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.
Neck arthritis also can affect sleep and the ability to perform normal daily activities. Severe cases can lead to complications that are debilitating and possibly irreversible.
Among those who do experience neck pain, the discomfort is usually short-lived, improving on its own within six to 12 weeks. Sometimes, cervical arthritis narrows the space where nerve roots exit the spine, pinching the nerve.
While there is no cure for arthritis in the neck, it does respond well to non-surgical and surgical treatments. The best way to determine the most effective treatment pathway is to consult with one of our board-certified Back, Neck, and Spine doctors at EmergeOrtho—Triangle Region.
But it's not the only cause of neck pain and many people can achieve pain-free living in spite of arthritis. Most of the time, neck arthritis responds well to conservative treatments like over-the-counter medications, heat, exercise, and physical therapy.
It may be worsened by looking up or down for a long time, or by activities where the neck is held in the same position for a long time like driving or reading a book. Neck pain usually subsides with rest or lying down.
Treatment. Most of the time if symptoms are mild, the doctor may recommend rest, a neck brace, drugs and physical therapy. These, however, do not treat the underlying cause. Surgery may be needed if you have severe pain that does not get better with other treatments or if symptoms are getting worse.
The goal is to keep your neck in a neutral position, says Picard. If you are a back sleeper, occupational therapists (OTs) recommend using a thin pillow that will keep your spine aligned while you sleep. Side sleepers should choose a taller pillow under their neck so their neck aligns with their head.
The Arthritis Foundation points to research done at the University of Miami School of Medicine that showed weekly massages coupled with daily massages significantly reduced arthritis-related pain and increased the range of motion in patients' necks.
Cervical spondylosis is known to trigger muscle spasms in the neck and shoulders. If you experience this, you can attest that it typically comes on suddenly and presents with sharp pain and stiffness. It may even cause your head or neck to jerk to one side or feel stuck in a bent position until it resolves.
If left untreated, cervical spondylosis can lead to cervical myelopathy or cervical radiculopathy. Cervical spondylosis can be treated with physical therapy, neck traction, medications, and in rare cases, surgery.
The most common triggers of an OA flare are overdoing an activity or trauma to the joint. Other triggers can include bone spurs, stress, repetitive motions, cold weather, a change in barometric pressure, an infection or weight gain. Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory disease that affects the skin and joints.
Neck pain caused by muscle tension or strain usually goes away on its own within a few days. Neck pain that continues longer than several weeks often responds to exercise, stretching, physical therapy and massage. Sometimes, you may need steroid injections or even surgery to relieve neck pain.
The most common symptom in patients with rheumatoid arthritis of the neck is neck pain, but with this condition, there is a risk and potential of serious complications, such as neurological deficits, myelopathy, paralysis and even sudden death.
For patients who suffer from chronic neck pain, it can be difficult to adjust to the changes and maintain a high quality of life. However, with adequate treatment, most people are able to continue participating in normal activities with little interruption to their everyday routine.
Lying down can cause inflammatory chemicals to pool in the fluid that cushions your joints, which makes them stiffen up. And your perception of pain may be heightened during the nighttime because you're not distracted by anything else.
Use of heat, such as applying heating pads to aching joints, taking hot baths or showers, or immersing painful joints in warm paraffin wax, can help relieve pain temporarily. Be careful not to burn yourself. Use heating pads for no more than 20 minutes at a time.
While research is limited, anecdotal reports show that sleeping without a pillow can help reduce neck and back pain for some sleepers. Stomach sleepers are generally best suited for going pillowless, because the lower angle of the neck encourages better spinal alignment in this position.
How stress affects your arthritis. In addition to the changes above, stress also triggers your body's inflammatory response. Your body releases inflammatory chemicals that make your arthritis worse. Inflammation causes painful, swollen joints, attacks cartilage, activates nerves, and can even cause muscle loss.
Anti-inflammatory gels, such as Voltaren Emulgel
Voltaren Emulgel contains an anti-inflammatory NSAID diclofenac that relieves pain and reduces inflammation, so you can regain the joy of turning your neck.
Voltaren Emulgel helps with the relief of localized traumatic inflammation and pain such as neck pain.
If you have back or neck pain due to osteoarthritis, chiropractic is one of the safest therapies you can use, explains Scott Haldeman, MD, a neurologist in Santa Ana, California and Chairman Emeritus of the Research Council for the World Federation of Chiropractic.
Those grinding noises are called “crepitus,” and they may be a sign that your joints need help. One of the most common places to develop crepitus is in the cervical spine, otherwise known as your neck. Your neck may pop, grate, or make a cracking sound when you turn it from side to side or tilt it up or down.
Treatments include heat, stretching and strengthening, and improving posture. Surgery may be needed in rare cases. If your neck crepitus isn't painful, it may be tempting to just ignore it. It's better to see your healthcare provider, though.