Some symptoms of neck arthritis are pain that may extend to the shoulders and arms, stiffness, headaches, muscle spasms, trouble turning the head and grinding sounds as the neck moves. Neck arthritis is also called cervical spondylosis or cervical osteoarthritis, states WebMD.
Arthritis of the neck can cause pain that varies in severity from mild to severe. The pain is more severe with increased activity. Patients with this condition may find it difficult to look up for a prolonged extent of time. Cervical osteoarthritis can also cause the sensation of numbness in either the arms or hands. If cervical osteoarthritis affects the spine, then it can cause symptoms, such as walking problems and weakness in the lower extremities, notes WebMD.
The various symptoms of cervical spondylosis can adversely affect a patient's daily life. For example, neck pain often gets worse even if the patient does simple activities, such as driving a car or reading a book. Rest can relieve the pain symptoms, states the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Cervical osteoarthritis is a medical condition in which there is deterioration of the disks and cartilage in the neck area, leading to neck joint damage. Age or an injury may be contributing factors for this condition. Some treatments used to address the symptoms are a cervical collar, physical therapy, pain medicines and injections. Surgery is an option when conservative treatments fail and the patient has severe pain or serious loss of function.
