As per the US-based Arthritis Foundation, there exist over 100 forms of arthritis, including autoimmune issues such as rheumatoid arthritis, plus the relatively more common osteoarthritis. For an uninitiated, arthritis is an umbrella term that refers to joint inflammation, and it possibly develops in almost any bodily joint. For individuals with neck arthritis, the issue is more of a pain in their cervical spine. For this reason, this health condition is also referred to as arthritis in the neck.
According to skilled spine surgeons, some individuals are likely to experience certain neck arthritis symptoms or no symptoms at all. Even in serious cases, those arthritic patients might not have pain, and they might become aware of slightly losing the extent of neck movement. However, some neck arthritis patients show symptoms, including the following.
Common Neck Arthritis Symptoms
Mobility Loss
Not being able to turn the head for looking over the shoulder or losing your capability to look down at the toes/ look up, is among the potential signs of arthritis.
Pain
Another arthritis symptom is pain in any joint. When it comes to neck arthritis, it is likely to develop as an aching feeling along the nape. Pain may have to do with activity too. It is typically worse at the beginning of the day or following physically demanding activity.
Tingling, Loss Of Sensation, And Weakness
Besides pain, an arthritic person is likely to become numb or lose sensation. Bending down and lifting, particularly lifting overhead, potentially brings about not just more pain but also occasional numbness. This tends to be associated with the occurrence of osteophytes, also known as bone spurs, in the so-called cervical spine. The bony projections developing along neck bone edges potentially brings about foraminal stenosis. This form of spinal stenosis is what most commonly leads to neurological symptoms in grown-ups, and it shows in the form of arm tingling, weakness, and numbness.
Arthritis tends to cause swelling in a bodily joint, but this is not likely to appear if the health condition is associated with the neck. One may notice inflammation in the tiny joints in their feet and hands, or they may even identify swelling in the bigger, knee-based joints. There is likely to be some inflammation at the nape, but the joint location usually makes noticing swelling much more difficult.
