Causes and treatment of neck pain

The neck is considered to be the part of the human body that determines life. The main blood arteries, veins, capillaries and nerve fibers pass through it, forcing the whole body to work fully. Blood channels supply 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, it is necessary 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. Cervical pain (lumbago) - regular, different strengths and dynamics, spreads to the shoulders and further. It often has a withdrawing, painful character. The cause is a 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, the person is not able to turn his neck freely, nod his head due to severe pain. "Shoots" in, shoulders, chest, arms. This pain is associated with the action of stimuli on nerve endings that pass close to the brain.

Causes of the disorder

Often patients have pain in the cervix. Sometimes cramps occur in the back due to unintentional head movements. Occasionally there is discomfort in the occipital region. It is especially uncomfortable when the painful syndrome manifests in the morning due to uncomfortable posture during sleep.

Due to unfavorable circumstances, pain can occur due to the consequences of untreated infectious diseases. They are so unbearable that one cannot think about the reason for their occurrence.

Neck pain occurs for various reasons:

• Nonspecific.
• Vertebrogenic.
• In case of malfunction of internal organs.
• With the development of oncological formations of benign and malignant nature.
• In case of injury.
• In inflammation of bone tissue (subacute osteomyelitis, purulent lymphadenitis, spinal paralysis, meningitis, exacerbated thyroiditis).

Nonspecific reasons

Patients often have to experience nonspecific pain. They occur in response to overexertion of the cervical muscles and are considered a natural reaction of the body. Usually this feeling occurs when a person lies in an awkward position for a long time or is physically overwhelmed.

Neck pain from serious loads of a dynamic nature. In order to get rid of unpleasant sensations, the body must rest well. This pain is not too intense, does not last long and goes away on its own without the need for special treatment.

When the overload is persistent, the physiological pain takes a chronic form - the degenerative-dystrophic process begins. Harmful factors should be eliminated as soon as alarming symptoms appear, and not wait for the disease to develop.

The statistical cause of pain can be:

• Wrong position during sleep.
• Frequent head movements.
• High-strength pillow.

Vertebral causes

Dysfunction of the cervical spine, discs, joints that connect 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 withstand enormous loads every second, supporting the skull.
• Neurovascular fibers are located inside the vertebrae.

Degenerative-dystrophic pathologies include:

• Osteochondrosis.
• Kyphosis.
• Spondylolisthesis (listis).
• Lordosis.
• Spondylopathy.
• Spinal stenosis.
• Intervertebral hernia. Her neck hurts, mostly on one side.

Complications such as torticollis, disc protrusion, spinal cord tissue compression, sciatica progression, spinal deformities, persistent headaches, dizziness, and tinnitus can occur.

Internal problems

Anterior neck pain is associated with thyroid failure. They are usually manifested by inflammatory lesions of the gland (thyroiditis), are acute, subacute, chronic or autoimmune in nature. The disorder indicates:

• Elevated body temperature.
• Lethargy, drowsiness.
• Redness, possible swelling of the skin on the front of the neck.
• Choking, difficulty swallowing.

Thyroiditis causes systemic throbbing pain. It grows when swallowing, turning the head, probing the gland.

Unexpected pain in the side of the neck signals inflammation of the lymph nodes in diseases of the ENT organs. Provokers of this condition can be:

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

The neck may noticeably swell and lose shape. The temperature rises rapidly, the symptoms of the development of the underlying disease are noticed.

Development of oncological neoplasms

Neck pain causes cancer of the tissues of the spine, blood vessels and internal organs located in the neck. Tumors of the spine can be:

• Primary (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 area of the neck is quite fragile and vulnerable, which means that it is prone to injuries of various severity, such as:

• Fractures, bruises, bruises.
• Dislocations, subluxations.
• Sprains, tearing of ligaments and muscles.
• Rupture of a fragment of the intervertebral disc.
• Extensive hematomas, bruises.
• Spinal cord tissue compression.

Neck injuries are extremely dangerous. This area contains important centers that enable the functioning of the spinal cord. Brain infection at levels 1 and 2 of the cervical vertebrae leads to immediate death. Injuries to the lower segments can leave a person unable to feel their body under the neck and move. Trauma of the 7th and 8th vertebrae affects the lower extremities.

Inflammation of the bones

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

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

When a patient has neck pain, the causes are often related to ankylosing spondylitis (ankylosing spondylitis). In this case, there is inflammation, deformation of the vertebrae and complete immobility of the cervical spine.

Neck pain in a child

In children, unlike adults, cervical pain is not hidden in the defeat of the tissues and structures of the spine, but in:

• Lymphadenopathy.
• Bone tuberculosis.
• Zaushnitsa (pig).
• Meningitis.
• Tetanus.
• Pneumonia.
• Retropharyngeal abscess.
• Rheumatic diseases (polyarthritis, oligoarthritis).

When a child feels pain and discomfort in the neck, it cannot be ignored. A consultation with a pediatrician is necessary, because 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 alleviate the symptomatic painful sensations with the following medications:

• Analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Muscle relaxants that relieve muscle tone and spasm.
• Glucocorticoid hormonal agents. They are used to enhance the effects of painkillers.
• Chondroprotectors have long been used to regenerate 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. You must first visit a therapist. He will, according to the complaints, 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 a visit to such narrow specialists:

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

For cervical pain, such research methods are prescribed as:

• General blood test.
• Determination of ESR.
• Examination of rheumatoid factor.
• X-ray of the spine.
• CT and MRI (computer and magnetic resonance imaging) of the spine.

When an adult or child develops neck pain, it can be a sign of osteochondrosis, meningitis, the effects of stress, or the side effects of taking certain medications. Doctors must determine exactly why their patient has persistent neck pain.

If after the examination it is determined that the inflammation of the lymph nodes is the main cause of neck pain, the following are prescribed:

• UHF.
• Back and skull base 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 clear them of accumulated pus.

Drug-free treatment

Complex therapy strengthens the muscles of the cervix, helps eliminate cramps, makes them flexible and elastic, improves blood flow, restores the mobility of the cervical spine, prevents the worsening and development of the disease. To do this, use:

• Physiotherapy.
• Acupressure.
• Manual therapy.
• Physiotherapy.
• Wear collars.
• Spa treatment.
• Acupuncture.
• Spinal traction.

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

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

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

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

For acute or painful neck pain you should not:

• Throw your head back sharply.
• Turn to the affected side often.
• Work continuously, read, write in a bent position.
• Abuse of wearing a 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 inflammation of the muscles, 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, bend over, tilt his head back, his neck hurts a lot.

Your doctor will help you get rid of the disease quickly and efficiently. Before you visit his office, you can take a few steps to alleviate the discomfort and pain:

• The painful area must be smeared with a warming ointment (usually such ointments smell unpleasant and cause burning on the skin).
• Massage the neck with smooth light movements.
• Apply dry heat to the inflamed area (wrap yourself in a woolen scarf, fasten a terry towel).
• Try not to make sudden movements.

Do not take painkillers without consulting a doctor. Only a doctor can prescribe them and determine the dose.

Treatment of neck osteochondrosis

Neck problems with osteochondrosis are more common than with the lower back. The lower segments of the vertebrae are often affected - 5-6 or 6-7. The pain is manifested in the back, shoots in the neck on the left side, is felt especially intensely during exacerbation.

Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease that manifests itself with 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 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It is recommended to drink it within 3 weeks. The patient's condition is then assessed and a decision is made on the further use of drugs in this group.
• Special corrective gymnastics.
• Manual therapy.
• In addition to conservative medicine, treatment with folk remedies is welcome: lotions, compresses, decoctions, infusions, homemade ointments and creams.

If it was possible to get rid of osteochondrosis in the early stages, one should not forget about prevention in order to prevent the recurrence of the disease.

Folk recipes

Neck pain can be removed with the help of folk recipes:

• The infusion of the series perfectly relieves inflammation. 1 tablespoon is needed for the medicine. l. dry raw materials, filled with a glass of boiling water. After 3-4 hours of infusion and squeezing, 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, mint and snake root. All components are ground to a powder. Then pour 100 ml of boiling water and cook for 4-5 minutes. 75 g of melted butter is gradually added to the soup (vegetable or butter can also be used). The ointment is applied after it has hardened. Store it in the refrigerator.
• In the same way you can prepare fats from plantain, hops, burdock, lavender, marshmallow, dandelion, yarrow.
• An excellent medicinal composition has an ointment based on dandelion roots, birch buds, coriander seeds.

Surgical treatment is resorted to in emergencies and for strict indications - if complications of spinal disease develop, the patient suffers from chronic severe pain that cannot be relieved by conservative treatment for six months. Surgery to relieve neck pain carries huge risks. Therefore, to begin with, all available treatment methods should be taken to combat the disease.