Osteoarthritis in the neck

Dizziness, stiffness in the neck, tenderness, headache. If you have osteoarthritis in the neck, these are just some of the most common symptoms you may experience. Others do not notice it at all. Fortunately, with our professional help, you can receive the right treatment for osteoarthritis in the neck, so you can get your everyday life back. Read more about symptoms and possible causes below.

What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a common joint disease caused by the cartilage in your joints wearing away. As the cartilage disappears, you experience greater stress on the bone that lies beneath the cartilage. There is also increased stress on the joint capsule and ligaments. 

The disease most often affects the neck, back, hand, foot, hip and knee, but fortunately, far from everyone experiences problems with osteoarthritis. 

In osteoarthritis of the neck, the bone reacts to the stress by forming new bone. This results in the bone beneath the cartilage becoming denser and the joint becoming thicker. The symptoms are very similar to a disc herniation in the neck, where a nerve is compressed or irritated. For you, this may mean reduced mobility and stiffness in the neck.

Anyone can develop arthritis in the neck, but especially older people gradually wear away the cartilage. This is because the joints are more fragile in old age and thus more susceptible to osteoarthritis. However, it is often completely harmless, and you can reduce the pain in several ways.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis in the neck

Osteoarthritis in the neck is not uncommon and can cause both acute neck pain as well as chronic pain. The typical symptoms are stiffness and tenderness in and around the neck. Some also experience cracking sounds in the neck when they move it, while stiff joints in the neck can cause dizziness and the feeling of being drunk. 

If there is increased pressure on the joints of the neck, or if your nerves are compressed, these symptoms are also common:

• Tingling and prickling sensation in arms, hands, legs or feet
• Reduced mobility in the neck due to pressure on the nerves
• Impaired or no balance and lack of coordination
• Radiating pain to the arm and fingers or sensory disturbances

In rare cases, there may be problems controlling your urination and bowel movements. If you experience this, you must contact your doctor immediately, as an operation as soon as possible is necessary. It is also a good idea to contact your own doctor if the pain in your neck is also very severe in your arms and prevents you from doing daily tasks for several days.

Are you unsure about your symptoms? You are always welcome to ask our experienced staff questions or come by for a consultation.

Receive correct treatment for stiffness and osteoarthritis in the neck

It is not always necessary to have surgery for arthritis in the neck. As a starting point, you need exercise and possibly pain-relieving medication. At CPH Privathospital, we help you with, among other things, physiotherapy and pain-relieving exercises. If surgery is needed, we naturally also have extensive experience in this.

Regardless of what treatment you need and the cause of your neck pain, you can feel safe with us. We consist of teams of dedicated consultant specialists with many years of experience in, among other things, neck and spine surgery. Together with you, we will plan the treatment pathway that suits you best.

At the same time, it is important to us that you can feel in safe hands from start to finish. We ensure this, among other things, by always having the same doctor, and by giving you the opportunity to ask all your relevant questions. At CPH Privathospital, you are seen as a person in need of help – not a patient who just needs to get through the system quickly.

Meet all our consultant specialists here, who will take good care of you throughout the entire process.

Learn to manage arthritis in the neck without surgery

Does your neck crack? Do you have difficulty turning your head? Or perhaps it also hurts in your arms and fingers? Then it can be difficult for you to get through everyday tasks. Especially if you already work a lot at a computer.

Sometimes the pain goes away on its own, while other times it increases and becomes severe pain. It is also completely normal for the pain to come and go in periods. If it is chronic pain in the neck that lasts more than three months, the osteoarthritis can, in the worst case, affect your quality of life.

The symptoms can in some cases become less severe with a fusion operation. But there are several ways in which you can prevent arthritis in the neck yourself without the need for surgery. Among other things, you can strengthen the muscles with exercise and exercises. With strong muscles, they support the damaged joint, which can relieve your pain.

We recommend that you have your neck examined by your doctor or your physiotherapist before you start the exercises. That way, you can ensure the best solutions for your specific needs.