Musculoskeletal Condition · Glastonbury, CT
Neck arthritis can cause stiffness and pain, but scan findings do not always explain symptoms. Learn about evaluation with Dr. Tortland in Glastonbury, CT.
Condition
Neck arthritis is slow wear in the joints and discs of your neck, and it can often be treated without surgery. It builds with age and can cause stiffness and an aching pain, especially when you turn your head or look up. Doctors also call it cervical spondylosis.
It is only one possible cause of neck pain, so Dr. Tortland first confirms which joints are involved before he recommends treatment.
Explore related conditions: Browse the Neck condition hub for related diagnoses and treatment options.
CARE OPTIONS
Dr. Tortland’s potential treatment options: Dr. Tortland first identifies whether the likely pain source is a neck joint, disc, muscle, or irritated nerve. For selected, well-localized joint or soft-tissue pain, he may discuss PRP treatment; injection-based regenerative care is not appropriate for every case, and evidence varies by target.
Physical therapy and traditional care: Traditional treatment often starts with physical therapy, mobility and strengthening exercises, posture or workstation changes, heat, and appropriate pain-relief medication if medically safe. Some patients may be evaluated for a targeted diagnostic or therapeutic injection.
When other care may be needed: Severe or progressive arm weakness, coordination problems, or signs of spinal-cord involvement need prompt medical assessment. Surgery or specialist evaluation may be considered for significant nerve or spinal-cord compression.
Common questions
Neck arthritis is slow wear and tear of the joints and discs in your neck. It becomes more common as we age and can cause stiffness and pain when you move. Many people show wear on scans but have no pain, so the exam matters as much as the scan.
Common signs are a stiff neck, pain when you turn your head or look up, and headaches that start at the back of your head. If a nerve is irritated, you may also feel pain, numbness or tingling in your shoulder, arm or hand.
Often, yes. Options include exercise, changes to daily habits, and ultrasound-guided injections into the painful joints. Surgery is usually discussed only if nerve symptoms get worse or other care has not helped. Your options depend on what is causing your symptoms.
PRP has been studied for pain arising from cervical facet joints, but evidence remains limited. A randomized trial of 40 participants found similar pain improvements after PRP and corticosteroid injections over six months, without a significant difference between groups. These results do not establish PRP as a treatment for every form of neck arthritis.
Dr. Tortland can review your imaging and history to recommend the most appropriate non-surgical path forward.