The neck is considered to be the life-determining part of the human body. The main blood arteries, veins, capillaries and nerve fibers pass through it, forcing the entire body to function fully. Blood channels provide the brain with the supply of nutrients and oxygen, without which the most important organ of the nervous system cannot function normally. If a person has neck pain, he should look for the causes of the disorder and, as far as possible, eliminate them.
Types of neck pain
The pain syndrome is divided into two main groups:
- Cervicalgia (lumbago) - regularly, with different strength and dynamics, spreads to the shoulders and beyond. It is often painful and tight in character. The cause is a painful spasm of the neck muscles.
- Cervicago is a sharp pain that occurs unexpectedly during unexpected sharp turns of the head, a prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position. At the same time, a person cannot freely turn the neck or nod due to severe pain. "Shoot" 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
Often patients have neck pain. Sometimes the spasms occur 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 manifests itself in the morning due to an uncomfortable posture during sleep.
With the confluence of unfavorable circumstances, pain can arise due to the consequences of untreated infectious diseases. They are so unbearable that it is not possible to think about the reason for their appearance.
Neck pain occurs for several reasons:
- Not specific.
- Vertebrogenic.
- In case of malfunction of internal organs.
- With the development of oncological formations of a benign and malignant nature.
- In case of injury.
- With inflammation of bone tissue (subacute osteomyelitis, purulent lymphadenitis, spinal paralysis, meningitis, aggravated thyroiditis).
Nonspecific reasons
Patients often have to experience nonspecific pain. They arise in response to overexertion of the cervical muscles and are considered a natural reaction of the body. Usually this feeling appears when a person has been lying in an uncomfortable position for a long time or is physically overworked.
Neck pain from serious loads of a dynamic nature. To get rid of unpleasant sensations, the body must rest well. This pain is not too severe, does not last long, and goes away on its own without requiring special treatment.
When the overload is persistent, the physiological pain acquires a chronic form: a degenerative-dystrophic process begins. Harmful factors should be eliminated immediately when alarming symptoms appear and not wait for the disease to develop.
The statistical cause of pain can be:
- Incorrect position during sleep.
- Frequent head movements
- High and firm cushion.
Vertebral causes
Dysfunction of the cervical vertebrae, discs, connecting joints, ligaments, and muscles is the answer to the question of why does the neck hurt. When the 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 a small size.
- They bear enormous loads every second, supporting the skull.
- Neurovascular fibers are found within the vertebrae.
Degenerative-dystrophic pathologies include:
- Osteochondrosis.
- Kyphosis.
- Spondylolisthesis (listez).
- Lordosis.
- Spondylopathy
- Spinal stenosis
- Intervertebral hernia. With her, the neck hurts, mainly on one side.
With such disorders, complications in the form of torticollis, 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 can occur.
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:
- Increases body temperature.
- Lethargy, drowsiness.
- Redness, possibly swelling of the skin in the front of the neck.
- Choking, difficulty swallowing.
Thyroiditis causes systematic stabbing pain. It grows by swallowing, turning the head, probing the gland.
Unexpected neck pain from the side indicates inflammation of the lymph nodes in diseases of the ENT organs. The provocateurs of this condition can be:
- ENT diseases of a different nature (pharyngitis, laryngitis, sinusitis, otitis media).
- Dental caries.
- Gum disease
- Retropharyngeal abscess.
- Diseases of an infectious nature.
The neck can become noticeably swollen and lose 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:
- Primary (mesenchymal chondrosarcoma, osbolitosarcoma, lymphangioma).
- Secondary (myeloma, lymphogranulomotosis).
It happens that the causes of neck pain are found in tumors of the spinal cord and nerve fibers.
Neck injury
The spine in the neck area is quite fragile and vulnerable, which means that it is prone to injuries of various severity, such as:
- Fractures, bumps, bruises.
- Dislocations, subluxations.
- Sprains, ligament and muscle tears.
- Tear of the intervertebral disc fragment.
- Extensive bruises, 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 affect of the brain at the level of 1 and 2 segments of the cervical vertebra leads to instant death. Lower segment injuries can leave a person unable to feel their body below the neck and move. Trauma to the seventh and eighth vertebrae affects the lower extremities.
Inflammation of the bones
The cervical spine can suffer from inflammation. Often found in the nature of systemic connective tissue diseases:
- Limban-Sachs disease.
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Nodus periarteritis.
- Wagner's disease.
- MCTD (Sharpe syndrome).
- Progressive systemic sclerosis.
- Vasculitis
- Ankylosing spondyloarthritis
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 there is complete immobility of the cervical vertebrae.
Neck pain in a child
In children, unlike adults, neck 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 free yourself from pain by identifying its root cause. You can relieve symptomatic pain sensations with the following medications:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic 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 decomposition process.
- Decongestants, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, vitamin therapy to eliminate chronic pain.
An experienced professional should be involved in treating the disorder. You need to see a therapist first. He, based on complaints, will assess the general condition of the patient, tell you why the neck hurts, how to treat the pathology, what irritating factors should be avoided.
Depending on the causes of the disease, the therapist will recommend visiting such limited specialists:
- Rheumatologist.
- Orthopedist.
- Traumatologist.
- Neurologist.
- Massage therapist, chiropractor.
- Physiotherapist.
For cervical pain, research methods are prescribed as:
- General blood test.
- Determination of ESR.
- Rheumatoid factors test.
- X-ray of the spine.
- CT and MRI (computerized and magnetic 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 must establish exactly why their patient has persistent neck pain.
If, after examination, it is revealed that swelling of the lymph nodes has become the main cause of neck pain, they are prescribed:
- UHF.
- Back and skull base massage.
- Recovery gymnastics.
- Medicines.
You cannot ignore the disease. In the later stages of its development, surgical intervention will be required to open the lymph nodes and clear them of accumulated pus.
Non-pharmacological treatment
Complex therapy strengthens the cervical muscles, helps to eliminate spasms, makes them flexible and elastic, improves blood flow, restores the maneuverability of the neck vertebrae, prevents exacerbation and the development of the disease. To do this, use:
- Physiotherapy.
- Acupressure
- Manual therapy.
- Physiotherapy.
- Wearing splint collars.
- Spa treatment.
- Acupuncture.
- Traction of the spine.
In the acute period, physiotherapy, massage and gymnastics are not used until the pain stops. Modern physiotherapy methods allow you to achieve a successful result without powerful drugs and surgical intervention. That:
- Hilamat (Elgos) hardware system.
- Laser grip therapy.
- Electrophoresis.
Doctors advise patients what to do when their neck hurts. Necessary:
- Sit up straight, do not slouch 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 prescription pain relieving ointments or gels three times a day.
- Get a self-massage to eliminate pain.
For sharp or aching neck pain, you should not:
- He throws his head back sharply.
- Turn frequently to the affected side.
- Work, read, write continuously in a hunched position.
- Abuse of wearing a splint collar.
- Sleep on a large, tall pillow.
What to do if your neck blew off?
Severe pain in the neck, accompanied by muscle inflammation, occurs with prolonged exposure to cold drafts. People sometimes complain that their necks have been blown off. Doctors call this condition myositis. At the same time, the patient can not calmly turn, bend, tilt his head back, his neck hurts a lot.
A doctor will help you get rid of the disease quickly and effectively. Before visiting your office, there are a few steps you can take to ease discomfort and pain:
- The sore area should be lubricated with a warm ointment (usually these ointments have an unpleasant odor and cause a burning sensation on the skin).
- Massage the neck with gentle, light movements.
- Apply dry heat to the inflamed area (wrap in a woolen scarf, lay out a terrycloth towel).
- Try not to make sudden movements.
Do not take pain relievers without consulting a doctor. Only a doctor can prescribe them and determine the 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. The pain manifests itself in the back, shoots up in the neck on the left, is felt especially intensely 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:
- Physical therapy (hydrotherapy is especially effective for this disease).
- Analgesics.
- Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It is recommended to drink them within 3 weeks. The patient's condition is then assessed and a decision is made about the further use of drugs in this group.
- Special recovery gymnastics.
- Manual therapy.
- Along with conservative medicine, treatment with folk remedies is appreciated: lotions, compresses, decoctions, infusions, ointments and homemade creams.
If it was possible to get rid of osteochondrosis in the early stages, then prevention should not be forgotten to prevent the new development of the disease.
Popular recipes
Neck pain can be eliminated with folk recipes:
- The infusion of a series perfectly relieves inflammation. For the drug, 1 tbsp is required. l. Dry raw materials, filled with a glass of boiling water. After 3-4 hours of infusion and straining, the drug can be drunk half a glass before meals.
- An effective ointment is made from a mixture of St. John's wort, pine buds, eucalyptus leaves, peppermint, and snake root. All components are ground into powder. Then 100 ml of boiling water is poured in and boiled for 4-5 minutes. 75 g of melted butter is gradually added to the broth (vegetable or butter can be used). The ointment is applied after it hardens. Store it in the refrigerator.
- In the same way, you can prepare ointments with banana, hops, burdock, lavender, marshmallow, dandelion, yarrow.
- An excellent curative composition is possessed by an ointment based on dandelion root, birch buds, and 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. Surgery to relieve neck pain carries enormous risks. Therefore, to begin with, all available treatment methods should be taken to combat the disease.