Neck Arthritis Can Cause Pain Across the Entire Body

For lots of people cervical spondylosis is a pain in theNon-Invasive Treatments
neck. It happens because the padding with the disks inIf a person is only at the first stage of neck arthritis,
the back of the cervical spine has degenerated. It ispain can be eased through the use of non-steroid
the one type of neck arthritis that is the most commonanti-inflammatory medications but special care has to
cause of neck pain. It is mostly found in older peoplebe taken to prevent damage to nerves or spinal cord.
over the age of 60. In general, for people over 60A neck brace is often used to stabilize the area
years of age, is estimated that 75% of men andaround the neck and protect the patient from
women suffer from one variation of neck arthritis. Thisunexpected, sudden movements. If the condition gets
is for one due to the age of the patient but injuries thatworse, keeping the neck still through the use of a
may have occurred in earlier years can also be thecervical brace may be advised and injections of
root of the problem.cortisone into the spine could help to relieve more pain
Cervical spondylosis is also known as cervicalfor the patient.
osteoarthritis or, more commonly, neck arthritis. It is aIn cases where it cannot be treated by any of the
degenerative disease that is often caused by theabove, time in hospital may be needed in an
wear and tear of bones in the neck and a loss ofenvironment that will stop the neck from moving at all -
cartilage that would normally act as a buffer betweenthus preventing additional neck or spinal cord damage.
the vertebrae and neck. Bone spurs that break awayIn these severe cases, while hospitalized, a patient
from the bones and work their way into cartilage cancould be induced with muscle relaxers and narcotic
also cause neck pain. An open space is created bypain relievers.
the loss of cartilage between the vertebrae and theFinally, if nothing else is working, a doctor may advise
neck which can trap nerves as they get compressed,surgery to try and reclaim the space between the
which causes pain in other ways.vertebrae and neck. In cases where bone spurs have
Oftentimes pain in the neck, arms and back happensbroken off and worked their way into cartilage,
as a result of these trapped nerves and if the spinalsurgery can help remove them and relieve pain.
cord is affected by neck arthritis as well, the pain canSurgery is always a last option and should never be
travel to the legs as well. As well as the neck pain, aconsidered lightly.
patient may suffer a loss of feeling in the legs.