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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rheumatoid arthritis patient doctor disagreement

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

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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rheumatoid-arthritis symptoms

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

Fibromyalgia and Brain Abnormalities – Is it All in Your Head?

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fibromyalgia brain scans

Abnormal blood flow in the brains of fibromyalgia patients could explain pain and cognitive symptoms.

The cause(s) of fibromyalgia remains unknown but in recent months scientists have presented the idea that fibromyalgia is all in your head. Now, before anger sets in, it is important to note that this is not akin to your physician saying that anxiety, depression, and stress are the underlying cause of your fibromyalgia and neck pain but that, instead, brain abnormalities may be the true cause of the condition. Read more

Chronic Neck Pain – Could Vitamin B6 Supplements Help?

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vitamin b6 chronic inflammation neck pain

Could popping B6 pills help your neck pain?

A new study has linked chronic inflammation to low vitamin B6 levels, so could some simple dietary changes help your neck pain? Although some inflammation is normal and, indeed, helpful, at the time of acute injury once this becomes chronic it can create all manner of problems for cardiovascular health, musculoskeletal health, type 2 diabetes, and even cognitive health.

More research needs doing but, perhaps, it’s a good idea to create a ‘neck pain diet’ including vitamin B6-rich foods to lower inflammation. Read more