The neck is an important part of the body. Lymph vessels, large nerves, arteries, and the spinal cord pass through it. Neck pain can be a symptom of various medical conditions. Unpleasant sensations that last for a long time signal a serious pathology.
Varieties
Unpleasant sensations may manifest as neck pain or lumbago. Cervicago is an acute syndrome that prevents you from turning your head. Neck pain - neck pain. It happens:
- Superficial somatic. It happens when the skin is damaged.
- Deep somatic. It appears when the muscles and vertebrae are affected.
- Visceral. It appears as a sign of an infectious disease or pathology of internal organs.
If the pain in the neck captures the adjacent areas, they diagnose either cervicobrachialgia (cervicobrachial syndrome) or cervico-cranialgia (the discomfort extends to the back of the head and then to the entire head).
Causes of occurrence
Most often, discomfort occurs due to muscle cramps or muscle tension. They occur for the following reasons:
- hypothermia;
- a sudden turn of the head;
- prolonged stay in the same position;
- overexertion of muscles during labor.
The discomfort caused by these factors does not require complex treatment. Typically, they go away on their own within 1-3 weeks.
If there is severe discomfort, numbness, the patient suffers from dizziness, reduced mobility, the causes of the disease can be much more serious. It is imperative to consult a specialist.
Acute pain syndrome is observed when:
- problems with the spine: bruises, soft tissue injuries;
- inflammatory and infectious diseases;
- radiculitis;
- herniated intervertebral discs;
- curvature of the spine in the cervical column;
- osteochondrosis, arthrosis;
- neurological diseases;
- fibromyalgia;
- oncology.
Pain syndrome can vary depending on the disease and its degree. The pathology can be suspected by a number of accompanying signs.
Causes of pain by location
The localization of unpleasant sensations is an important factor that allows you to accurately diagnose the problem during the initial examination. Having established the cause, using other methods, the degree of damage is established.
Painful sensations in the front of the neck
Unpleasant sensations under the chin or along the entire neck in the front can indicate a number of pathologies. The list is impressive:
- inflammation of the lymph nodes;
- angina pectoris;
- cysts and abscesses;
- inflammation of muscles, ligaments and nerves;
- pathology of the thyroid gland.
It is impossible to independently determine from which disease this symptom is affected. The cause of the pain can also be a pinching of the blood vessels or nerves by the intervertebral disc, which is deformed.
A set of programs has been developed aimed at eliminating diseases without surgery and pills. It is necessary to consult experienced doctors: neurologists, osteopaths, chiropractors, physiotherapists, masseurs.
Neck pain in the back
Spine changes are the main cause of aching, sharp, or pulling pain in the neck area. They occur due to low physical activity and constant work on the computer. Discomfort can be a symptom of the following diseases:
- osteochondrosis - changes in the structure of the intervertebral discs;
- protrusion of the intervertebral discs (protrusion);
- intervertebral hernia;
- spondylosis - bony growths on the vertebrae;
- muscle spasms;
- fractures of the vertebrae following whiplash or osteoporosis.
Back pain in the neck is a nonstandard symptom, and spinal tuberculosis, osteomyelitis, Reiter's syndrome.
Pain syndrome of 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 the ear on the right or left. Sometimes they are accompanied by the appearance of secondary torticollis due to the constant tilting of the head to the affected side.
This symptom is inherent in the following pathologies:
- blood vessel problems, atherosclerosis;
- muscle spasm due to a sharp turn of the head, hypothermia or physical exertion;
- Malignant formations localized in the larynx, thyroid gland, pharynx.
In the initial stage of rheumatoid arthritis, the pain can spread to the cervical region, back of the head, and to the head. Turning your head or bending your neck, step up.
Symptoms
If the discomfort is rarely bothersome, it can be the result of awkward posture in a dream or awkward movement of the head. No special treatment is required. To eliminate discomfort, they do exercises, light rubbing, take hot baths, it is recommended to use an orthopedic mattress and pillows. But there are situations where consultation with a neurologist or chiropractor is urgent.
The alarming signs are:
- stiffness 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 head, accompanied by dizziness;
- numbness of fingers, hands.
If you have suffered an injury to your neck, head, or spine and pain in these areas is constantly bothering you, you should seek help.
How to relieve neck pain with osteochondrosis
With acute pain, it is necessary to take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug or use a gel, cream with an anti-inflammatory effect. You should rub the product anywhere you feel pain and numbness. If the pain gets worse when you turn your head, you need to restrict movement. Do not make sudden movements of the head. For shoulder pain, do not load the arm. It is possible to use pain relievers with a warming effect.
All of these recommendations will help relieve pain for 1-2 days. But to prevent repeated attacks, a complete cure for osteochondrosis is necessary. There are both the most modern and the oldest methods of treatment: UHT therapy, physiotherapy, therapeutic massage, acupuncture, osteopathy, manual therapy, taping.
Diagnostic
A neurologist is primarily concerned with the treatment of neck pain. At the reception, the specialist listens to the patient's complaints, conducts an examination. It identifies the cause of the problem. Most often it becomes a deviation from the norm of the condition of the spine. These changes are the reason for the development of concomitant diseases of 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 internal organs is disturbed.
If the problem is in the cervical spine, ENT organs, vocal cords, thyroid and parathyroid glands, neck muscles or forearms are affected. Those. most often they diagnose both problems with the spine and diseases of internal organs. Therefore, for painful neck pain, an examination by a chiropractor is recommended. If other diseases are detected, further examination of narrow specialists: a cardiologist, an endocrinologist, an otolaryngologist.
A patient complaining of discomfort in the cervical spine undergoes a full diagnosis. The list of procedures includes:
- blood test: general and biochemical;
- a blood test for the level of thyroid hormones;
- computed tomography of the cervical spine;
- magnetic resonance imaging of the neck region;
- ultrasound examination of the vessels of the neck, salivary glands, thyroid gland with USDG.
Using an MRI, a specialist examines in detail the condition of the intervertebral discs. The method allows you to diagnose diseases 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 pathology of the cervical spine
After the diagnosis, the doctor works out an individual treatment tactic for each patient. It takes into account the severity of the changes in the affected area, concomitant diseases, age and level of physical development. A set of measures is underway to eliminate the symptoms and causes of the pathology.
Physiotherapy
The sessions are conducted using modern apparatus and equipment for shock wave therapy. With the help of these procedures, the swelling, inflammation is removed, and blood flow to the damaged area improves. After the course of UHT therapy, the elasticity of ligaments and tendons is restored, metabolism is accelerated.
registration
This manual therapy method 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 several techniques. The session begins with a relaxing massage with an increasing kneading rhythm. The effect is felt after 1 procedure. After the course, the vertebrae return to the anatomically correct position, muscle spasms are eliminated. Blood circulation improves, soft tissues are restored.
Acupuncture
The procedure is indicated for various diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The action on the biologically active points of the body allows you to eliminate neck pain and weakness, increase blood supply to this area.
Massage therapy
An auxiliary therapeutic method is effective for osteochondrosis and other diseases of the spine. After the procedures, discomfort, swelling, spasms and fatigue are eliminated. The blood circulation, the well-being of the patient and his emotional state are improved. A local or general massage is prescribed. The techniques are selected individually for each specific case.
Physiotherapy
Exercise therapy and courses on special decompression simulators are prescribed to strengthen the muscle corset. During the 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. The exercises are supervised by experienced doctors and instructors.