Important Arthritis Neck Precautions!

Maybe you have a co-worker or mother-in-law that you frequently describe as “a pain in the neck”.  But when it comes to arthritis neck pain, the blame and the pain are resting firmly on your shoulders.  Arthritis neck pain can certainly affect the quality of your life in many ways.

Arthritis is a medical condition that causes pain, stiffness and inflammation of the joints. Nearly 4 million people in the United States alone suffer from arthritis in one form or the other, including both adults and children. Arthritis can be hereditary, can develop for various reasons, or for no reason at all.  Those who suffer from arthritis of the neck likely have a condition known as cervical spondylosis –  which you may have heard referred to as cervical osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease of the neck.

There are, however, many arthritic conditions that can affect the neck; in fact, all of the over one hundred types of arthritis can affect any part of the body.  Arthritis neck pain can become debilitating, and can affect not only the neck but the limbs as well.

We discuss arthritis neck pain, including its causes and treatments in greater detail in our article, Arthritis Neck Pain.  Let’s look at some preventative measures that one must take to avoid arthritis, including arthritis of the neck.

Arthritis Neck Pain Precaution: Maintain Good Posture

One of the best ways to avoid arthritis pain of the neck is to maintain a good posture.  By keeping your back straight and your head held in a normal position (not looking down all the time), you keep your spine aligned and avoid arthritis neck pain.

Arthritis Neck Pain Precaution: Maintain a Healthy Weight

Being overweight is not only bad for your overall health, but can increase the likelihood that you will develop various types of arthritis.  An individual who is overweight puts more pressure on their joints – which can lead to arthritis.

Losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight is important, especially for those who are already showing signs of arthritic conditions.  Years of wear and tear to the joints of the body can certainly take their toll; losing even a moderate amount of weight can benefit your entire body.

Arthritis Neck Pain Precaution: Avoiding Neck Injuries

Oftentimes, the workplace can provide the right formula for the development of arthritis pain of the neck or other types of arthritis. Repetitive motions injuries can certainly cause arthritis of the neck, as can sitting in one fixed position for long period of time.

For those who have “desk” jobs, it is important that you stand and stretch routinely throughout the day.  Likewise, you should make sure that your desk, computer keyboard, and chair are ergonomically correct so that when you are sitting, you’re sitting in a fashion that is supportive of a healthy neck and spine.

Other non-desk work occupations can be hard on the neck; as an example, a beautician who stays stooped over day in and day out working on her clients might develop arthritis neck pain.

Arthritis Neck Pain Precautions and Tips

• Arthritis pain in the neck can be directly related to the mattress that you sleep on each night.  In general, most people with arthritis neck pain should sleep on firm mattresses that support their spine and neck.
• Use an ice pack followed by a heating pad to soothe arthritis neck pain.
• Use anti-inflammatory over the counter medication for the relief of arthritis neck pain, such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium.
• The average human head weighs in at approximately eight pounds – which is quite a bit of weight for your neck to support.  By taking breaks during the day instead of sitting in a fixed position, you alleviate some of the stress on the neck.
• Adjust computer monitors so that they are at eye level to avoid looking up and down so often which can worsen arthritis neck pain.
• Use a speakerphone to avoid holding your head in an awkward position while on the telephone. This is especially important if you are on the phone for long periods of time.
• Try sleeping without your pillow at night.  Many people find relief from arthritis neck pain by doing so.  You might also want to invest in a cervical pillow which is made specifically to give your neck the appropriate amount of support it needs.
• Avoid sleeping on your stomach.
• Avoid stress when possible, and learn effective stress relieving techniques so that you can relax. A tense body means a tense neck – which can aggravate arthritis of the neck and cause further arthritis neck pain.