Neck pain can be painful for many reasons. In most cases, you first need to determine what is causing the pain and muscle tension in order to choose the right pain reliever. Medicines and folk remedies help relieve neck pain quickly.
Neck structure
The neck includes:
- cervical spine,
- muscles,
- groups,
- larynx,
- thyroid gland.
There are seven vertebrae in the cervical spine. Compared to the rest of the spine, the cervical vertebrae are not large. They consist, like everyone else, of the body and processes with attaching muscles and ligaments.
Between the vertebrae - discs with a rigid outer part, consisting of fibrous fibers, and a soft inner nucleus pulposus, which provides the spine with shock absorption.
Causes of neck pain
Traumatic injury
It can be obtained by playing sports, falling head first, in an accident or traffic accident. With sharp braking in the process of rapid movement of the cervical spine, a "whip symptom" occurs, as a result of which sprains and muscles, compression fractures, displacement of the cervical discs with the formation of hernias arepossible.
Bad posture
Prolonged work in a monotonous position, sleeping on an uncomfortable or too soft pillow, and prolonged static stress are predisposing factors. As a result, a curvature appears, the head begins to move forward relative to the body, the ligaments and muscles of the neck begin to feel increased tension.
Spinal osteochondrosis
In osteochondrosis, there is a violation of the trophism of the disc with its flattening and changes in the surrounding tissues. As a result, a decrease in the damping function and the appearance of neck pain.
The cause of osteochondrosis can be poor diet, back injury, increased physical activity, unfavorable environment, chronic stress, inactive lifestyle, bad habits. In addition, there is a genetic predisposition.
With osteochondrosis, there is pain in the neck, shoulders, arms, dizziness, and fainting. Impairment of hearing, vision, memory. "Vertebral artery syndrome" - flies flickering in front of the eyes, tinnitus. Impaired coordination and gait instability.
Protrusion or herniated disc
This is the name of the protrusion of the disc from the spine. With a hernia, the outer ring is destroyed with a displacement of its central part in any direction - laterally, backward or forward.
The most difficult pathology is the inward displacement of the nucleus - this can lead to damage to the spinal cord. With age, spinal osteochondrosis can join the hernia. The cause of a hernia can be all of the above factors, as well as carrying heavy bags, scoliosis, flat feet, and age-related changes in the body.
Symptoms are similar to osteochondrosis, in addition to unstable blood pressure, sleeplessness, weakness in the hands, and numbness in the fingers.
Ischemic heart disease - heart attack, angina attack
With this pathology, irradiation pains radiating to the neck and independent pains in the neck and lower jaw are possible. As a rule, they are associated with other signs of myocardial ischemia: fear of death, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea and vomiting.
Benign or malignant growths
The growing tumor puts pressure on the nerve roots, causing neck pain and other symptoms of spinal cord compression. Benign tumors (neuroma, hemangioma) most often have the correct rounded shape and a clear border.
Neck pain is mild. Basically, tissue compression is uncomfortable with a growing tumor. Malines (lymphogranulomatosis, sarcoma, thyroid cancer) practically have no boundaries and metastasize to neighboring tissues.
The destruction of tissue causes pain and deterioration of general condition. Neck pain in the front occurs with tumors of the oral cavity, larynx and thyroid gland. Along with the pain, difficulties arise when swallowing, impaired phonation, swelling of the face and neck.
In a bone tumor, the spinal cord and nerve roots are often damaged, leading to paralysis.
Cervical myositis
Appears after hypothermia or prolonged muscle fatigue. It is characterized by the appearance of sharp pains when moving. Pain can occur both with inflammation of the superficial muscles (sternocleidomastoid) and deep around the spine, which is involved in neck movements.
Palpation reveals muscle hypertonicity and sometimes hard, painful nodules. Chronic myositis causes disruption of the blood supply, trophism, and the replacement of muscle cells (myocytes) with connective tissue.
This causes pain and weakness in the muscles of the neck, a violation of the symmetrical work of muscles on the sides of the spine with the appearance of torticollis: the inability to keep the head strictly in an upright position.
Other diseases causing neck pain
Spondylolisthesis: one vertebra "slips" away from the other with disc entrapment.
Bechterew's disease - ankylosing spondylitis.
Meningitis. The hypertonicity and stiffness of the neck muscles cause severe back pain in the neck when you try to tilt your head.
How to relieve neck pain with medication
First of all, you need to determine the possible cause of your neck pain. In any case, limit your mobility. In case of injury - to ensure immobilization of the damaged section and bring the patient to the trauma center.
If you have a history of ischemic disease, call an ambulance and stop the pain with sublingual vasodilators, try to calm the patient.
If there is a possibility of meningitis - if there has been contact with a sick person - also call an ambulance. But in any case - to stop the pain on your own. Do not heat the sore spot!
A good effect is noted from taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - acetic acid. They also reduce morning stiffness and have an antiplatelet effect - they prevent erythrocytes from sticking together.
Derivatives of propionic acid also contribute to pain relief. They are low in toxicity, well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract with sufficient magnitude of action.
Option to replace drugs in tablets - suppositories.
If your neck, shoulders and arms are hurting
gels are useful for treating shoulder and arm pain.
Relieve neck pain and tension during muscle spasms
To relieve existing muscle spasms, with pain relievers, it is good to give muscle relaxants.
External remedies for severe neck pain
To relieve neck pain with cervical osteochondrosis or other diseases, local therapy will not be superfluous - the use of various rubs and compresses. After applying these rubs, wrap your neck with a warm handkerchief, avoid getting water.
How to relieve neck pain with folk remedies
Tie a whole leaf of kale or burdock around your neck.
Mix 50 ml of horseradish root juice with the same amount of vodka. Rub or apply compresses.
Use kerosene previously decanted and passed through activated carbon as a heating agent for grinding.
Make a honey cake with honey and flour, apply to a sore spot.
Use whole honey for grinding, you can - in half with aloe juice.
Mixture obtained by mixing equal parts radish juice, honey and vodka, used for grinding.
Use chamomile or calendula tea for compresses on the neck area. Grind the horseradish root, add a little water, apply to the wound.
Add hot pepper, ammonia or honey to the medicinal bile. Use for compresses.