Cervical Spondylosis (Neck Arthritis)

The bones in your neck change as you age. Surfaces become rougher; the discs cushioning the bones become drier; the cartilage breaks down; ligaments holding the bones in place get stiffer; bone spurs can grow; or your spinal column can narrow — all resulting in discomfort or pain and other symptoms that disrupt your daily life.
The vertebrae in your neck are especially susceptible to injury or age-related deterioration due to two factors:

These bones are balancing your head: a heavy, round skull on a small surface area.
The area holding the nerves is small. You feel any jarring or wear and tear acutely.

Symptoms of Neck Arthritis

The symptoms of neck arthritis often start gradually. They may or may not worsen over time. Symptoms to watch out for include:

Chronic pain and stiffness in your neck, worsening with upright activity
Sound or feeling of popping in your neck when moving
Involuntary contractions or spasms that cause pain or limitations
Recurring headaches
Numbness or weakness in your arms, hands or feet
Weakness in your legs and difficulty walking
Flexibility and pain that’s worse in the morning, but improves throughout the day until before deteriorating again at night
Your neck feels tender when pressed
Pain and weakness radiate to your shoulder or between shoulder blades
You experience fatigue and disturbed sleep
You have difficulty working

These symptoms may subside after several months, or they can become chronic. Arthritis in the neck may revolve specifically around your facet joints in the neck as they degenerate due to osteoarthritis. Your doctor has to determine the cause of your pain.

Facet Joints in the Neck

Your facet joints are the hard, smooth cartilage located at the back of each vertebral bone. These joints enable limited forward and backward movements, as well as a twisting motion. The facet joints are encased in a protective capsule filled with synovial fluid that provides lubrication for smooth movements.

When the joint is healthy, everything works as expected. But as the cartilage breaks down, bone rubs on bone, causing inflammation and pain. This process can take years before the condition becomes painful.

Risk Factors for Arthritis in the Neck

Though anyone can develop neck arthritis, some are more susceptible to experiencing chronic problems. For example:

Genetics can play a factor if osteoarthritis runs in your family.
Injury from falls, sports or other traumas can set the stage for long-term problems.
A job that requires lots of heavy lifting puts more strain on your spine.
If you’re overweight or obese, you may tend to develop osteoarthritis sooner.

Diagnosis Process for Neck Arthritis

Your NYC sports pain specialist has a variety of methods to diagnose your neck arthritis, including:

A thorough review of your medical history to include lifestyle, injuries, work environment and methods you’ve used to control the discomfort
A complete physical exam
X-rays of the affected area
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Diagnostic injections to determine where pain is located and what tissues are involved
Electromyography (EMG) to measure electrical activity in your muscles
Nerve conduction studies to measure how fast nerves are sending signals
Computed tomography with myelogram (CT scan)

Combining the appropriate tests with your family background and blood work helps your New York pain doctor determine the correct course of treatment for the arthritis in your neck. If you’re hurting, don’t wait to seek treatment.

Arthritis in Neck Treatments in Midtown, NY

Your treatment options vary. They depend on the severity of your symptoms and the subsequent disruption of your daily life. Your doctor always chooses conservative, non-surgical treatments first, unless there was significant trauma. These options include:

Rest as symptoms flare-up
Cold and/or heat therapy
Over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen or COX-2 inhibitors
Moderate exercise, such as walking
Activity modification such as reducing or eliminating triggering behaviors
Physical therapy
Prescription medication, such as narcotics or muscle relaxants
Radiofrequency ablation
Manual manipulation or chiropractic therapy
Therapeutic massage
Water therapy

It’s typical to employ multiple conservative treatments at once for neck arthritis treatment. More aggressive techniques include two types of surgery:

Anterior cervical discectomy
Fusion (ACDF) surgery

ACDF involves removing tightened ligaments or herniated discs through an incision in the front of the neck. Fusing the vertebrae together with bone or metal plates and performing a posterior cervical laminectomy involves removal of the disc, ligaments or lamina from the back of your neck.

These options have a high success rate, but as with all surgeries, risks of infection, continued or worsened pain and damage to surrounding tissue are always possible. Recovery time is usually four to six weeks and involves neck braces, medication and physical therapy. Treatment for arthritis in the neck has made huge strides in the past several years. Your Midtown Manhattan pain specialist has access to them all.

Febin Melepura, MD is a top rated, best in class interventional pain management doctor. He is a nationally recognized pain relief specialist and is among the top pain care doctors in New York City and the country. He is an award winning expert and contributor to a prominent media outlets.

Dr. Febin Melepura has been recognized for his thoughtful, thorough, modern approach to treating chronic pain and, among other accolades, has been named a “top pain management doctor in New York”, and one of “America’s Top Doctors™” for an advanced sports injury treatments.