Widespread neck arthritis affects people of all ages
“The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night’s sleep.” -E. Joseph Cossman
There’s nothing like waking up from a great night of sleep knowing that your body got the rest it needed. Or how about waking up so well-rested, you didn’t even know you were asleep the past 7+ hours? Waking well-rested is the best feeling.
For someone dealing with painsomnia, those scenarios may be long forgotten dreams of good sleep. You’re probably familiar with the word insomnia, which is a chronic interruption to the quality or quantity of sleep, but painsomnia may be new to you. Painsomnia is a word describing how dealing with chronic pain interferes explicitly with one’s sleep. One of those sources of pain can be your neck.
This article will discuss neck arthritis: what it is, why you should take it seriously, what causes it, and what measures you can take to reduce neck pain while also achieving a better night of sleep.
Neck Arthritis and Why You Should Take it Seriously
Neck arthritis (the medical term is cervical spondylosis) is caused by the wear and tear of the cervical spine as your body ages. This degeneration can cause pain and discomfort in your neck and spine, leading to a restless, poor night of sleep.
Why should you take neck pain seriously? It can affect your overall health during the day and at night, even when you’re asleep. Getting quality sleep is of the utmost importance since the body’s regenerative processes happen during sleep. If you’re unable to sleep because of neck pain, it can turn into a vicious cycle as you drag yourself through the next day, sore and groggy, which in turn, makes it even harder to get quality sleep the next night. And so the cycle repeats.
Chronic neck pain is quite literally “a pain in the neck” and nothing you want to live with long term.
Causes and Triggers of Neck Arthritis
Neck arthritis typically begins in one’s 30s as the cervical spine begins to wear down. Here’s an alarming statistic: By the age of 60, roughly 9 out of 10 people have neck issues or arthritis. The natural process of aging is the most significant cause of neck arthritis. Other causes include osteoarthritis, bone spurs, and herniated disks.
Triggers can include being 60 years of age or older, smoking, constant strain on the neck by looking down or up for extended periods of time, or a neck injury.
The bad news: Everyone is aging and our bodies will wear out as time goes on; it’s a fact of Mother Nature.
The better news: Though neck arthritis is not currently curable, it can be managed if you find yourself dealing with it.
Tips to Manage Neck Arthritis
Aside from discovering the Fountain of Youth, there are several steps individuals can take to mitigate suffering from neck arthritis. Try one or more of these tips to see if they help relieve your neck pain:
- Alternate use of hot and cold treatment on the affected area. Using temperature extremes such as a hot shower, followed by an ice pack can help reduce soreness and inflammation in your neck. Keep each treatment to about 15 minutes at a time.
- Gently stretch your neck and keep it moving. If you’ve been sitting in the same position for a while, working or staring at a screen, stand up and stretch your body. Incorporate neck rolls from side to side into your stretching. It’s important to keep your body moving throughout the day with gentle movement and stretching.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. Neck and body pain can be temporarily relieved with pain relievers such as acetaminophen, naproxen sodium, and ibuprofen. Always talk to your doctor or medical professional about the use of pain medication and the right dosage for your body.
- Sleep on a pillow designed to reduce neck pain. Because neck pain can easily disrupt your attempt to get decent sleep, choosing a pillow that is designed to support your neck is a wise idea. There are a plethora of options on the market to aid in better sleep, but not all are designed with your neck support in mind.
Relieve Neck Pain and Get Better Sleep with an Ergonomic Pillow
When it comes to supporting your neck, especially if you suffer from neck pain, you want to choose an ergonomic pillow that fully supports your cervical spine. A pillow such as the Elviros Adjustable Orthopedic Pillow is an excellent option for neck arthritis because it features an adjustable height with removable inserts, 2-in-1 support, and a wedge design to minimize neck pressure and fit the natural curve of the neck.
Neck pain sufferers have great things to say about this pillow:
“I’ve used [this pillow] for approximately 20 nights and no more neck or shoulder pain– yippee!!”
“I highly recommend this pillow to any and all neck pain sufferers.”
“Upon awakening, I have more energy and don’t feel stiff… Finally found my pillow!”
Visit Elviros.com to find this and other pillows designed to give you a great sleep experience, night after night, no matter your age.
You don’t have to suffer through neck pain and the poor sleep that can often result from it. By taking charge of your health, trying out some of the proactive tips above, and prioritizing a great night of sleep with quality sleep aids like Elviros’ ergonomic pillows, you can stop being “a pain in the neck.” Literally.
As Tom Roth said, “Sleep is an investment in the energy you need to be effective tomorrow.” Here’s to a better tomorrow because of better sleep tonight. Adios, neck pain!
Published by: Martin De Juan
