Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHeat and IceDietMeditationSupplementsExerciseMassageWhen to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Heat and Ice
Diet
Meditation
Supplements
Exercise
Massage
When to See a Provider
Cervical arthritis (cervical spondylosis) can cause symptoms that vary in intensity, or even none at all.Neck painand mobility issues can occur when sitting, driving, or doing housework. While home remedies may help, it’s important to see a healthcare provider about your symptoms.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. Whenchoosing a supplement, look for third-party tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.
1. Heat and Ice Treatments
Some people with cervical spondylosis benefit from using heat or cold for their neck pain and discomfort.Ice or heatalso can be alternated or interchanged.
Heat is used to decrease pain, improve circulation, and relax tight muscles around your neck. Heat can be applied in various ways, including:
When using heat, watch out for burns on your skin. Look for excessive redness, skin irritation, or skin discoloration. Heat should be applied for no more than 15 minutes, several times a day. If pain or redness occurs, discontinue use.
Cold may be used for acute (sudden) neck pain or discomfort, as it is considered an anti-inflammatory treatment that decreases pain and swelling from injury or a flare-up. Ice may be applied with an ice pack, ice bag, or cold compress.
You can apply ice to your neck for 15 minutes several times each day. Ice may causefrost burns, so use ice with a towel, facecloth, or another layer between the ice and the skin to avoid skin damage. Discontinue use if you feel increased pain or note excessive redness and skin irritation.
When treating neck arthritis, you may find that you need to use one or more natural remedies to find adequate relief for your specific case. Some combinations may work, too; research on hot compresses used with herb packs in traditional Chinese medicine is one example of potential combinations.
2. Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Consuming an anti-inflammatory diet may decrease joint inflammation and relieve pain. The Mediterranean diet is often cited as one that may be beneficial for people with arthritis.
This diet, high in fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, legumes, and red wine or chocolate, has been linked to decreased joint inflammation and improved mobility.Avoiding prepackaged foods, sugary drinks, and red meat is recommended.
The Arthritis Foundation has noted that while there is no specific diet that people withrheumatoid arthritis (RA)should follow, certain foods may help control inflammation. Many of them are found in the Mediterranean diet.
Foods that may haveanti-inflammatory effectsinclude:
Keep in mind that no diet is the perfect diet for everyone, and you may have to pick and choose specific food items to create an anti-inflammatory diet that works for you.
3. Meditation
Cervical spondylosis can cause chronic pain and discomfort in your neck, and long-term symptoms can potentially wreak havoc on your emotional state. Research supports the use of meditation andcognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)may help people with chronic pain and arthritis.
A study published in theJournal of Psychiatryconcluded that meditation should be recommended as a nonpharmacological approach for chronic pain therapy.
Working with a therapist trained in CBT and counseling may be effective. However, there is limited research evidence for how helpful CBT actually is in treating neck arthritis due to the lack of follow-up data.
4. Supplements
The spiceturmericcontains a compound called curcumin that may have anti-inflammatory properties. Research supports the use of curcumin as a natural supplement to help decrease pain and discomfort from arthritis, but more study is needed to confirm benefits.
Other herbal supplements and vitamins that may help with symptoms of arthritis include:
Keep in mind that research evidence is limited fordietary supplementuse and they are not intended as a substitute for medical care. These products also can have side effects or interact with your existing medications. Talk with your healthcare provider about using supplements and home remedies for your neck arthritis.
5. Exercise
Specific exercises to strengthen the neck and shoulder are recommended for people with chronic neck pain. They include focused muscle control work and aerobic exercise.
Tai chiresearch demonstrates some benefits for treating neck pain and mobility.The ancient Chinese practice is based on movement and exercise, and exercise has been shown to improve symptoms of pain and stiffness from neck arthritis.
Yoga may offer benefits, too, but the research results are more mixed on how it can help.
6. Massage for Neck Arthritis
Massagefeels good, and it may help to relax tight muscles and improve localized circulation to structures in your neck.Cuppinginvolves placing suction-type cups over your muscles. Some small studies have shown that cupping reduces symptoms in patients with chronic neck pain.
However, the American College of Rheumatology has published guidelines for the treatment of osteoarthritis and has stated that the research currently does not support the use of massage as an effective treatment for knee, hip, or hand arthritis.
While the guidelines are not specific to cervical spondylosis, it may be helpful to keep in mind there is little evidence that massage provides lasting relief for arthritis. Still, it may be one option to try when seeking out natural remedies for your neck pain.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Since cervical spondylosis is a wear and tear condition, you may notice that you have some good days and some bad days. Most often, your home remedies should be able to help you maintain mobility and function when your pain increases.
It’s important to see your healthcare provider if your symptoms include:
Your healthcare provider may recommend an over-the-counter (OTC) product like Aspercreme ointment or a prescriptionnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug(NSAID) to help with pain. Accurate diagnosis and treatment may include a range of options, depending on the cause.
Some symptoms associated with neck pain can point to a serious health issue. Let your healthcare provider know if you experience bowel or bladder control issues, or a loss of feeling and sensation that suggest nerve damage.
Summary
Neck pain from cervical spondylosis can cause pain and limit your mobility and quality of life. When you have mild symptoms, it may be a good idea to try natural remedies to get relief. At-home remedies can help manage your pain and discomfort.
It’s important to work closely with your healthcare provider to assure an accurate diagnosis and find the best treatment for your specific condition. Talk with your provider if you’re considering the use of supplements to treat your neck arthritis.
19 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Cervical spondylosis (arthritis of the neck).Arthritis Foundation.Natural Relief for Arthritis Pain.Ding X, Wu J, Shen Q, Xu J, Mo W.Clinical control study of traditional Chinese medicine hot compress combined with traction in the treatment of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy: Study protocol.Medicine (Baltimore). 2021 Jan 29;100(4):e23880. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000023880Forsyth C, Kouvari M, D’cunha NM, et al.The effects of the Mediterranean diet on rheumatoid arthritis prevention and treatment: a systematic review of human prospective studies.Rheumatol Int. 2018;38(5):737-747. doi:10.1007/s00296-017-3912-1Arthritis Foundation.Anti-inflammatory diet do’s and don’ts.Sharpe L.Psychosocial management of chronic pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: challenges and solutions.J Pain Res. 2016;9:137-146. doi:10.2147/JPR.S83653Coaccioli S, Varrassi G, Del Giorno R, Pace MC, Sansone P, Angelucci D, Paladini A, Moscatelli F, Messina A, Monda V, Messina G, Monda M, Aurilio C.Meditation as a useful chance for chronic pain decrease.African Journal of Psychiatry (South Africa), 2016,19(3),art. no. 1000369. doi:10.4172/2378- 5756.1000369Flynn DM.Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: Nonpharmacologic, Noninvasive Treatments.Am Fam Physician. 2020 Oct 15;102(8):465-477. PMID: 33064421Zeng L, Yang T, Yang K, Yu G, Li J, Xiang W,et al.Efficacy and Safety of Curcumin andCurcuma longaExtract in the Treatment of Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trial.Front Immunol. 2022 Jul 22;13:891822. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.891822Vo NX, Le NNH, Chu TDP, et al.Effectiveness and safety of glucosamine in osteoarthritis: a systematic review.Pharmacy (Basel). 2023;11(4):117. doi:10.3390/pharmacy11040117Gholizadeh M, Basafa Roodi P, Abaj F, et al.Influence of vitamin A supplementation on inflammatory biomarkers in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):21384. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-23919-xChin KY.The relationship between vitamin K and osteoarthritis: a review of current evidence.Nutrients. 2020;12(5):1208. doi:10.3390/nu12051208Kostoglou-Athanassiou I, Athanassiou L, Athanassiou P.The effect of omega-3 fatty acids on rheumatoid arthritis.Mediterr J Rheumatol. 2020;31(2):190-194. doi:10.31138/mjr.31.2.190Daher A, Carel RS, Tzipi K, Esther H, Dar G.The effectiveness of an aerobic exercise training on patients with neck pain during a short- and long-term follow-up: a prospective double-blind randomized controlled trial.Clin Rehabil. 2020;34(5):617-629. doi:10.1177/0269215520912000Saha FJ, Schumann S, Cramer H, et al.The effects of cupping massage in patients with chronic neck pain - a randomised controlled trial.Complement Med Res. 2017;24(1):26-32. doi:10.1159/000454872Kolasinski SL, Neogi T, Hochberg MC, et. al.2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation guideline for the management of osteoarthritis of the hand, hip, and knee.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2020 Feb;72(2):149-162. doi:10.1002/acr.24131Arthritis Foundation.When It’s Time to See a Doctor for Joint Pain.Dignity Health.Neck pain.University Hospitals.Neck Pain.
19 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Cervical spondylosis (arthritis of the neck).Arthritis Foundation.Natural Relief for Arthritis Pain.Ding X, Wu J, Shen Q, Xu J, Mo W.Clinical control study of traditional Chinese medicine hot compress combined with traction in the treatment of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy: Study protocol.Medicine (Baltimore). 2021 Jan 29;100(4):e23880. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000023880Forsyth C, Kouvari M, D’cunha NM, et al.The effects of the Mediterranean diet on rheumatoid arthritis prevention and treatment: a systematic review of human prospective studies.Rheumatol Int. 2018;38(5):737-747. doi:10.1007/s00296-017-3912-1Arthritis Foundation.Anti-inflammatory diet do’s and don’ts.Sharpe L.Psychosocial management of chronic pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: challenges and solutions.J Pain Res. 2016;9:137-146. doi:10.2147/JPR.S83653Coaccioli S, Varrassi G, Del Giorno R, Pace MC, Sansone P, Angelucci D, Paladini A, Moscatelli F, Messina A, Monda V, Messina G, Monda M, Aurilio C.Meditation as a useful chance for chronic pain decrease.African Journal of Psychiatry (South Africa), 2016,19(3),art. no. 1000369. doi:10.4172/2378- 5756.1000369Flynn DM.Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: Nonpharmacologic, Noninvasive Treatments.Am Fam Physician. 2020 Oct 15;102(8):465-477. PMID: 33064421Zeng L, Yang T, Yang K, Yu G, Li J, Xiang W,et al.Efficacy and Safety of Curcumin andCurcuma longaExtract in the Treatment of Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trial.Front Immunol. 2022 Jul 22;13:891822. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.891822Vo NX, Le NNH, Chu TDP, et al.Effectiveness and safety of glucosamine in osteoarthritis: a systematic review.Pharmacy (Basel). 2023;11(4):117. doi:10.3390/pharmacy11040117Gholizadeh M, Basafa Roodi P, Abaj F, et al.Influence of vitamin A supplementation on inflammatory biomarkers in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):21384. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-23919-xChin KY.The relationship between vitamin K and osteoarthritis: a review of current evidence.Nutrients. 2020;12(5):1208. doi:10.3390/nu12051208Kostoglou-Athanassiou I, Athanassiou L, Athanassiou P.The effect of omega-3 fatty acids on rheumatoid arthritis.Mediterr J Rheumatol. 2020;31(2):190-194. doi:10.31138/mjr.31.2.190Daher A, Carel RS, Tzipi K, Esther H, Dar G.The effectiveness of an aerobic exercise training on patients with neck pain during a short- and long-term follow-up: a prospective double-blind randomized controlled trial.Clin Rehabil. 2020;34(5):617-629. doi:10.1177/0269215520912000Saha FJ, Schumann S, Cramer H, et al.The effects of cupping massage in patients with chronic neck pain - a randomised controlled trial.Complement Med Res. 2017;24(1):26-32. doi:10.1159/000454872Kolasinski SL, Neogi T, Hochberg MC, et. al.2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation guideline for the management of osteoarthritis of the hand, hip, and knee.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2020 Feb;72(2):149-162. doi:10.1002/acr.24131Arthritis Foundation.When It’s Time to See a Doctor for Joint Pain.Dignity Health.Neck pain.University Hospitals.Neck Pain.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Cervical spondylosis (arthritis of the neck).Arthritis Foundation.Natural Relief for Arthritis Pain.Ding X, Wu J, Shen Q, Xu J, Mo W.Clinical control study of traditional Chinese medicine hot compress combined with traction in the treatment of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy: Study protocol.Medicine (Baltimore). 2021 Jan 29;100(4):e23880. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000023880Forsyth C, Kouvari M, D’cunha NM, et al.The effects of the Mediterranean diet on rheumatoid arthritis prevention and treatment: a systematic review of human prospective studies.Rheumatol Int. 2018;38(5):737-747. doi:10.1007/s00296-017-3912-1Arthritis Foundation.Anti-inflammatory diet do’s and don’ts.Sharpe L.Psychosocial management of chronic pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: challenges and solutions.J Pain Res. 2016;9:137-146. doi:10.2147/JPR.S83653Coaccioli S, Varrassi G, Del Giorno R, Pace MC, Sansone P, Angelucci D, Paladini A, Moscatelli F, Messina A, Monda V, Messina G, Monda M, Aurilio C.Meditation as a useful chance for chronic pain decrease.African Journal of Psychiatry (South Africa), 2016,19(3),art. no. 1000369. doi:10.4172/2378- 5756.1000369Flynn DM.Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: Nonpharmacologic, Noninvasive Treatments.Am Fam Physician. 2020 Oct 15;102(8):465-477. PMID: 33064421Zeng L, Yang T, Yang K, Yu G, Li J, Xiang W,et al.Efficacy and Safety of Curcumin andCurcuma longaExtract in the Treatment of Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trial.Front Immunol. 2022 Jul 22;13:891822. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.891822Vo NX, Le NNH, Chu TDP, et al.Effectiveness and safety of glucosamine in osteoarthritis: a systematic review.Pharmacy (Basel). 2023;11(4):117. doi:10.3390/pharmacy11040117Gholizadeh M, Basafa Roodi P, Abaj F, et al.Influence of vitamin A supplementation on inflammatory biomarkers in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):21384. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-23919-xChin KY.The relationship between vitamin K and osteoarthritis: a review of current evidence.Nutrients. 2020;12(5):1208. doi:10.3390/nu12051208Kostoglou-Athanassiou I, Athanassiou L, Athanassiou P.The effect of omega-3 fatty acids on rheumatoid arthritis.Mediterr J Rheumatol. 2020;31(2):190-194. doi:10.31138/mjr.31.2.190Daher A, Carel RS, Tzipi K, Esther H, Dar G.The effectiveness of an aerobic exercise training on patients with neck pain during a short- and long-term follow-up: a prospective double-blind randomized controlled trial.Clin Rehabil. 2020;34(5):617-629. doi:10.1177/0269215520912000Saha FJ, Schumann S, Cramer H, et al.The effects of cupping massage in patients with chronic neck pain - a randomised controlled trial.Complement Med Res. 2017;24(1):26-32. doi:10.1159/000454872Kolasinski SL, Neogi T, Hochberg MC, et. al.2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation guideline for the management of osteoarthritis of the hand, hip, and knee.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2020 Feb;72(2):149-162. doi:10.1002/acr.24131Arthritis Foundation.When It’s Time to See a Doctor for Joint Pain.Dignity Health.Neck pain.University Hospitals.Neck Pain.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Cervical spondylosis (arthritis of the neck).
Arthritis Foundation.Natural Relief for Arthritis Pain.
Ding X, Wu J, Shen Q, Xu J, Mo W.Clinical control study of traditional Chinese medicine hot compress combined with traction in the treatment of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy: Study protocol.Medicine (Baltimore). 2021 Jan 29;100(4):e23880. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000023880
Forsyth C, Kouvari M, D’cunha NM, et al.The effects of the Mediterranean diet on rheumatoid arthritis prevention and treatment: a systematic review of human prospective studies.Rheumatol Int. 2018;38(5):737-747. doi:10.1007/s00296-017-3912-1
Arthritis Foundation.Anti-inflammatory diet do’s and don’ts.
Sharpe L.Psychosocial management of chronic pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: challenges and solutions.J Pain Res. 2016;9:137-146. doi:10.2147/JPR.S83653
Coaccioli S, Varrassi G, Del Giorno R, Pace MC, Sansone P, Angelucci D, Paladini A, Moscatelli F, Messina A, Monda V, Messina G, Monda M, Aurilio C.Meditation as a useful chance for chronic pain decrease.African Journal of Psychiatry (South Africa), 2016,19(3),art. no. 1000369. doi:10.4172/2378- 5756.1000369
Flynn DM.Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: Nonpharmacologic, Noninvasive Treatments.Am Fam Physician. 2020 Oct 15;102(8):465-477. PMID: 33064421
Zeng L, Yang T, Yang K, Yu G, Li J, Xiang W,et al.Efficacy and Safety of Curcumin andCurcuma longaExtract in the Treatment of Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trial.Front Immunol. 2022 Jul 22;13:891822. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.891822
Vo NX, Le NNH, Chu TDP, et al.Effectiveness and safety of glucosamine in osteoarthritis: a systematic review.Pharmacy (Basel). 2023;11(4):117. doi:10.3390/pharmacy11040117
Gholizadeh M, Basafa Roodi P, Abaj F, et al.Influence of vitamin A supplementation on inflammatory biomarkers in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):21384. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-23919-x
Chin KY.The relationship between vitamin K and osteoarthritis: a review of current evidence.Nutrients. 2020;12(5):1208. doi:10.3390/nu12051208
Kostoglou-Athanassiou I, Athanassiou L, Athanassiou P.The effect of omega-3 fatty acids on rheumatoid arthritis.Mediterr J Rheumatol. 2020;31(2):190-194. doi:10.31138/mjr.31.2.190
Daher A, Carel RS, Tzipi K, Esther H, Dar G.The effectiveness of an aerobic exercise training on patients with neck pain during a short- and long-term follow-up: a prospective double-blind randomized controlled trial.Clin Rehabil. 2020;34(5):617-629. doi:10.1177/0269215520912000
Saha FJ, Schumann S, Cramer H, et al.The effects of cupping massage in patients with chronic neck pain - a randomised controlled trial.Complement Med Res. 2017;24(1):26-32. doi:10.1159/000454872
Kolasinski SL, Neogi T, Hochberg MC, et. al.2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation guideline for the management of osteoarthritis of the hand, hip, and knee.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2020 Feb;72(2):149-162. doi:10.1002/acr.24131
Arthritis Foundation.When It’s Time to See a Doctor for Joint Pain.
Dignity Health.Neck pain.
University Hospitals.Neck Pain.
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