symptoms or the following:

Neck pain after an injury or blow to the head or neck
Fever or headache accompanies the neck pain
Stiff neck prevents touching chin to chest
Progression of weakness or numbness of arms and/or legs
Pain not improving after conservative management

For serious neck problems, a primary care physician and often a specialist, such as a neurosurgeon, should be consulted to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment. If you experience sudden onset of weakness, the situation may be emergent and you must seek medical attention at an emergency room, as delaying care may lead to permanent neurological injury.

For more gradual onset of symptoms over weeks to months, see your primary care physician for potential referral to a spine surgeon.

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Risk Factors For Spinal Spondylosis

Age as people age, they are at a higher risk for developing spinal osteoarthritis.
Gender women are more likely to develop spinal osteoarthritis.
Occupation some occupations that require heaving lifting and repetitive movement on the spine can increase your risk of developing spinal osteoarthritis.
Genetics some people can inherit spinal osteoarthritis from their family.
Weight the extra weight carried by obese patients can add extra pressure on the spine.

When To Talk With Your Doctor

If youve been using a particular management strategy for your arthritis, but you feel like its not working as effectively as it once did, contact your doctor. Its possible that you will have more success with a different type of treatment.

If your symptoms are worsening or new symptoms develop, thats another opportunity to discuss other treatment options with your provider.

Neck Pain And Cervical Spondylosis

Neck or cervical spine pain becomes more common as you age, often because of age-related degeneration of the neck bones. This wear and tear is what causes cervical spondylosis, also known as osteoarthritis of the neck or cervical osteoarthritis, and osteoarthritis may be accompanied by the growth of bony spurs and problems with the ligaments and disks in the neck.

Who Should Consider Surgery

Surgery should be considered for individuals who have failed conservative treatment with medications and injections, or those with symptoms that are so severe that they are starting to lose significant function and are at risk for permanent nerve damage.

All risks and benefits of spine surgery should be considered before making a decision. The spine surgeon will discuss all available options and treatments.

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How Cervical Osteoarthritis Develops

Pairs of small facet joints run down the back of your cervical spine. Each of your facet joints is lined with cartilage. This cartilage is surrounded by a capsule filled with synovial fluid, which lubricates your facet joints and enables smooth movements between adjacent vertebrae.

See Cervical Osteophytes: Bone Spurs in the Neck

How Is Neck Arthritis Treated

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The best way to treat neck arthritis will vary depending on the individuals symptoms and the severity of their condition. However, some common treatments for neck arthritis include:

Pain medication to control pain and inflammation may help relieve symptoms of neck arthritis. Prescription medication, which is stronger, may be recommended by a doctor when over-the-counter medications fail to work.
Neck brace to help prevent excessive movement of the neck, which can exacerbate symptoms, and to also provide additional support to the neck as it heals.
Physical therapy exercises that strengthen the neck muscles help reduce the strain placed on the spinal joints in the neck. In addition, physical therapy exercises can help improve neck range of motion. Exercises for neck arthritis are gentle and do not unnecessarily strain the internal structures of the neck.
Heat and ice therapy Alternating between heat and cold compresses help the neck muscles relax and reduce swelling and pain. Heat improves blood flow, which enhances healing.
Steroid injections epidural injections that contain anesthetic and powerful steroids that control inflammation can provide long-term relief from symptoms of neck arthritis.

Neck arthritis is a very common condition. If you are experiencing symptoms of neck arthritis, consult an orthopedic doctor to find out what your treatment options are.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Of The Spine

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder, meaning that the immune system turns on itself. It attacks synovium the lining of the joints. Although rheumatoid arthritis is more common in other joints, it can also affect the spine, specifically the cervical region . Rheumatoid arthritis of the spine is not caused by wear and tear, so its considered an inflammatory arthritis. It may cause back pain even when these joints are not in use. It tends to affect women more than men.

Treatments To Pursue Before Surgery

Upon diagnosing a patient with arthritis of the spine, doctors will first recommend a course of conservative treatment options to relieve symptoms, improve range of motion and promote long-term spinal health. Patients are very often able to manage their symptoms and engage in normal activities by working to find the right combination of treatments for their specific situation. Commonly recommended therapies include rest, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, hot and cold compression therapy and massage.

Arthritis of the spine surgery can become a serious consideration in the following situations:

A specific operable condition that is causing nerve compression and/or spinal instability has been identified
Symptoms are debilitating and causing a diminished quality of life
Conservative treatments have been thoroughly attempted and exhausted

Maintain A Body Mass Index In The Healthy Range

According to the CDC , people with excess body weight have an increased risk of developing some types of arthritis.

In people who already have an arthritis diagnosis, reaching or maintaining a moderate weight can help reduce stress on arthritic joints, reducing pain and slowing the progress of the disease.

The CDC says that losing

How Neck Arthritis Is Diagnosed

Your doctor will start by taking a history and doing a physical exam. Theyll check the range of motion in your neck and test your strength, sensation, and reflexes to find out if there is pressure on your nerves or spinal cord. Theyll ask when your symptoms started, when the pain happens, and what makes the pain better and worse.

Your doctor may order an X-ray to assess alignment and look for arthritic changes, says Dr. Shah. If there is a concern of compression of spinal nerves or the spinal cord, you may need an MRI to look at the neutral structure and discs, says Dr. Shah.

A CT scan may be ordered to look at the bone more closely, especially to see if any bony outgrowths are causing compression. However, X-rays and MRIs are the tests that are usually ordered, says Dr. Shah. A CT scan with a myelogram may be used if an MRI cant be done.

An electromyography, or EMG, may be ordered to assess for nerve compression, says Dr. Shah. An EMG tests the electrical conduction of the nerves in the arms. This test would be helpful if you have multiple nerves being compressed or compression of nerves at the neck and in the arm, he says.

Your doctor may order blood tests to see if you have any antibodies or systemic inflammation that would reveal inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis In The Neck

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease where the bodys immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the joints. It often starts in the smaller joints of your hands and feet and can spread to other parts of the body like the neck as the disease progresses. This typically doesnt happen until years after the onset of arthritis symptoms.

Neck pain is the primary symptom of rheumatoid arthritis in the neck, with the severity varying from person to person. You may feel a dull or throbbing ache in the back of your neck around the base of the skull. Joint swelling and stiffness can make it hard to move from side to side.

The difference between rheumatoid arthritis neck pain and a neck injury is that stiffness and pain from an injury can gradually improve over days or weeks. Rheumatoid arthritis in the neck may not get better it can worsen if left untreated. Even if symptoms improve, inflammation, swelling, and stiffness can return with rheumatoid arthritis in the neck.

How Can You Prevent Arthritis In The Neck

One of the best ways to prevent arthritis in the neck is by maintaining good posture.

Maintaining correct posture throughout the day and during sleep, coupled with neck strengthening exercises, may help to prevent development of arthritis in the neck, Dr. Singh says.

So check your postureespecially if you work behind a computer all day long or have a habit of scrolling social media on your phone.

Incorrect posture, such as being hunched forward when looking at a computer or phone, applies pressure to the neck and spine, he says. Good posture, when ears are directly over the shoulders, with the chest open and shoulder back, can relieve neck pain and help prevent arthritis in the neck.

Dont forget proper sleep posture.

Having good neck and back support during sleep, by utilizing a mattress and pillow that correspond to your sleep position, can help prevent neck arthritis, Dr. Singh says.

Maintaining a routine of neck-strengthening exercises and neck-flexibility exercises also can help prevent arthritis in the neck.

Next, check out home remedies for neck pain that really work.

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Kern Singh, MD, minimally invasive spine surgeon at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush University in Chicago
Rahul Shah, MD, board-certified orthopedic spine and neck surgeon at Premier Orthopaedic Spine Associates in Vineland, New Jersey

Spinal Arthritis: What You Need To Know

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis to affect the spine.
Arthritis can occur anywhere along the spine, but is more frequent in the lower back and neck.
Pain and stiffness are the most common symptoms of spinal arthritis.
Causes of spinal arthritis are still largely unknown except for osteoarthritis, which is typically a result of wear and tear.
Spinal arthritis treatment may include pain medications, steroid injections, physical therapy and surgery in severe cases.

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Types Of Neck Arthritis

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Neck pain can be caused by different types of arthritis. These are the most common ones:

Osteoarthritis in the neck Osteoarthritis consists of degenerating joints, vertebrae, and discs throughout the spine. The padding between has become worn down, and the vertebrae rub against each other, causing tiny bone fragments to break off and sit in the liquid that lubricates the joints, synovial fluid.
Rheumatoid arthritis in the neck Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory condition, meaning the bodys immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the joints. This condition typically starts with smaller joints in the hands or feet but can gradually make its way to other areas of the body, like the neck. If left untreated, the symptoms can get increasingly worse quickly.
Spondyloarthritis in the neck Spondyloarthritis is an umbrella term for inflammatory diseases, including psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, which affect the neck joints. Psoriatic arthritis in the neck accompanies psoriasis, an inflammatory skin condition. Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that attacks the bones in the spine.

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Exceptional Care For Patients With Arthritis In Spine

The joints of the spine make it possible for us to stand, walk, bend, twist and stretch. A flexible substance called cartilage acts as a cushion between each of the small bones that make up the spine and facilitates smooth, pain-free movement. If this cartilage breaks down due to age, overuse or disease, it can lead to spinal arthritis with symptoms of inflammation, stiffness, severe pain and restricted mobility.

Your health is important. Dont delay care.

If the pain and symptoms of spine arthritis are limiting your ability to enjoy life, we can help. Call today to schedule an appointment with a UH spine specialist.

A Surgical Solution For Degenerative Disease In The Neck

Back Pain, Head and Neck Surgery

Tiny structures in your neck can create big problems elsewhere in your body. Cervical osteoarthritis, characterized by the deterioration of the bones and cartilage in the neck, can cause radiating pain in the arms and legs, numbness, difficulty walking, lack of coordination and even incontinence.

And its not rareabout 1 in 5 people older than 65 deal with symptoms from arthritis in the neck, says Deb Bhowmick, MD, a neurosurgeon specializing in complex spinal surgery at UNC Medical Center.

Fortunately, UNC Health Care offers a procedure to help alleviate these symptoms: total disc arthroplasty, or TDA.

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How Should You Treat It

If you are doubtful that your headache might be a resulting symptom of your neck arthritis, you need to visit a health practitioner.

Your health expert might evaluate the issue and come up with the best possible diagnosis. As far as we talk about the cure, there are various options that you can opt for.

As long as we talk about the non-surgical options for treatment, it could be joint injections. The joint injection or facet is often targeted on the arthritic joints ultimately decreasing the inflammation.

One other minimalist option is to treat it with radiofrequency ablation. Its not only an excellent option but also a modest option to carry.

Your doctor might also recommend medicines that are non-steroidal and induced with non-inflammatory agents.

It can help you in lessening the severity of your pain and might as well reduce the inflammation in your joints.

Moreover, some of the other options can be treating it with physical therapy or massage. Adding to that, the application of heat might as well be a good option.

Apart from that, there are several lifestyle changes that you can opt for so that you can lessen the severity of your arthritis.

If you are someone who is over-weighted, you should start losing some weight since your weight can add strains on your joints.

Moreover, exercising on regular basis would always be a good option for treating your arthritis. Until now, you must have got your clear answer for Will Arthritis In The Neck Cause Headaches or not.

When To Contact A Doctor

Anyone with symptoms of arthritis should contact a doctor. Before visiting the doctor, it is helpful to keep track of all symptoms for a few weeks. A person can note what parts of the body are stiff and swollen and at what time of the day these symptoms occur. They can also note the duration of the symptoms and anything that helps ease them.

A doctor may perform physical tests to check a persons range of motion if they suspect arthritis. They will also ask about the persons medical history and order tests if necessary.

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How Is Cervical Arthritis Treated

Treatment of cervical often focuses on pain relief and mobility improvement. For people with mild symptoms, an initial approach may include lifestyle changes aimed at minimizing activities that cause pain. In some cases, wearing a splint or brace to support or realign the most painful joints may be suggested. Occupational or physical therapy may also be recommended for improving joint mobilization and strengthening surrounding muscles. For individuals whose weight contributes to their arthritis, weight loss through and a diet may decrease the on their joints.

When people have more severe symptoms, medications may be needed to relieve pain. First, oral or topical nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs , such as and , may be recommended. If pain persists, injections can be administered at the location of the pain. Individuals with long-term, severe pain may be prescribed stronger medications, such as or .