What Is Good For Arthritis In The Neck

Arthritis Of The Neck: Symptoms Causes And Best Natural Remedies

Arthritis is a condition that is characterized by the inflammation of joints in the body. It manifests in more than a hundred different forms, each with its cause and treatment method. This condition is prevalent among adults who are above 65 years, and commonly occurs in more women than men. It is also more prevalent in overweight or obese people.

The most commonly occurring types of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. In this article, we are going to focus on a lesser-known type arthritis of the neck

Treatment For Arthritis In The Neck

There is a Natural Treatment for Arthritis in the Neck that will help you not only relieve your neck pain and gain greater neck mobility but also improve your neck arthritis and heal your cervical spine. Neck pain is a tricky thing that usually takes a few weeks to feel completely better. Using the recommended treatment for neck pain can get you feeling better in a fraction of the time it usually takes to be neck pain free.

Learn to Stretch you neck when you get a flare and help stop the pain in its tracks. When you strengthen and balance the muscles in your neck you will take a lot of pressure off of your spinal column and allow your neck to sit in it’s properly balanced location. Use these natural arthritis neck treatment options to relieve the pressure off your neck, clean up the damage in your discs and joints and begin healing the cartilage, discs and pinched nerves if you have any:

Go at your own body’s pace and you will be helping others, because they will be asking what it is that you did to recover. Be sure to check out the Healthy Back and Neck Institute’s tips for eliminating arthritis in the neck pain at home quickly and easily by visiting Lose the Neck Pain.

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.

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Arthritis Of The Neck Treatment

Your treatment will depend on the cause of the pinched nerve. Treatment may include:

• Physical therapyA certified physical therapist will teach you exercises to reduce pain, improve flexibility and strengthen muscles in the neck.
• MedicineOver-the-counter and prescription medicine can help relieve chronic pain, reduce inflammation and help you find comfort.
• Injections Corticosteroid injections, medial branch blocks and other injections can help reduce inflammation and help relieve pain caused by arthritis in the neck.
• Acupuncture Thin needles are inserted into specific spots along the spine to trigger the release of certain chemicals into the body, helping reduce pain. Acupuncture, along with traditional treatment, like pain management or physical therapy helps with pain.
• Massage Medical massage therapy can help reduce inflammation, ease pain and provide relief from certain back conditions. Your doctor may recommend massage therapy along with other treatments.
• Anti-inflammatory Diet A diet that helps boost your bodys natural ability to fight inflammation may help reduce symptoms, when combined with other treatment plans.

Generally, surgery is not needed to treat arthritis. Your provider may recommend surgery if your arthritis is causing another cervical spine condition, like a pinched nerve.

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.

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Heat And Ice Treatments

Some people with cervical spondylosis benefit from using heat or ice for their neck pain and discomfort.

Moist heat is used to decrease pain, improve circulation, and relax tight muscles around your neck. Heat can be applied in various ways, including:

• Soaking in a hot shower
• Using a hydrocollator moist hot pack
• Placing warm compresses on your neck
• Using an electric heating pad

When using heat, watch out for burns on your skin. Look for excessive redness, skin irritation, or skin discoloration. Heat should be applied for no more than 15 minutes, several times a day. If pain or redness occurs, discontinue use.

Ice may be used for acute neck pain or discomfort, as it is considered an anti-inflammatory treatment that decreases pain and swelling by limited blood flow to the body part being treated. Ice may be applied with an ice pack, ice bag, or cold compress.

You can apply ice to your neck for 15 minutes several times each day. Ice may cause frost burns. Use ice with a towel, facecloth, or other layer between the ice and the skin to avoid skin damage. Discontinue use if you feel increased pain or note excessive redness and skin irritation.

What Causes Arthritis In The Neck To Flare Up

It may be related to wear and tear, autoimmune disorders, infection and other conditions. Sometimes, the inflammation may also affect the sites where ligaments and tendons attach to the bones of the spine. Regardless of the exact location, arthritis in the back or neck can be painful and often becomes chronic.

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The Goal Of Treatment In Osteoarthritis Is To Reduce Joint Pain And Inflammation

There are plenty of treatments for spinal arthritis

• Back-strengthening exercises
• Losing excess weight
• Refrain from activities that aggravate pain

For persistent pain that is interfering with your daily activities, see a rheumatologist to make the correct diagnosis and begin the proper treatment.

Contact Us For More Information to Request an Appointment

About Tristate Arthritis and Rheumatology

Tristate Arthritis and Rheumatology is first and largest Rheumatology practice in the Northern Kentucky area. Founded by Dr. Arthur Kunath in 1986, our rheumatology practice now consists of six doctors who are board certified in both Internal Medicine and Rheumatology and a Physician Assistant. Patients see one doctor , thereby assuring continuity of care and an individualized doctor-patient atmosphere giving the physician the ability to establish personalized and detailed relationships. Our doctors have received numerous awards, including being listed as Top Doctors in Cincinnati Magazine, receiving the Patients Choice Award, the Most Compassionate Doctor Award, and the American College of Rheumatologys My Doc Rocks award.

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Treatment For Wry Neck

In most cases, if treated early, wry necks respond well to treatment in a few days. Heat and passive joint mobilisation can be used to loosen the neck joints and reduce the pain and muscle spasm.

In rare cases, particularly for people over 40, or very rarely in infants, wry neck can be caused by a medical condition. Your doctor or therapist can help with this diagnosis and give you a referral for appropriate care.

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Why Does Arthritis Lead To Headaches

Arthritis, the degeneration of a joint, can lead to inflammation and pain. If you experience arthritis damage at the top of your spine, in your first, second, or third vertebrae, headache pain can be a resulting symptom. Sensitive nerves connect your scalp to the top areas of your spine, so as your vertebrae deteriorate, you can feel referred pain in your neck, head, or jaw.

Neck Arthritis Treatment: Conservative

Conservative and natural care helps many neck arthritis sufferers control their pain and slow the progression of the disease. Examples of natural treatments are:

• Activity modification stretching before certain exercises and activities, and participating for shorter periods of time
• Yoga relieves neck tension and stress by reducing tension
• Herbal remedies turmeric, for example, is considered an anti-inflammatory and may help reduce neck pain related to arthritis.
• Physical therapy therapists help patients learn exercises that improve posture and strengthen the neck
• Pain relievers naproxen and ibuprofen help relieve inflammation and alleviate pain
• Warm baths these can soothe achy joints and relax your muscles
• Ice therapy ice is known to reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain
• Massage this may provide temporary relief

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Neck Pain Caused By Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis of the neck, called cervical spondylosis, is also common. This is characterized by arthritic deterioration of the discs and facet joint cartilage of the cervical spine. Some people experience no symptoms, while others may feel stiffness and/or pain in the neck, shoulders and/or between the shoulder blades.

The Top 7 Cervical Pillows For Neck Pain

Through our research, here are our recommendations for the 7 best neck traction pillows of 2022. Below the table, youll find our full reviews.

• Size 3 sizes (small/queen/high queen.
• Cover hypoallergenic rayon/polyester proprietary blend
• Warranty 30-day trial

The Epabomemory foam neck support pillow is Amazons best-seller in neck pain pillows and is made with breathable memory foam, in 3 different sizes.

This pillows special design allows you to take out a removable piece of memory foam at the bottom of the pillow if it feels too high for you.

However:

This mainly applies to stomach and back sleepers. The height on the sides stays the same. See the image below:

Control the height of the pillow with this special design

We also find this pillow is the best pillow for a military neck, see the image below:

EPABO helps to relieve and heal military neck

• Cover polyester/cotton machine washable zippered pillow cover
• Warranty 5 years

The Therapeuticaorthopedic cervical pillow incorporates 2 pillow shapes into one with different heights for back and side sleeping. Although it has an odd shape, it correctly positions the head and neck, both when sleeping on the side and back.

The center tongue, which supports the neck towards the area between the shoulder blades, works very well.

A unique feature in this pillow is the wedge extension which supports your upper back as well.

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Ways To Treat Neck Pain At Home

In addition to medical treatments, consider:

• Exercise. When your disease isnt active, get moving just dont overdo it. In moderation, it can reduce your pain, help with movement, make you feel less tired, and its just a good thing to do for overall health. Your local chapter of the Arthritis Foundation may offer water exercise and other kinds of classes specifically for people with arthritis.
• Ice packs. The next time you need to reduce swelling and pain, go to your freezer and grab a bag of frozen peas or corn these aids conform easily to the neck area.
• Not smoking. If you smoke, find a way to stop. The chance of complications from RA increases if you smoke, as do your odds of developing osteoporosis.
• Warm baths. Besides helping with sleep, a warm bath can soothe achy joints and relax muscle tension.
• Herbal remedies. If youre looking for natural relief, turmeric, the common kitchen spice, is known to be an anti-inflammatory and may reduce neck pain caused by inflammation. Boswellia is another natural pain reliever with anti-inflammatory properties.
• Yoga exercise. This ancient practice, which involves stretches, poses, and meditation, is not only a great exercise, but it also relieves stress and neck pain by reducing tension.
• Massage. Have your partner or a professional gently massage your neck where it hurts, for temporary relief.

Exercise For Arthritis In The Neck

Physical therapy

If youre experiencing neck pain due to arthritis, your doctor may recommend physical therapy. Physical therapy for neck arthritis entails doing specific exercises to help strengthen and stretch weak or strained muscles. Physical therapy can improve range of motion. Sessions and programs vary in length and frequency and are tailored to your condition.

The foundation of what were trying to do in physical therapy for the neck is often to help improve posture and the way people move, says Dr. Milani. Exercises in physical therapy tend to be focused on strengthening muscles of the back and neck, which puts less strain on structures of the cervical spine.

Youll do exercises during physical therapy and get instructions on ones to do at home.

Regular Physical Activity at Home

You may feel like you dont want to move when your neck hurts. But being inactive may increase stiffness, which can cause you to lose even more mobility. Aches and pains tend to respond better to continued movement than rest, says Dr. Milani. Exercise is often the foundation of treatment.

Exercises that involve stretching, strengthening, and improving range of motion can help reduce pain and keep your neck limber. You want to move gently and smoothly when doing neck exercises, not jerk your neck or make sudden movements. You may feel discomfort at first. Stop if any exercise increases your neck pain.

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How Is Spinal Arthritis Treated

The treatment for spinal arthritis depends on many factors. They may include your age, level of pain, type and severity of arthritis and personal health goals. Because the joint damage caused by arthritis is irreversible, the treatment usually focuses on managing pain and preventing further damage.

Nonsurgical treatments for spinal arthritis may include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids to reduce pain and swelling

• Other medications targeting specific symptoms or triggers of inflammatory arthritis

• Physical therapy to improve back muscle strength and range of motion in the spine

• Lifestyle changes to reduce inflammation or stress on your spine: losing weight, quitting smoking, changing your posture, etc.

Use Of Herbs Or Ayurveda

There are many herbs and other foods that can offer relief from neck arthritis. Some of them that has excellent anti-inflammatory properties are ginger, celery seeds, flax seeds, cayenne pepper, alfalfa leaves, olive oil, salmon fish and turmeric.

Moreover, adopting an Ayurvedic lifestyle can do wonders to your health and offer significant pain relief. Avoiding foods that cause flatulence, gentle massage with sesame oil, and doing certain breathing exercises can help to decrease pain and swelling.

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How Is Spinal Arthritis Diagnosed

Your doctor may use some or all of the following diagnostic methods to confirm spinal arthritis:

• Medical history and physical exam

• Blood tests for genetic markers and/or RA antibodies

• X-rays of the spine to locate the arthritic joint

• MRI, CT scan, myelography, bone scan and/or ultrasound to zero in on the damage, detect nerve and spinal cord involvement or rule out other causes

• Joint aspiration: testing of the synovial fluid inside a joint

To pinpoint the painful joint, your doctor may numb it with an injection and check whether the pain goes away.

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Heat And Cold Therapy

You may have heard that thermotherapy, the use of heat in therapy, is an effective way of treating pain in the neck due to arthritis. This method has merit. How does it work? By increasing circulation through the joints, bones, and muscles within your neck. Without ample blood flow, areas in your neck will be deprived of oxygen, and this leads to dead or dying muscle tissue, weakening your neck and forcing you to rely on your bones for keeping your head up. Ultimately, this leads to more pain.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, you can also use cold therapy to constrict the blood vessels in your neck and decrease inflammation. Doctors recommend using hot and cold therapy in intervals of 30 minutes each.

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Osteoarthritis Of The Spine

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of spinal arthritis. It usually affects the lower back and develops through wear and tear. As the cartilage between the joints slowly breaks down, it leads to inflammation and pain. Because the pain is from mechanical damage, it is typically more noticeable when you bend or twist your back. Past back injuries may also contribute to the development of degenerative arthritis of the spine.

Osteoarthritis of the spine usually affects the facet joints between the vertebrae. It is also known as facet joint arthritis, facet joint syndrome and facet disease. In some cases, degeneration of the spinal discs may contribute to facet joint arthritis. As discs between the vertebrae become thinner, more pressure is transferred to the facet joints. This leads to more friction and more damage to the cartilage.

When these degenerative changes occur in the neck, this condition is called cervical spondylosis. Arthritis in the neck doesnt always cause pain, and many people have no noticeable symptoms.