Can You Get Gout in the Neck?

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neck pain and gout

Uric acid crystals in the neck tissues can cause symptoms of gouty arthritis - but is neck surgery really necessary?

Neck pain has many causes but those with gouty arthritis might wish to talk to their physician about the possible connection between neck pain and gout. Gout can affect the head and neck at any stage of the disease but is usually a symptom in patients who have had gout for a long time.

Primary manifestations of gout in the neck are tophi and cricoarytenoid arthritis and many sufferers notice pain originating from behind the ear, in the jaw, or even deep in the neck causing both pain and altered speech or hoarseness. Where neck pain and gout are connected an MRI can often reveal the location of uric acid deposits, which may require surgical removal. Read more

Neck Pain and Gum Disease – Are They Connected?

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gum disease neck pain causes rheumatoid arthritis

Neck and jaw pain? It could be rheumatoid arthritis.

It might not seem an obvious association but many patients with rheumatoid arthritis suffer both with Neck pain and gum disease, and a new study adds to the weight of evidence supporting a link between the two. The research, published this month in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, found that RA patients were four times more likely to have gum disease than the non-smokers they studied. Whilst isolated neck and jaw pain may result from a tooth infection or gum disease causing acute inflammation, this association between rheumatoid arthritis and gum disease has consequence for all of the joints in the body as well as the general health of patients.

The theory is that RA may be triggered in genetically susceptible people by an immune response to a major pathogen involved in gum disease, Porphyromonas gingivalis. What does this mean in terms of reducing the risk of RA or coping with an existing condition, and why might those with gum disease and neck pain wish to see their doctor straight away? Read more

Spinal Bone Spur Treatment – Do Alternative Therapies Work?

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Bone spur treatmentSpinal bone spur treatment can take a variety of forms, from simple stretches to prescription analgesic pain patches. Similar to treating many other common conditions, the mainstream medical community generally agrees on a group of therapies that have been tried, tested, and studied to the point that they are considered safe and effective for patients suffering from spinal bone spur symptoms. Read more

Neck Pain Relief for Children

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neck pain relief in children chiropractic

Chiropractic treatment may be useful for neck pain relief in children.


Seeing your child in pain is one of the most difficult things in the world but what are your options for neck pain relief in children? When neck pain, headaches, shoulder pain, and other health issues arise in kids it can be difficult to work out the cause, especially if a younger child is unable to really tell you where it hurts and what kind of pain they have. Often, the same treatments helpful for neck pain relief in adults are good for kids too but sometimes treatments differ so make sure you know what to do if your kid has neck pain. Read more

Patients Rate Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity Worse Than Physicians Do

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Doctors and patients often hold different values when judging disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis.

A study published in Arthritis and Rheumatism this week reveals that patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis rate disease activity worse than their physicians, largely because pain is their marker whereas physicians rely on overt joint swelling to monitor to the autoimmune disease. The Austrian scientists looked at data from 646 patients and conducted cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses to provide support for a belief long held by patients with the painful joint disease that can cause neck pain, fatigue, joint stiffness, and mobility problems. Achieving a better understanding of the disconnect between patients and physicians could, theoretically, help in regards to better provision of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Read more

Klippel-Feil Syndrome – A Rare Cause of Neck Pain

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klippel feil syndrome neck pain causes

Klippel-Feil syndrome is a congenital cervical spine condition that can cause neck pain.

A rare cause of neck pain, Klippel-Feil syndrome is a cervical spine condition usually present to some degree at birth and which results in the congenital fusion of two of the seven cervical vertebrae. Patients with Klipper-Feil syndrome may also have scoliosis, spina bifida, and other health issues seemingly unrelated to the spine itself, such as heart malformation. Neck surgery may be necessary for some patients with severe symptoms from Klipper-Feil syndrome whereas others may be able to manage neck pain and other symptoms of the condition using physical therapy and pain medications. Read more

Is Your Smartphone Causing Your Neck Pain?

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Smartphones, tablets, and other handheld devices may be to blame for your neck pain.

Your smartphone could be causing your neck pain, according to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists, a British physiotherapy group who are concerned about the health of office-workers’ spines. Long hours, poor posture, taking work home, and using handheld devices on the daily commute are all contributing to a nation of back and neck pain sufferers according to Dr Helena Johnson, Chairwoman of the society.

Are work stress, poor posture, and sleep deprivation issues for you? Is your smartphone causing your neck pain? Read more

Neck Pain When Swimming

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neck pain and swimming posture

Keeping your head in line can help reduce the risk of neck pain when swimming.

Many people experience neck pain when swimming and, for some, the pain is bad enough to prevent them from engaging in this popular exercise. There are a variety of reasons that the neck can hurt when swimming and the pain is not always simply due to muscle fatigue or strain. For some, such symptoms of neck pain could indicate an issue such as spinal stenosis, disc herniation, cervical arthritis, or even a condition such as fibromyalgia. Swimming can be such a great exercise to keep both mind and body healthy so working out why you have neck pain when swimming is important as simple changes could get you back in the water this summer. Read more

Can a Herniated Disc in the Neck Cause Arm Pain?

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Herniated Disc in the NeckIf you’ve developed a herniated disc in your neck, you may be experiencing pain, numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness in your arm. Now, you might expect that a herniated disc in your neck would cause neck pain. But, how can two seemingly unrelated areas of your body – the cervical spine (neck) and your arm – have a painful cause and effect relationship? To fully understand the relationship and discover how a cervical herniated disc can cause symptoms to arise in your arm, it’s helpful to briefly review the spinal anatomy.
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Is Rheumatoid Arthritis Triggered by Gut Bacteria?

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Could probiotics help reduce symptoms of neck pain and RA?

What does your gut have to do with neck pain? New research suggests a link between Rheumatoid Arthritis and bacteria in the digestive tract. Could gut flora be an environmental trigger for patients with a genetic predisposition for the autoimmune joint disease? Mayo Clinic researchers seem to think so. Read more