What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Neck?

Neck pain can be one of the effects ofrheumatoid arthritis(RA).

With RA, an overactive immune system attacks the joints and causes pain, swelling, and stiffness.

The smaller joints of the hands and feet are typically the first to be affected.

RA Neck Symptoms

Most people with cervical spine problems from RA don’t have any symptoms.

But RA neck involvement can cause symptoms.

The most prominent are pain and headache, but it can cause several other symptoms as well.

Neck pain is the most common symptom of RA of the neck.

Joint stiffness and swelling might make it harder to comfortably move your head.

The neck pain of RA is different than that of a neck injury.

With an injury, you may experience stiffness and pain that improves over days and weeks.

However, RA neck pain gets worse if you don’t get appropriate treatment.

Even if your symptoms improve, the inflammation, pain, swelling, and stiffness may eventually return.

This is known as acervicogenic headache.

The superficial nerves that control the sensation of the scalp can become irritated or inflamed, leading tooccipital neuralgia.

And inflammation often contributes to generalized head pain.

It can also lead to pain, stiffness, and swelling.

A serious condition calledmyelopathycan result from compression that causes injury to the spinal cord.

Synovial joints are the movable joints of the body.

When RA damages the necks synovial joints, the cervical spine can become unstable.

The atlas is responsible for supporting the head’s weight, while the axis helps move the neck.

Let them know if your symptoms are persisting and/or worsening.

The first step in diagnosing RA in the neck is a physical examination.

The physical exam may include checks forneurological signs, such as those that can result from spinal cord compression.

They may also request blood work to determine the extent of inflammation.

Imaging may includeX-ray,magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and/or ultrasound.

Thedrugs that help treat RAmay improve your overall inflammation from RA, as well as your neck symptoms.

Other therapies, such as physical therapy and surgery, are specifically tailored to treat your neck issues.

When these medications dont provide relief, your healthcare provider may prescribe a stronger anti-inflammatory or a corticosteroid.

It’s always a good idea to start slow and gradually increase the intensity.

Always check with your rheumatologist and physical therapist before beginning any neck exercises.

Some exercises are dangerous for people with cervical instability from RA.

Several other therapies target the neck directly.

Therapeuticneck pillowscan help provide neck and head support while you sleep.

Keeping your neck properly aligned can help you wake up with less pain and stiffness.

Hot and cold therapies are also helpful for reducing inflammation, swelling, stiffness, and pain.

Surgery may be helpful in re-stabilizing the first and second vertebrae and reducing pressure from spinal cord compression.

Surgery can also remove anybony spurs(bony growth) in the neck, which are common in RA.

A case report and literature review.Rheumatol Int.

2015;11(10):11211130. doi:10.1586/1744666X.2015.1067606