Arthritis Of The Neck – Causes, Symptoms And Helpful Natural Remedies

Arthritis of the neck is usually associated with older people but it can also be evident in younger people as well. Neck arthritis is also known as Neck Osteoarthritis, Cervical Degeneration, Spinal Degeneration and Cervical Spondylosis.

Arthritis of the neck appears when, over time, the discs, joints and bones wear and tear, and this can lead to decreased disc height, bony spurring, thickening of the bone, and loss of joint cartilage in the spine and the neck. It usually develops over time but natural remedies can help control the symptoms.

Causes of neck arthritis

Even though the condition is often related to old age, there are also other risk factors that can cause, or increase the risk of getting, neck arthritis. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons listed these in 2009 as the following:

* Genetic factors can increase your risk, such as history of neck pain.

* Smoking has also been linked to increased neck pain.

* Certain occupations can increase the risk of neck arthritis – these include jobs with a lot of neck motion and overhead work.

* Mental health issues like depression can cause neck arthritis.

* Injuries, for instance car wreck, can increase the wear and tear.

Symptoms of neck arthritis

There can be various symptoms associated with arthritis of the neck. The most common symptom is pain and stiffness in the neck. This can often worsen when standing and walking because of the way the spine curves while a person is standing up. The Arthritis M.D website also says that sleeping can aggravate the stiffness and pain, because the neck relaxes during sleep and the muscles don’t always provide enough support for a proper posture during sleep.

You can also experience pain in other areas of the body, such as the upper back and arms, and you could even experience headaches. The compression of nerves in the neck region can easily cause the feeling of pain elsewhere, especially as it might decrease circulation in the mentioned areas.

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