Cervical Osteoarthritis

Pain from Cervical Osteoarthritis

Just as in the lumbar spine, the facet joints in the cervical spine can degenerate and lead to osteoarthritis of the cervical spine. The pain associated with osteoarthritis tends to:

• Radiate to the shoulder or between the shoulder blades
• Be worse first thing in the morning, and then improves after getting up and moving around
• Gets worse again at the end of the day
• Feels better with rest

In some instances, cervical spondylolisthesis (when one cervical vertebra slips forward over another) may be a secondary issue to the arthritis in the facet joints of the cervical spine, although it should be known that spondylolisthesis is much more common in the lumbar spine (lower back).

Osteoarthritis conservative treatments

Treatments for osteoarthritis are usually conservative and may include:

• Rest and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s) to relieve the pain from osteoarthritis and inflammation
• Traction and/or chiropractic manipulations to help control chronic symptoms or provide relief for more severe episodes of pain from osteoarthritis

Although osteoarthritis tends to be chronic, the symptoms are rarely progressive and rarely require surgery.

• Article written By:
• Peter F. Ullrich, Jr., MD

July 11, 2009

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