Neck Pain, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Oral Contraceptives

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oral contraceptives neck pain rheumatoid arthritisA study published this summer in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism looking at the use of oral contraceptives and improvements in Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms adds to the evidence suggesting a connection between female hormones and this possible cause of neck pain. Around two-thirds of RA patients suffer from problems in the cervical spine, with the thoracic and lumbar spine usually less affected. Researchers at the University of Manchester in England used data from women with recent onset of inflammatory polyarthritis and assessed the number who had and had not used oral contraceptives since the diagnosis. Read more

Neck Pain Awareness – Can Spinal Health Month Help?

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Chronic Neck PainOctober is Spinal Health Month and recent statistics show that neck pain is a significant contributor to a growing pain problem affecting millions of people each year. In a National Center of Health Statistics survey low back pain was the most common pain reported (27%) with neck pain suffered by 15% of people, the same percentage who experience severe headaches or migraine. Facial ache or pain was another common finding with 4% of people experiencing this phenomenon that is sometimes connected to cervical spinal problems. Read more

Neck Pain and Cycling

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neck pain cyclingDo you cycle to work each day? Is that pain in your neck and shoulders starting to make you look longingly at the car? With the rain, cold weather, and windy conditions setting in, neck pain from cycling might just be the final straw for your healthy planet, healthy you resolution. It need not be that way however as most neck and shoulder problems in cyclists are connected to poor cycling posture, bad habits, or the bike itself , sometimes neck pain is actually connected to an ill-fitting helmet of all things! Read more

Cyclobenzaprine may Help Neck Pain from Fibromyalgia

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Flexeril for fibromyalgia

Could low-dose Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine) be approved for use in fibromyalgia?

A study published in The Journal of Rheumatology last month looked at the effects of cyclobenzaprine for fibromyalgia, a cause of neck pain in some patients. This drug, a muscle relaxant, is already widely used ‘off-label’ by fibromyalgia sufferers. Although this study is relatively small, with just eighteen patients treated, it does appear to show that cyclobenzaprine is safe and effective for the condition which causes fatigue, muscle tenderness and pain, and cognitive symptoms in patients. Read more

Neck Pain and Dizziness

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neck pain dizziness vertigoNeck pain and dizziness are often connected although many people simply consider themselves to be clumsy, to suffer lightheadedness, or have a poor sense of balance. Cervicogenic dizziness may also be associated with headaches and nausea and can be suggestive of pinched nerves in the neck, cervical spinal stenosis, or even infection. Dizziness with neck pain may be fleeting and mild, with patients realizing that sudden neck movements or certain positions bring about the dizzy spells and neck pain. In other cases the pain can be severe and the dizziness extremely debilitating as it may induce considerable fear of falling, disabling nausea, and/or loss of motor skills. Where a patient has neck pain and feels off balance they may be described as having cervical vertigo and have often experienced some kind of trauma to the neck, such as whiplash or a previous fall. Read more

Neck Pain from Rheumatoid Arthritis – Subcutaneous Abatacept gets FDA Approval

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abatacept neck pain rheumatoid arthritis fda approvalSevere neck pain can be caused by rheumatoid arthritis and so the approval by the FDA of subcutaneous abatacept will be welcome news for those suffering from chronic neck pain related to the autoimmune disease. Along with neck pain and more widespread joint pain, rheumatoid arthritis can cause extreme fatigue, fever, and even lead to spinal stenosis from degeneration of the joints in the spine. In extreme cases, particularly where a patient with rheumatoid arthritis has also experienced whiplash, the disease which involves the immune system erroneously attacking the body’s own joint tissue, can lead to spinal cord compression from changes in the position of the spine. Read more

Meningitis and College Students

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meningitis freshmenSeptember is nigh and for college freshmen thoughts turn to school and the upcoming move into a dorm. Headaches and neck pain from meningitis are likely the last thing on a new student’s mind but an increasing number of US colleges require proof of meningitis vaccination for those planning to live on campus, or, at some colleges, for all students. College freshmen are at an increased risk of bacterial meningitis compared to their peers, presumably due to the close quarters in which they live and the lifestyle changes accompanying college life which can compromise immunity (such as diet, alcohol and drug consumption, and altered sleep patterns). Read more

Cervicalgia Headaches – Neck Pain and Head Aches

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neck pain headache cervicalgiaNeck pain and headaches are often closely connected and can make life a real misery for sufferers. The cause of cervicalgia headaches may be the compression of nerves or blood vessels which innervate or supply the head and neck. Pinched nerves sometimes occur due to a chronic neck condition like spinal stenosis, spondyloarthritis (spondylitis or spondylosis), or facet joint disease following whiplash injury. Read more

Neck Pain and Children

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Neck Pain Children

Parents should not overlook backpacks and book bags as culprits in neck pain in children

Every parent is reminded to be mindful about meningitis but there are other causes of neck pain in children that are often overlooked.  Where a child has difficulty moving their chin towards their chest or refuses to look down because of their neck pain this warrants immediate medical attention.  The presence of a rash, fever, and/or persistent crying or altered mood in children is also indicative of meningitis, which can be fatal if untreated.  Taking your child to a doctor immediately is vital.  More commonly however neck pain in children is caused by the same things that cause neck pain in adults, namely, poor posture, straining the neck, stress, heavy bags or unbalanced loads, and sleeping awkwardly, particularly in a draught.

Determining the cause of your child’s neck pain is important in order to remove the stressor or address an underlying problem.  Sometimes a child may get neck pain due to an infection that causes the lymph nodes in the neck to become inflamed and tender.  Sore throats, teething problems, and tonsillitis can also lead to neck pain in children, as can persistent chewing of gum, pens, fingernails, and other habits involving continued stress and strain on the temporomandibular joint in the jaw. Read more

Bone Spurs in the Neck

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Bone Spurs in NeckBone spurs in the neck (osteophytes) are bony growths that can be responsible for neck pain and back pain.  These bone spurs may occur following a fracture of the vertebrae, due to rheumatoid arthritis, ligament degeneration, whiplash, or through general wear and tear resulting in spondylitis.  Read more