The neck is considered to be the part that determines the life of the human body. Major blood arteries, veins, capillaries and nerve fibers pass through it, forcing the entire body to work fully. The blood channels supply the brain with nutrients and oxygen, without which the most important organ of the nervous system cannot function normally. If a person has pain in the neck, it is necessary to look for the causes of the ailment and, as far as possible, eliminate them.
Types of neck pain
Pain syndrome is divided into two main groups:
- Neck pain (low back pain) - regularly, with varying strength and dynamics, spreads to the shoulders and beyond. It often has a pulling and painful character. The cause is the painful spasm of the neck muscles.
- Cervicago is a sharp pain that occurs unexpectedly during unexpected sharp turns of the head, a long stay in an uncomfortable position. At the same time, a person is unable to freely turn his neck, nodding due to severe pain. "Shoot" in, shoulders, chest, hands. This pain is associated with the effect of stimuli on the nerve endings that run near the brain.
Causes of the disorder
Patients often have neck pain. Sometimes spasms are given in the back due to involuntary movements of the head. Occasionally, there is discomfort in the occipital region. It is especially unpleasant when the pain syndrome occurs in the morning due to an awkward posture during sleep.
With the confluence of unfavorable circumstances, pain can arise from the consequences of untreated infectious diseases. They are so unbearable that it is not possible to think about the reason for their occurrence.
Neck pain occurs for various reasons:
- Not specific.
- Vertebrogenic.
- In case of malfunction of internal organs.
- With the development of oncological formations of a benign and malignant nature.
- In the event of an accident.
- With inflammation of the bone tissue (subacute osteomyelitis, purulent lymphadenitis, spinal paralysis, meningitis, exacerbated thyroiditis).
Non-specific reasons
Patients often experience non-specific pain. They arise as a response to the overload of the cervical muscles and are considered a natural reaction of the body. Usually, this sensation appears when a person has been lying in an uncomfortable position for a long time or is physically overworked.
Neck pain due to severe loads of a dynamic nature. To get rid of unpleasant sensations, the body must rest well. This pain isn't too intense, doesn't last long, and goes away on its own without requiring special treatment.
When the overload is persistent, physiological pain takes a chronic form: a degenerative-dystrophic process begins. Harmful factors should be eliminated immediately when alarming symptoms appear and not wait for the development of the disease.
The statistical cause of pain can be:
- Wrong position during sleep.
- Frequent head movements.
- High stiffness cushion.
Vertebral causes
Dysfunction of the cervical vertebrae, discs, joints that connect them, ligaments and muscles is the answer to the question of why the neck hurts. When pain syndrome is constantly observed, degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the spine are recorded in such patients during X-ray examination. The neck is susceptible to this disease due to its anatomical structure:
- The neck joints are extremely mobile.
- The vertebrae have a very fragile structure and small size.
- They bear enormous loads every second, supporting the skull.
- Neurovascular fibers are found inside the vertebrae.
Degenerative-dystrophic diseases include:
- Osteochondrosis.
- Kyphosis.
- Spondylolisthesis (Listaz).
- Lordosis.
- Spondylopathy.
- Spinal stenosis.
- Intervertebral hernia. With her, the neck hurts, mainly on one side.
With such ailments, complications can occur in the form of stiff neck, protrusion of the disc, compression of the tissues of the spinal cord, progression of sciatica, deformation of the spine, persistent headaches, dizziness and ear noise.
Internal problems
Neck pain that occurs in the front is associated with a malfunction of the thyroid gland. They usually manifest in inflammatory lesions of the gland (thyroiditis), are acute, subacute, chronic or autoimmune in nature. The disorder is indicated by:
- Raise your body temperature.
- Lethargy, sleepiness.
- Redness, possibly swelling of the skin in the front of the neck.
- Choking, difficulty swallowing.
Thyroiditis causes systemic excruciating pain. It grows when swallowing, turning the head, probing the gland.
Unexpected neck pain from the side signals inflammation of the lymph nodes in diseases of the ENT organs. The provocateurs of this condition can be:
- Otolaryngological diseases of different nature (pharyngitis, laryngitis, sinusitis, otitis media).
- Cavity.
- Gum disease.
- Retropharyngeal abscess.
- Diseases of an infectious nature.
The neck can swell noticeably, losing its shape. The temperature rises rapidly, symptoms of the development of the underlying disease are noted.
Development of oncological neoplasms
Neck pain causes cancer of the vertebral tissues, blood vessels and internal organs located in the neck. Spinal tumors can be:
- Primitive (mesenchymal chondrosarcoma, osbolitosarcoma, lymphangioma).
- Secondary (myeloma, lymphogranulomotosis).
It happens that the causes of neck pain lie in tumors of the spinal cord and nerve fibers.
Neck injury
The spine in the neck area is quite fragile and vulnerable, which means it is prone to injuries of varying severity, such as:
- Fractures, bumps, bruises.
- Dislocations, subluxations.
- Sprains, strains of ligaments and muscles.
- Rupture of the intervertebral disc fragment.
- Extensive hematomas, bruises.
- Compression of the tissues of the spinal cord.
Neck injuries are extremely dangerous. This area contains important centers that allow the spinal cord to function. The affection of the brain at the level of 1 and 2 segments of the cervical vertebra leads to instant death. Injuries to the lower segments can leave a person unable to feel their body under the neck and move. Trauma to the seventh and eighth vertebrae affects the lower limbs.
Bone inflammation
The cervical spine can suffer from inflammation. Often they are in the nature of systemic diseases of the connective tissue:
- Limban-Sachs disease.
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Periarteritis nodosa.
- Wagner's disease.
- MCTD (Sharpe's syndrome).
- Progressive systemic sclerosis.
- Vasculitis.
- Ankylosing spondylitis
When a patient's neck hurts and hurts, the causes are often associated with ankylosing spondylitis (ankylosing spondylitis). In this case, the vertebral joints become inflamed, deformed and complete immobility of the cervical vertebrae occurs.
Neck pain in a child
In children, unlike adults, cervical pain is not hidden in the defeat of vertebral tissues and structures, but in:
- Lymphadenopathy.
- Bone tuberculosis.
- Zaushnitsa (pig).
- Meningitis.
- Tetanus.
- Pneumonia.
- Retropharyngeal abscess.
- Rheumatic diseases (polyarthritis, oligoarthritis).
When a child experiences neck pain and discomfort, it cannot be ignored. Consultation with a pediatrician is required, as the causes of this condition can be extremely serious.
Therapies and diagnostics
You can completely get rid of pain by identifying its root cause. You can relieve symptomatic painful sensations with the following medications:
- Non-steroidal analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Muscle relaxants that relieve muscle tone and spasms.
- Glucocorticoid hormonal agents. They are used to enhance the effect of painkillers.
- Chondroprotectors used for a long time to restore cartilage tissue and stop the process of its decomposition.
- Decongestants, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, vitamin therapy to eliminate chronic pain.
An experienced professional should be involved in the treatment of the disorder. First you need to see a therapist. According to the complaints, he will assess the general condition of the patient, tell you why the neck hurts, how to treat the pathology, what irritating factors need to be avoided.
Depending on the causes of the disease, the therapist will recommend visiting such narrow specialists:
- Rheumatologist.
- Orthopedic.
- Traumatologist.
- Neurologist.
- Masseur, chiropractor.
- Physiotherapist.
For cervical pain, such research methods are prescribed as:
- General blood test.
- Determination of the ESR.
- Examination of rheumatoid factors.
- Spinal X-ray.
- CT and MRI (magnetic and computerized resonance imaging) of the spine.
When an adult or child develops neck pain, this can be a sign of osteochondrosis, meningitis, a consequence of stress, or a side effect of taking certain medications. Doctors need to determine exactly why their patient has persistent neck pain.
If, after the examination, it is revealed that inflammation of the lymph nodes has become the main cause of pain in the neck, then they are prescribed:
- UHF.
- Back and base of the skull massage.
- Corrective gymnastics.
- medications.
You cannot ignore the disease. In the later stages of its development, surgery will be required to open the lymph nodes and clean them of accumulated pus.
Non-drug treatment
Complex therapy strengthens the cervical muscles, helps to remove spasms, make them flexible and elastic, improve blood flow, restore the maneuverability of the vertebrae of the neck, prevent exacerbation and the development of the disease. To do this, use:
- Physiotherapy.
- Acupressure.
- Manual therapy.
- Physiotherapy.
- Wear stick collars.
- Spa treatment.
- Acupuncture.
- Spine traction.
In the acute period, physical therapy, massage, gymnastics are not used until the pain stops. Modern methods of physiotherapy allow you to achieve a positive result without powerful drugs and surgical interventions. It:
- Hilamat hardware system (Elgos).
- Laser therapy of the hilt.
- Electrophoresis.
Doctors advise patients what to do when their neck hurts. Necessary:
- Sit straight, don't hunch over when reading, writing, eating.
- The work chair must have an ergonomic backrest.
- Check your posture when walking.
- Sleep on a small orthopedic pillow.
- Rub the neck with prescribed ointments or gels with analgesic effect three times a day.
- Do self-massage to relieve pain.
For sharp or aching neck pain, you don't have to:
- He throws his head back abruptly.
- Address the affected side frequently.
- Work continuously, read, write in a folded position.
- Abuse by wearing a splint collar.
- Sleep on a large, high pillow.
What to do if you've blown your neck
Severe pain in the back of the neck, accompanied by muscle inflammation, occurs with prolonged exposure to cold drafts. People sometimes complain that they have blown their necks. Doctors call this condition myositis. At the same time, the patient cannot calmly turn, tilt, throw his head back, his neck hurts a lot.
A doctor will help you get rid of the disease quickly and effectively. Before you visit his office, there are a few steps you can take to relieve the discomfort and pain:
- The painful area should be lubricated with a warming ointment (usually such ointments have an unpleasant smell and cause a burning sensation on the skin).
- Massage the neck with soft and light movements.
- Apply dry heat to the inflamed area (wrap yourself in a wool scarf, attach a terry towel).
- Try not to make sudden movements.
Do not take pain relievers without consulting a doctor. Only a doctor can prescribe them and determine their dosage.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the neck
Neck problems with osteochondrosis are more common than with the lower back. Often the lower segments of the vertebrae are affected - 5-6 or 6-7. Pain manifests itself in the back, shoots in the neck on the left, is especially intense during an exacerbation.
Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease, manifested by periodic exacerbations, which can have vague symptoms for a long time. For treatment, the patient is prescribed:
- Physiotherapy (hydrotherapy is especially effective for this disease).
- Analgesics.
- Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It is recommended to drink them within 3 weeks. Then the patient's condition is assessed and a decision is made on the further use of drugs in this group.
- Special corrective gymnastics.
- Manual therapy.
- Along with conservative medicine, treatment with folk remedies is welcomed: lotions, compresses, decoctions, infusions, ointments and homemade creams.
If it was possible to get rid of osteochondrosis in the early stages, then one should not forget about prevention in order to prevent the re-development of the disease.
Folk recipes
Neck pain can be eliminated using folk recipes:
- Infusion of a series perfectly relieves inflammation. For the drug you need 1 tbsp. L. dry raw materials, fill with a glass of boiling water. After 3-4 hours of infusion and filtration, the medicine can be drunk half a glass before meals.
- An effective ointment consists of a blend of St. John's wort, pine buds, eucalyptus leaves, mint and snake root. All components are ground into powder. Then they pour 100 ml of boiling water and boil for 4-5 minutes. 75 g of melted butter (vegetable or butter) are gradually added to the broth. The ointment is applied after it has hardened. Store it in the refrigerator.
- Similarly, you can prepare ointments from plantain, hops, burdock, lavender, marshmallow, dandelion, yarrow.
- An excellent healing composition is possessed by an ointment based on dandelion root, birch buds, sown coriander fruits.
Surgical treatment is resorted to in an emergency and for strict indications: if complications of vertebral diseases develop, the patient suffers from severe chronic pain that cannot be eliminated with conservative treatment for six months. Neck pain relief surgery carries enormous risks. Therefore, to begin with, all available treatment methods should be taken to combat the disease.