Neck arthritis or neck pain is caused by the joint pain conditions like rheumatoid, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and others. It is a joint pain condition where the cartilage in the joint wears down due to injury or aging process or combination of both.

Stiffness and pain in the region of neck are the common symptoms of neck arthritis. These symptoms at times become severe in standing posture than when lying down. The reason is the spine coming under the effect of gravity. Some times after sleeping at night the situation deteriorates. The compressed nerves come under more pressure as neck muscles are in relaxed state and do not support them. This results in severe pain and inflammation.

The patients with neck pain also show signs of weakness, burning, numbness, tingling, electric pains down the arm, forearm and hand. The other sign of neck pain is headache that is experienced on the back side of the head.

Neck arthritis is not reduced on doing nothing. Actually statistics have shown sedentary people suffer more than active ones. Few activities that will reduce neck pain are neck exercises, posture exercises, massage therapy and last resort medicines.

The typical exercises of neck and posture exercises will normalize the range of motion that subsequently reduces stiffness and pain. A set of exercise band and exercise ball is required for posture exercise. Therapist guidance is to be taken for neck exercises. Massage therapy boosts flexibility, mobility and circulation. That produces relaxation and hence relieve of pain.

Alternative methods like homeopathy and acupuncture proves to be very effective in relieving the neck pain. In the grave situation when pain becomes unbearable pain killers are used to check neck pain. As pain killers have side effects their use should be the last option.

The joint pain is generally because of cartilage wear and tear, but painful joints are the result of pain only without the physical worsening of body joints. Medically such a problem is termed as arthralgia. This situation has little or no causes known. Painful joints may be due to injury or condition that lacks lubrication in the joint. There is slight variation of symptoms between arthralgia and arthritis.

Commonly different forms of arthritis are the root cause of painful joints. The further causes are accidental injury or fracture, diseases such as flu, fever, chicken pox, hepatitis and infectious rubella.

What ever be the reason for joint pains in the body, light exercises under the guidance of able physical therapist will bring about a significant change in the state of body. This applies to neck arthritis also. To control the joint pains in your body is in your hands.