neck and hands

AT 62 I expect my hands to have some arthritis, but 6 weeks ago from the pinky down and across all my knuckles (both hands) turned beet red, swollen, wrists felt boggy, and stayed that way for a week.  They are still slightly red.

But my main concern is my neck!  I had a one level ACDF, then 2 years later the bones were going in opposite directions and I had herniated 2 more discs.  Never had neck pain just arm nerve pain.  Nov '08 started with upper neck bone pain.  Home remedies failed so finally went to doc in February and x-rays found significant arthritis at C1-2!  Fusion looks good, no bone spurs or degen. disc to account for this new arthritis.  Only advice was to stop stretches and do comfort measures only, tylenol.  Well tylenol didn't touch the pain at all so am back taking Advil.  Had 3 accupuncture treatments which did relieve the muscle spasms considerable, but the bone pain is back in full force.  Doc did ask if I had RA.  I followed up with my PCP and all RA tests came back negative.  She started me on Mobic 3/20 but no effect noticable yet.

For some reason, I am unable to access the recent expert sharposts on neck arthritis!  So I am here asking if anyone out there has had this experience.