Neck pain can occur for a variety of reasons. Let's give an answer to the question "What to do if the neck hurts? " And advise the best method of treatment.
Pain in the neck can cause significant discomfort to each of us. At the same time, the normal way of life is disrupted and the person loses the opportunity to do daily work. Often he experienced dizziness, tinnitus and visual organ deterioration. The reasons for such violations can be very different. We will talk about them further.
What neck pain is there?
Pain in the neck can be temporary and cause only a little discomfort to a person, or become more intense and disrupt the normal rhythm of life. As a rule, patients notice sharp muscle spasms in this part of the body, which are accompanied by severe pain. It can be throbbing, sore, or tingling.
In this case, an increase in discomfort was observed during periods of physical activity or with prolonged stay in one position. For these reasons, one should make rounds with the whole body to avoid increased load on the neck.
Therefore, pain in the neck can be classified as follows:
- sharp. Period not more than 10 days;
- Chronicle. Annoying the person for a long period of time;
- Vertebrogenic. It occurs in the presence of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the cervical spine, including compression of the spinal cord roots and damage to the intervertebral disc;
- Not vertebrogenic. They manifest themselves against the background of other negative factors, including inflammatory and infectious processes in muscle areas, disorders of the lymph nodes and thyroid gland.
With painful sensations of a vertebrogenic nature, discomfort is observed in the upper area, back of the head, shoulder joints and hands. In this case, there is a loss of sensitivity, limitation of motor activity and numbness in the limb area, which is thought to be a result of compression of the spinal roots. In addition, in this case, the patient recorded an acute pain syndrome in the head area, dizziness and the appearance of fainting, which indicated the presence of a herniated intervertebral disc.
The need for an immediate visit to a specialist is indicated by the presence of painful sensations of an acute nature, which are accompanied by loss of sensitivity in the back of the head, the appearance of tinnitus and dizziness.
Causes of neck pain
Before deciding what to do if your neck hurts, you should accurately diagnose the nature of the disease. In some cases, it may be difficult for a person to distinguish between pain in the throat and discomfort in the cervical spine, as the sensation can be intense and associated with pain throughout the neck. If at the same time the patient feels a fever or sore throat, this may indicate the presence of a viral infection, which includes: pharyngitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis, ARVI, etc. In addition, similar symptoms can occur when:
- Inadequate vitamin intake into the body;
- In case of the presence of foreign objects in the throat area;
- Increased cortisol synthesis by the adrenal cortex;
- The presence of pathological neoplasms in the throat;
- Gastroesophageal reflux.
But, as a rule, patients can distinguish disease in the throat area from pain in the neck, which can be localized in the anterior, posterior and lateral parts.
Causes of pain in the front of the neck
The appearance of discomfort in the front of the neck or under the chin can be observed against the background:
- Inflammation in muscle areas associated with nerves and ligaments;
- Pathological processes in the thyroid gland;
- Acute lack of blood supply to the myocardium;
- In the presence of abscesses and cyst formation;
- The destructive process in the lymph node area.
It should be noted that the factors that cause pain in this part of the body are difficult to determine. In such cases, it is better to get an appointment with an experienced specialist for an accurate diagnosis of the disease.
It is important to note that discomfort in the front of the neck can occur when nerve roots are compressed and with pathological changes in the intervertebral disc.
Causes of pain in the back of the neck
One of the most frequently asked questions among modern people reads like this: "What to do if the neck hurts from behind? " Indeed, physical inactivity, prolonged computer use, the presence of addiction, reluctance to adopt a healthy lifestyle - all of these can leadto pathological disorders of the vertebrae and, consequently, cause pain in the neck.
Therefore, if your neck hurts from behind, and you do not know what to do with the unpleasant manifestations, first of all we recommend to contact an experienced vertebrologist or manualist. The fact is that the above signs most often indicate serious pathology of the spine, which include:
- Osteochondrosis. It is characterized by degenerative-dystrophic disorders in the area of the intervertebral disc, as well as a decrease in its strength and height;
- Prominence. We are talking about the protrusion of the intervertebral disc, which increases the likelihood of pinching of arteries and nerve roots;
- Spinal disc herniation. In the absence of timely therapeutic measures, the nucleus pulposus can rise and penetrate into the spinal canal. In this case, the spinal cord and nerve roots are compressed. At a later stage, the contents of the intervertebral disc can separate and "float freely" along the spinal canal. This, in turn, can lead to a complete lack of spinal motor activity;
- Spondylosis. We are talking about a disease in which pathological bone growth appears in the extreme part of the vertebrae. In this case, flattening of the intervertebral disc occurs, which can gradually trigger pathological connections of nearby vertebrae and a decrease in motor activity in the neck;
- Myofascial syndrome. Pathological processes characterized by the appearance of spasms in muscle tissue and, consequently, the occurrence of acute pain syndrome during the period of movement;
- Compression fracture. This process occurs in the vertebral area in the elderly. It manifests itself as a result of whiplash or as a result of osteoporosis, and poses a serious danger to the human body;
- Ankylosing spondylitis. It is accompanied by a combination of vertebral pathology, damage to all joints and a decrease in total motor activity.
In rare cases, pain in the back of the neck occurs on the background of osteomyelitis or spinal tuberculosis.
What is the cause of pain in the neck?
Typically, pain in the neck is throbbing or tingling. In addition, pain can radiate to the ear or shoulder joint, which often leads to curvature of the neck toward the lesion. The same situation arises with the presence of the following diseases:
- Vascular pathology, including the deposition of cholesterol on the inner walls of blood vessels;
- Muscle spasms, manifested as a result of excessive pressure on the neck, exposure to heat factors or sudden changes in head position;
- The presence of malignant formations in the larynx, pharynx or thyroid gland.
Diagnosis of neck pain
Therefore, to understand what to do if the neck hurts, first of all, one must know the etiology of the origin of the disease. The most common cause of discomfort is a pathological process in the cervical vertebrae. That is why, when the first unpleasant symptoms occur, it is recommended to visit a vertebrologist, neurologist or manual.
After listening to the patient's complaints and performing the necessary diagnostic measures, the doctor will give a clear recommendation for further treatment. Not only can you figure out what to do if your shoulders and neck hurt, but you can also find out the cause of the discomfort that arises.
However, pathological changes in the spinal column most often trigger the onset of the above diseases. In fact, even minor pathologies in the vertebral area can trigger disturbances in the transmission of nerve signals from the spinal cord to the body’s internal systems.
This is due to the fact that each part of the spinal cord controls the work of certain organs, and in the event of any disturbances in the cervical region, neck and shoulder muscles, as well as ENT and thyroid organs. glands, affected. The intensity of the pain syndrome depends on the stage of disease progression.
Therefore, if you experience pain in the back of your head and neck, before finding a way out, what to do, you should make a comprehensive diagnosis. During the course, the following activities were implemented:
- Blood tests are performed;
- Ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland, cervical canal and salivary glands was performed;
- Blood tests are performed for the presence of thyroid hormones;
- X-rays of the cervical spine are performed;
- Electromyography is prescribed;
- MRI;
- CT.
In this case, the most informative diagnostic method is MRI. In the course of it, it is possible to make a detailed analysis of the condition of the intervertebral disc, to study the condition of the blood supply organs, and to identify the symptoms of spinal root compression. Thanks to this method, it is possible to assess the presence of a particular disease in advance, at an early stage of its development, which significantly increases the effectiveness of future therapeutic measures.
Treatment of neck pain
To understand what to do if the left, front or back of the neck is sore, the individual eye should be taken into account, which includes the intensity of the pain syndrome, the severity of existing changes, the presence of chronic pathology and the corresponding specialist. opinion. In addition, patients with the same type of disorder may be recommended different therapeutic measures, because in this case age factors and individual characteristics of the organism are taken into account.
However, even if a person experiences very severe back neck pain, there is no specific way to do what to correct the condition. The recommended therapeutic measures are always complex in nature and aim to eliminate the negative manifestations of the disease and combat its causes.
The main components of the treatment provided include:
- Use of drugs;
- Manual treatment;
- Osteopathy;
- Massage procedure;
- Use of physiotherapy methods;
- Visit to a rehabilitation specialist.
In addition, when pathological processes are detected in the area of the cervical vertebrae, the patient needs to correct his normal way of life. For example, office workers and drivers are encouraged to introduce regular physical exercise and change body position more frequently during the work day.
You should also enrich your diet with healthy foods. This will allow to speed up the recovery process of the body.
Medicine for neck pain
The nature of the prescribed drugs depends on the diagnosis and the presence of chronic pathology. Below we provide a list of medications recommended for most patients when diagnosing such diseases:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They have a strong anesthetic effect, relieve inflammation;
- Corticosteroid hormones. Helps combat inflammation in situations where non -steroidal medications are inactive;
- The use of drugs that relieve muscle spasms, which can significantly reduce the intensity of the pain syndrome;
- A group of drugs, the main components of which are glycosaminoglycans (chondroprotectors). Promotes the regrowth of cartilage tissue, has improved efficiency in the early stages of spinal disease;
- Vitamin D. Promotes the restoration of brain function, improves the condition of the skeletal system;
- Vitamin group B. Allows to improve the process of transmission of impulses from the spinal cord to the internal system, as well as normalize their normal function;
- Antibacterial drugs, antihypertensive drugs, hormone drugs, etc.
In cases of painful manifestations of significant intensity, the solution is injected into the area of nerve endings in the neck, which contains anesthetic drugs and corticosteroid hormones. However, during the implementation of restrictions, there is a possibility of injury and nerve infection, which requires high professional training of specialists.
Manual neck treatment
One of the most effective methods of eliminating pain in the neck and the reasons that give rise to their appearance is manual therapy. This method is based on a direct effect on the spine and nearby tissues. The main difference between this procedure and therapeutic massage is the ability to exercise not only the muscles of the neck and back, but also to affect the spine.
With the implementation of manual treatment by a competent specialist, it is possible to achieve a significant improvement in the patient's condition after the first procedure. It is possible to get a healing effect because:
- Bring the vertebrae to the correct position and restore the axis of the spinal column;
- Expansion of the intervertebral space and release of constricted ducts and roots. This allows you to normalize the function of the body’s internal systems, especially the brain;
- Relieves muscle cramps and spasms in the neck, which can reduce pain intensity;
- Restoration of tissue blood supply.
Physiotherapy treatment for neck pain
The main goal of physiotherapeutic procedures is to increase the effectiveness of the therapeutic measures implemented. They had to be just outside the stage of deterioration. With an efficient professional approach, physiotherapy has a clear analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect, and also allows you to increase blood flow in the tissues and restore muscle tone.
Often, patients are recommended to take a course that includes 10-15 sessions. This includes:
- Ultrasonic methods;
- Use of laser radiation;
- Exposure to the affected area to constant electric current in combination with the administration of medicinal substances;
- Shock wave therapy;
- Spinal column traction;
- Mud treatment, etc.
The number of procedures and the frequency of their implementation are determined individually. Separate methods of influence can be carried out simultaneously, the rest must be carried out at certain intervals.
The action of shock wave therapy for neck pain
You should rule out the possibility of any self -medication, as this can not only worsen your condition, but also lead to irreversible consequences. For example, if your neck hurts from the back at the base or a pinched nerve, it is better to contact an experienced specialist in a proven clinic.
In a good clinic, modern and effective methods of treatment are implemented, thanks to which each patient has the opportunity to normalize the condition of the neck without harmful consequences for the body. Thanks to the use of innovative and highly efficient equipment, as well as the participation of top -level specialists in medical procedures, you can expect long -term and reliable results.
The course of shock wave therapy implemented will allow you to quickly stop the pain syndrome, overcome the cause of the disease, as well as eliminate the possibility of complications in bone tissue and in muscle areas. You will be able to feel a significant improvement in your condition after the first procedure of exposure to shock waves.
Physiotherapy exercises for neck pain
If your neck hurts after sleep or hurts to turn around, the mandatory stage of treatment, along with other methods, is exercise therapy. Since the cause of pain in the cervical spine is often excessive muscle tension and simultaneous degenerative-dystrophic changes in the vertebrae, exercise therapy should be performed daily.
For each patient, an exercise therapy program was arranged individually. In this case, the individual characteristics of the organism, age factors, severity of the disorder and the level of physical fitness of a person are taken into account. The participation of rehabilitation physicians in the development of the above programs is mandatory. In this case, the patient must avoid excessive load and sudden movements.
Precautions
To prevent the occurrence of pain in the neck, first of all, the patient should pay attention to the organization of his work day. If his work involves staying long in one position, a prerequisite for maintaining health is regular gymnastic performance. Obesity is often the cause of pathological conditions in the cervical spine. This indicates the need for the introduction of proper diet, going to the gym and working out in the pool. Special orthopedic mattresses should be used when sleeping at night.