Rheumatoid Arthritis: Neck Symptoms - Topic Overview
When rheumatoid arthritis affects the neck joints, particularly those located at the top of the spine, spinal cord complications can occur.
- Bones and joints affected by rheumatoid arthritis may dislocate and press on the spinal cord.
- Pressure can cause numbness, pain, tingling, weakness, loss of bowel or bladder control, and unusual head and neck sensations.
- Pressure may also obstruct blood flow through the blood vessels in the spinal cord.
Neck pain along with weakness, numbness, or tingling of hands, feet, legs, or arms is the most common symptom of possible pressure on the spinal cord. Although compression of the spinal cord is fairly rare, if untreated it can lead to paralysis.
Coping With the Pain of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Being in pain can be the hardest part of living with rheumatoid arthritis. While medications help, they don't always make the pain go away completely. Coping with pain means acknowledging that the problem is not just the pain itself. Constant pain has an effect on your whole life. Most people with rheumatoid arthritis are faced with frequent or ongoing pain. While you may not be able to avoid pain, you can take control of the situation. Is the pain of rheumatoid arthritis starting to affect yo...
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