Neck Pain - How To Reduce It?

This condition typically affects people above the age of 50. This is because osteoarthritis is one of the leading triggers of this condition. Osteoarthritis may make the bones and ligaments may also become thicker and encroach on the space available to the spinal canal. In some cases, people may be born with a congenital defect that makes their spinal cord narrower than usual. Thus, the pain caused by spondylitis in such cases is much more severe. All these factors combined can make moving the neck very painful.

Surgery is the last resort for this condition. In most cases, treatment is relatively conservative. Along with rest, doctors advise pain relievers such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and chiropractic manipulation. Wearing a cervical collar can also help support the neck and aid with movement. Other forms of therapy include exercise, traction and heat and cold therapy. In some cases, injectable corticosteroids and local anesthetics can also be beneficial. Surgery to ease the pressure on the spinal cord or replace a disc with an implant is required only in rare cases.

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common triggers of this condition. The risk of suffering from this condition increases with age and affects man and women equally. Osteoarthritis causes degeneration of the spinal column and affects the vertebras ability to heal itself. It can also make bone spurs grow out and narrow the spinal canal. Other triggers for cervical spondylitis include neck trauma and accidents due to a fall etc.

Symptoms of cervical spondylitis are generally the most intense in the morning and at the end of the day. Most of these symptoms do improve with rest. Characteristic symptoms of this condition include pain and stiffness in the neck, headaches that seem to originate from the neck, shoulder pain and a grinding sensation on turning the neck. In some cases, it can also put pressure on the spinal cord and cause a condition known as myelopathy. In such cases, symptoms could also include difficulty coordinating movement, abnormal reflexes, muscle spasms, weakness in the arms and legs and bladder incontinence.