Cervical Arthritis Pain
When cartilage become worn and torn in the upper spine, it causes a disease called cervical arthritis, or cervical spondylosis. Cervical arthritis can cause pain and swelling in the neck. Most individuals, also feel pain in other regions, including the shoulders and arms. A lot of the cervical arthritis cases involve women and men that are over 40 years old. Knowing the causes of cervical arthritis and treatment options can help you deal with the disease.
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What is Cervical Arthritis?
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Cervical arthritis affects the upper spine and is considered to be an osteoarthritis condition. It causes severe pain in the neck that eventually begins to travel down to the arms. Ultimately, cervical spine arthritis mostly affects the vertebrae in the neck, or cervical vertebrae. The vertebrae begin to degenerate, which causes the cartilage between the flexible discs to break down. Cartilage absorbs the shock for the spine. When the cartilage degenerates, the space between the vertebrae is reduced. The narrowing space compresses the nerves. The pain begins in the neck and works its way down to the arms.
Causes
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Some of the causes of cervical arthritis pain include poor posture, aging, injuries and multiple traumas to the neck. Many of the patients who suffer from cervical arthritis are over 40 years old. Both men and women are affected equally, but men are more likely to develop it earlier in life than women. The pain is due to the wear and tear of the neck joints, which occurs over time.
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Symptoms
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Some individuals notice signs of cervical arthritis starting in their 30s, which is usually a result of trauma. Those over age 50 are more susceptible to cervical arthritis. Some of the common symptoms of cervical arthritis include severe neck pain, limited mobility in the neck, weak muscles that cause numb hands, fingers and arms, discomfort when the neck is touched, headache, loss of balance, irritable bowel and bladder syndrome.
Some experts believe that various arthritis types can also cause cervical arthritis, including rheumatoid and ankylosing spondylitis. This is believed because of the similarities between these diseases and cervical arthritis, making diagnosis complicated.
Diagnosis
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Various tests and procedures can be done to test for cervical arthritis, including X-ray checks of the cervical bones, myelogram and computed tomography (CT) checks of the bone structure and spine, and magnetic resonance imaging that detects complexities in the bones.
Treatment
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Treatments available for cervical arthritis have a focus on helping reduce inflammation and pain. They also help to prevent permanent damage to the nerve roots and spine. Common treatments are neck traction, chiropractic manipulations, complete rest, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and cortisone injections at the pain site. For more extreme cases, surgical methods and removal of bones and disc tissue may be required.
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