The part of
the spine which is located between the base of the head and the shoulders is
called the cervical spine. It contains a total of seven vertebrae and quite a
few joints. We are able to nod and move our heads in different directions
because of the joint between the occipital bone which is situated at the base
of the skull and the cervical spine’s first vertebra. Rheumatoid Arthritis or
RA causes pain and deformity in the cervical spinal region. It causes a variety
of neurological symptoms too. It is a highly dangerous disease which also
results in some sort of disability which in turn might hinder your ability to
perform normal day to day functions.
Effects of RA
The most
common symptom of RA is pain and stiffness around the neck region which grows and
eventually disables the patient from turning or bending the neck. It was
discovered that the involvement of cervical spine with RA varies to a great
extent. Estimates showed a range of 17 to 88 percent of its involvement. In the
past few decades, many disease-modifying treatments were discovered which
reduced the potential damage caused by RA to the neck area.
Joint
inflammation majorly causes harm to the cervical spine. If the inflammation is
constant then there also might be loss of bone and cartilage and loosening of
the ligaments. Sometimes even pannus gets formed in the
area which results in pain and loss of sense in the limbs.
Treatment
In the
initial stages medications are given for mainly the inflammation and the pain
resulting from it. Neuropathic pain medicines can help patients suffering from
nerve pain. But they only provide relief from the pain temporarily. Simple
treatments such as the usage of neck collar or the application of heat or cold
to the area can help relieve the pain.
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