The neck is an important part of the body. Lymph vessels, large nerves, arteries and spinal cord pass through it. Neck pain can be a symptom of many medical conditions. Unpleasant sensations that last for a long time signal serious pathology.
varieties
Unpleasant sensations may manifest as neck pain or lumbago. Cervicago is an acute syndrome that prevents you from turning your head. Sore neck pain - neck pain. It happens:
- Superficial somatic. Occurs when the skin is damaged.
- Deep somatic. It appears when muscles and vertebrae are affected.
- Visceral. It appears as a sign of an infectious disease or pathology of internal organs.
If neck pain reaches the adjacent areas, they diagnose cervicobrachialgia (cervicobrachial syndrome) or cervicocranialgia (discomfort extends to the back of the head and then to the entire head).
Occurrence causes
Most of the time, discomfort is due to muscle cramps or muscle tension. They happen for the following reasons:
- hypothermia;
- a sudden turn of the head;
- prolonged stay in the same position;
- excessive strain on the muscles during work.
Discomfort caused by these factors does not require complex treatment. As a rule, they depart on their own in 1-3 weeks.
If there is great discomfort, numbness, the patient suffers from dizziness, difficulty in walking, the causes of the disease can be much more serious. It is essential to consult an expert.
Acute pain syndrome is seen when:
- back problems: bruises, soft tissue injuries;
- inflammatory and infectious diseases;
- radiculitis;
- herniated intervertebral discs;
- curvature of the spine in the cervical spine;
- osteochondrosis, arthrosis;
- neurological diseases;
- fibromyalgia;
- oncology.
Pain syndrome can vary depending on the disease and its degree. The pathology can be suspected by several associated signs.
Causes of pain by location
The location of unpleasant sensations is an important factor that allows you to accurately diagnose the problem during the initial examination. Once the cause is established, using other methods, the degree of damage is established.
Painful sensations in the front of the neck
Unpleasant sensations under the chin or all along the front of the neck can indicate a range of pathologies. The list is impressive:
- lymph node inflammation;
- angina pectoris;
- cysts and abscesses;
- inflammation of muscles, ligaments and nerves;
- pathology of the thyroid gland.
It is impossible to independently determine which disease this symptom has. The cause of the pain can also be a compression of blood vessels or nerves by the deformed intervertebral disc.
A complex of programs was developed with the aim of eliminating disease without surgery and without pills. It is necessary to consult experienced doctors: neurologists, osteopaths, chiropractors, kinesitherapists, massage therapists.
neck pain in the back
Changes in the spine are the main cause of acute pain, or sharp pain in the neck region. They occur due to low physical activity, constant work on the computer. Discomfort can be a symptom of the following illnesses:
- osteochondrosis - alterations in the structure of the intervertebral discs;
- protrusion of intervertebral discs (protrusion);
- intervertebral hernia;
- spondylosis - bony growths in the vertebrae;
- muscle spasms;
- fractures of the vertebrae as a result of whiplash or osteoporosis.
Back pain in the neck is an atypical symptom and spinal tuberculosis, osteomyelitis, Reiter's syndrome.
Pain syndrome on the lateral surfaces of the neck
Discomfort in these areas manifests as a throbbing, burning pain, sometimes accompanied by a tingling sensation. The unpleasant sensation extends to the shoulder or ear to the right or left. They are sometimes accompanied by the appearance of secondary torticollis due to the constant tilt of the head to the affected side.
This symptom is inherent to the following pathologies:
- blood vessel problems, atherosclerosis;
- muscle spasm due to a sudden turn of the head, hypothermia, or physical exertion;
- malignant formations located in the larynx, thyroid gland, pharynx.
In early-stage rheumatoid arthritis, pain can spread to the neck, back of the head, and head. When turning your head or bending your neck, intensify.
Symptoms
If discomfort is rarely bothersome, it may be the result of an uncomfortable posture in a dream or an awkward movement of the head. No special treatment is required. To eliminate the discomfort, exercise, light frictions, take warm baths, and use an orthopedic mattress and pillows. But there are situations where consultation with a neurologist or chiropractor is urgent.
The alarming signs are:
- rigidity of movement;
- the duration of the painful sensation is more than 1-2 days;
- the appearance of concomitant pain in the shoulder, arm;
- frequent headaches, especially in the back of the neck, accompanied by dizziness;
- numbness of fingers, hands.
If you've had an injury to your neck, head, or spine and the pain in these areas is constantly bothering you, get help.
How To Relieve Neck Pain With Osteochondrosis
In case of acute pain, it is necessary to take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory or use a gel, cream with anti-inflammatory effect. You need to rub the product whenever you feel pain and numbness. If the pain gets worse when you turn your head, restrict your movements. Do not make sudden movements with your head. For shoulder pain, do not carry your arm. It is possible to use pain relievers with a warming effect.
All these recommendations will help relieve pain for 1-2 days. But to prevent repeated attacks, a complete cure for osteochondrosis is needed. There are the most modern and established treatment methods: UHT therapy, kinesiotherapy, therapeutic massage, acupuncture, osteopathy, manual therapy, bandaging.
Diagnosis
A neurologist primarily deals with the treatment of neck pain. At the reception, the specialist listens to the patient's complaints, performs an exam. It identifies the cause of the problem. Most of the time, it becomes a deviation from the spinal state's norm. These changes are the reason for the development of concomitant diseases of Organs internal organs.
Each segment of the spinal cord is responsible for the work of a specific organ. When the vertebrae change position or the height of the intervertebral discs decreases, the transmission of nerve impulses from the spinal cord to the internal organs is interrupted.
If the problem is in the cervical spine, the ENT organs, the vocal cords, the thyroid and parathyroid glands, the muscles of the neck or forearms are affected. Those ones. more often, they diagnose back problems and diseases of Organs internal organs. Therefore, for neck pain, an examination by a chiropractor is recommended. If other diseases are detected, additional examination by restricted specialists: a cardiologist, an endocrinologist, an otolaryngologist.
A patient complaining of cervical spine discomfort undergoes a comprehensive diagnosis. The list of procedures includes:
- blood test: general and biochemical;
- a blood test to check the level of thyroid hormones;
- CT scan of the cervical spine;
- MRI image of the neck area;
- ultrasound examination of neck vessels, salivary glands, thyroid gland with USDG.
With the help of an MRI, a specialist examines the condition of the intervertebral discs in detail. The method allows you to diagnose illnesses at an early stage. The doctor will assess the condition of the blood flow. If there is compression of the spinal cord and its roots, he will see them in the photo.
Treatment of cervical spine pathology
After diagnosis, the doctor develops an individual treatment tactic for each patient. It takes into account the severity of changes in the affected area, concomitant illnesses, age and level of physical development. A set of measures is being carried out to eliminate the symptoms and causes of the pathology.
Physiotherapy
The sessions are conducted with modern devices and equipment for shockwave therapy. With the help of these procedures, the swelling and inflammation are removed and blood flow to the damaged area improves. After the course of UHT therapy, ligament and tendon elasticity is restored, metabolism is accelerated.
recording
This method of manual therapy relieves pain and repairs damaged muscles. Special bandages with thermal coating are used. They are carefully attached to the damaged part of the body.
Manual therapy
For pathologies of the cervical spine, it is performed using various techniques. The session starts with a relaxing massage with increasing kneading rhythm. The effect is felt after 1 procedure. After the stroke, the vertebrae return to the anatomically correct position, muscle spasms are eliminated. Blood circulation improves, soft tissue is restored.
Acupuncture
The procedure is indicated for several diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The action on biologically active points of the body allows to eliminate neck pain and weakness, to increase the blood supply in this area.
massage therapy
An ancillary method of therapy is effective for osteochondrosis and other spinal disorders. After the procedures, discomfort, swelling, spasms and fatigue are eliminated. Blood flow, the patient's well-being and emotional state are all improved. Both local and general massage are prescribed. Techniques are selected individually for each specific case.
Kinesitherapy
Exercise therapy and classes in special decompression simulators are prescribed to strengthen the muscular corset. During procedures, the load is removed from the spine and the risk of cartilage abrasion is minimized. A large hall is equipped for training with additional equipment - rollers, balls. Exercises are supervised by experienced doctors and instructors.