Causes and treatment of neck pain

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 work fully. The blood channels provide the brain with the delivery of nutrients and oxygen, without which the most important organ of the nervous system cannot function normally. If a person has a neck pain, you need to look for the causes of the disorder and, as far as possible, eliminate them.

Types of neck pain

Pain syndrome is divided into two main groups:

1. Cervicalgia (lumbago) - regularly, with varying strength and dynamics, spreads to the shoulders and beyond. Often it has a pulling, sore character. The cause is painful spasm of the neck muscles.
2. 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 not able to freely turn his neck, nod due to severe pain. "Shoots" at, shoulders, chest, hands. Such pain is associated with the effect of stimuli on the nerve endings passing near the parts of the brain.

Causes of the disorder

Often patients have cervical pain. Sometimes spasms are given to the back due to inadvertent head movements. Occasionally, there is discomfort in the occipital region. It is especially unpleasant when 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 occurrence.

Neck pain occurs for various reasons:

• Non-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, exacerbated thyroiditis).

Non-specific reasons

Patients often have to experience nonspecific pain. They arise as a response to overstrain 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 aches from serious loads of a dynamic nature. In order to get rid of unpleasant sensations, the body must have a good rest. This pain is not too intense, does not last long and goes away on its own without requiring special treatment.

When the overload is persistent, physiological pain takes on 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 in sleep.
• Frequent head movements.
• High firm cushion.

Vertebral causes

Dysfunction of the cervical vertebrae, discs, joints connecting them, ligaments and muscles is the answer to the question of why the neck hurts. 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 small size.
• They endure enormous loads every second, supporting the cranium.
• Neurovascular fibers are located inside 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 may occur in the form of torticollis, disc protrusion, compression of the spinal cord tissues, progression of sciatica, deformation of the spinal column, 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 themselves in inflammatory lesions of the gland (thyroiditis), are acute, subacute, chronic or autoimmune in nature. The disorder is indicated by:

• Rises in body temperature.
• Lethargy, drowsiness.
• Redness, possibly swelling of the skin on the front of the neck.
• Choking, difficulty swallowing.

Thyroiditis causes systematic throbbing 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:

• ENT diseases of a different nature (pharyngitis, laryngitis, sinusitis, otitis media).
• Dental caries.
• Gum disease.
• Retropharyngeal abscess.
• Diseases of an infectious nature.

The neck may swell noticeably, losing its shape. The temperature rises rapidly, symptoms of the development of the underlying disease are noted.

Development of oncological neoplasms

Neck pains provoke cancer of the vertebral tissues, blood vessels and internal organs located in the neck. Spinal column tumors can be:

• Primary (mesenchymal chondrosarcoma, osbolithosarcoma, 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 rather fragile and vulnerable, which means it is prone to injuries of varying severity, such as:

• Fractures, bumps, bruises.
• Dislocations, subluxations.
• Sprains, tears of ligaments and muscles.
• Tearing of the intervertebral disc fragment.
• Extensive hematomas, bruising.
• 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. 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 below the neck and move. Trauma to the 7th and 8th vertebrae affects the lower extremities.

Bone inflammation

The cervical spine can suffer from inflammation. Often they are in the nature of systemic connective tissue diseases:

• Limban-Sachs disease.
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Periarteritis nodosa.
• Wagner's disease.
• MCTD (Sharpe syndrome).
• Progressive systemic sclerosis.
• Vasculitis.
• Ankylosing spondylitis

When a patient's neck aches 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 hidden not in the defeat of the 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, since 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 painful sensations with the following medications:

• Analgesic and anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal drugs.
• Muscle relaxants that relieve muscle tone and spasm.
• Glucocorticoid hormonal agents. They are used to enhance the effect of pain relievers.
• 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 treating the disorder. First you need to see a therapist. He will, according to complaints, assess the general condition of the patient, tell you why the neck hurts, how to treat the pathology, what irritating factors must be avoided.

Depending on the causes of the disease, the therapist will recommend visiting such narrow specialists:

• Rheumatologist.
• Orthopedist.
• Traumatologist.
• Neurologist.
• Masseur, chiropractor.
• Physiotherapist.

For cervical pain, such research methods are prescribed as:

• General blood analysis.
• Determination of ESR.
• Examination for rheumatoid factors.
• X-ray of the spine.
• CT and MRI (computed and magnetic resonance imaging) of the spine.

When an adult or child develops pain in the neck, this may be a sign of osteochondrosis, meningitis, a consequence of stress, or a side effect of taking certain medications. Doctors need to establish 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 neck pain, it is prescribed:

• UHF.
• Back massage and base of the skull.
• Remedial gymnastics.
• Medications.

You cannot ignore the disease. At the later stages of its development, surgical intervention will be needed to open the lymph nodes and clean them of accumulated pus.

Drug-free treatment

Complex therapy strengthens the cervical muscles, helps to remove spasms, make them flexible and elastic, improve blood flow, restore the maneuverability of the neck vertebrae, prevent exacerbation and development of the disease. To do this, use:

• Physiotherapy.
• Acupressure.
• Manual therapy.
• Physiotherapy.
• Wearing splint collars.
• Spa treatment.
• Acupuncture.
• Traction of the spinal column.

In the acute period, physical therapy, massage, gymnastics are not used until the pain stops. Modern physiotherapy methods allow you to achieve a successful result without powerful drugs and surgical intervention. It:

• Hilamat hardware system (Elgos).
• Laser hilt therapy.
• Electrophoresis.

Doctors advise patients what to do when their neck hurts. Necessary:

• Sit up straight, do not hunch over when reading, writing, eating.
• The work chair must have an ergonomic backrest.
• Monitor your posture when walking.
• Sleep on a small orthopedic pillow.
• Rub the neck with prescribed ointments or gels with an analgesic effect three times a day.
• Do self-massage to eliminate pain.

For acute or aching neck pains, do not:

• Throw your head back sharply.
• Turn frequently to the affected side.
• Continuously work, read, write in a bent position.
• Abuse wearing a splint collar.
• Sleep on a large, high pillow.

What to do if you blew your neck

Severe pain in the back of the neck, accompanied by muscle inflammation, occurs with prolonged exposure to cold air currents. 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 very much.

A doctor will help you quickly and effectively get rid of the disease. Before visiting his office, you can take some steps to relieve discomfort and relieve pain:

• The painful area must be lubricated with a warming ointment (usually such ointments smell unpleasant and cause a burning sensation on the skin).
• Massage the neck with smooth light movements.
• Apply dry heat to the inflamed area (wrap yourself in a woolen 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 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 in the neck on the left, it is especially intensely felt during an exacerbation.

Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease, manifested by periodic exacerbation, 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. They are recommended to be drunk 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 remedial gymnastics.
• Manual therapy.
• Along with conservative medicine, treatment with folk remedies is welcomed: lotions, compresses, decoctions, infusions, homemade ointments and creams.

If it was possible to get rid of osteochondrosis in the first stages, 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:

• 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 medicine 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, mint, and snake root. All components are ground into powder. Then 100 ml of boiling water is poured and boiled for 4-5 minutes. 75 g of melted butter (vegetable or butter can be used) is gradually added to the broth. The ointment is applied after it hardens. Store it in the refrigerator.
• In the same way, you can prepare ointments with plantain, hops, burdock, lavender, marshmallow, dandelion, yarrow.
• An excellent healing composition is possessed by an ointment based on dandelion root, birch buds, fruits of sown coriander.

Surgical treatment is resorted to in case of emergency and for strict indications - if complications of vertebral diseases develop, the patient suffers from chronic severe pain that cannot be eliminated with conservative treatment for six months. Surgery to relieve neck pain carries enormous risks. Therefore, for a start, all available treatment methods should be taken to combat the disease.