Cervical Rheumatoid Arthritis: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Cervical rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease that causes stiffness to the cervical spine in the neck. This condition is marked with arthritis in the cervical spine either independently or accompanied by cranial instability in the brain. Sometimes, Rheumatoid arthritis can develop anywhere in the body and can later attack the cervical spine due to the area's sensitivity. It is common in women and middle-aged people.

The origins of the rheumatoid cervical spine are traced back to the 1890s. Garrod first discovered it. The theory was that it exists in the adult population worldwide up to 2%.

Multiple reasons have been proposed for this condition with nothing exact but speculations. However, research hints in a more logical direction. Therefore, this article tends to shed light on such causes along with providing information regarding this condition's symptoms and its treatment.

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Symptoms

Multiple symptoms accompany pain and disability in this condition. These include:

• Neck pain - Since the neck is the area for the cervical spine, it is directly hit in rheumatoid arthritis. Constant pain in the cervical spine that is located in the neck is a common symptom. This is primarily the result of improper blood supply through the affected spinal cord.  Neck pain also varies from person to person. It can either be throbbing or dull pain with joint stiffness. Also, the pain can either be at the back of the neck or the base of a person's head. This is also combined with inflammation and swelling.
• Loss of flexibility - Since this disease attacks the joints and stiffens them, the natural flexibility of body muscles is lost. This also disrupts smooth movement.
• Movement restriction - In cervical rheumatoid, the bones neck becomes stiff with pain, causing a lack of movement bordering on disability to move. The neck can only have limited movement in this condition.
• Headaches  - Headaches frequently occur in the cervical rheumatoid. These are very much like migraine episodes and span over the entire spinal nerves and vertebrae.
• Degeneration of bones - Common arthritis is caused by calcium deficiency accompanied by multiple corresponding causes. It is evident that bones and cartilage lose calcium, a result of which 

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Causes 

The exact reasons behind the development of rheumatoid arthritis are yet unknown. However, scientists believe the following to be speculative causes behind this condition:

• Environmental - Environmental causes are related to outside factors which may support the development of cervical rheumatoid arthritis. This may also include unhealthy habits such as smoking, which already breeds multiple chronic diseases. Similarly, virus exposure can also lead to cervical rheumatoid arthritis.
• Genetics - Genetics is considered another factor is seen in multiple patients with cervical rheumatoid arthritis family history. 
• Immune System  - A weak immune system is exposed to multiple diseases all at once. Also, research has shown cervical rheumatoid arthritis happens when the immune systems mistakenly attack the healthy body tissue. Due to this deduction, the unstable neuron activity is also seen as a reason behind the development of cervical rheumatoid arthritis.  

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Diagnosis

The diagnosis of cervical rheumatoid arthritis is based on the following steps:

• Physical Checkup - This is the initial checkup where the doctor asks about symptoms and your condition.
• Lab Tests - After the initial checkup, your doctor will prescribe tests for the confirmation of the disease. This has two possibilities: either you will have the condition or have some minor health issues posing as cervical rheumatoid arthritis.
• X-Rays - X-rays accompany lab tests. This is crucial because X-rays show the internal organs through electromagnetic waves. Visualizing the internal tissues and bones show where the damage is.
• MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has the same purpose as an X-ray; only this system can better achieve a detailed picture.
• Ultrasound - Damage joints can b seen through ultrasound imaging.

Ramifications 

The most life-threatening degeneration of rheumatoid arthritis of the cervical spine is the increased risk of neurological instability. As mentioned earlier, cranial instability is often combined with rheumatoid of the cervical spine. Therefore, doctors and technicians try to diagnose and treat rheumatoid before the development of neurological deficit symptoms.

Conclusion 

The above discussion shows that cervical rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic illness with multiple agonizing symptoms. The causes are speculative. However, they bring to stage potential reasons and unhealthy lifestyles which breed such issues. These must be changed as part of disease prevention. In case of acquiring cervical rheumatoid arthritis, consider getting treated before it does neurological damage. 

If you are suffering from this painful condition give us a call at (843) 225-5855. Upper Cervical can provide a natural form of care, and we are here to help you.