Neck pain is a common symptom that every person has encountered at least once in their life. This may indicate disease of internal organs, stretching of muscles and ligaments, or occur against the background of hypothermia. If your neck hurts, you should see a doctor. Only after examination and other diagnostic measures can the cause of the disease be determined and the appropriate treatment can be selected.
Neck pain can occur for many different reasons. If your neck hurts, you need to see a doctor
Why do adults have neck pain?
Pain in the neck area is divided into 2 types:
- cirvicalgia - a spasm occurs in one place, is characterized by a gradual course and varying degrees of intensity;
- cervicago - manifests itself in unexpected pain with sudden movements of the head or prolonged stay in one position.
Doctors identify the following causes of neck pain:
- Cervical osteochondrosis. The disease develops with a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet. Patients complain that the neck and head hurt from behind, there is tinnitus and dizziness, it becomes difficult to turn the neck, movements are accompanied by a crunch.
- Herniated discs. With such a pathology, the neck on the left side hurts, the disc protrudes, causing pain in the lower back. A hernia can be cured with vacuum therapy and acupressure.
- Cramp. After intense physical exertion, a person may experience a sharp pain in the neck. The affected area swells, it becomes impossible to turn your head, the risk of fainting increases. To relieve the disease, the patient is given anesthetic medication, a hot or cold compress is made, and the stretched area is massaged.
- Cervical spondylosis. A dangerous disease which often results in disability. It is often diagnosed in traumatized athletes or in the elderly. They complain that the neck and the back of the head constantly hurt and that they feel discomfort when they turn their head. To relieve inflammation and pain, it is necessary to take medication, physiotherapy in combination with physiotherapy exercises to restore working capacity.
- Cervical myelopathy. It develops after narrowing of the medullary canal. the person experiences weakness and pain in the neck. His speech slows down and coordination of movements is impaired. The cause of the pathology can be a traffic accident or a fall from a height. The patient is advised to undergo physiotherapy, wear a soft collar and perform strengthening exercises.
- Whiplash. Occurs after a fall, accident or fight. It is accompanied by a sharp pain in any area of the neck. With a whiplash, ligaments are damaged, resulting in the loss of cervical lordosis and the position of the protruding head. Treatment can last from 1 month to six months.
- Injury to the cervical spine. A person notices that his neck constantly hurts and bruises appear. In this case, it is necessary to wear a special collar for 3-6 months.
- Infectious diseases. Skin infections cause sharp pain and inflammation. With rubella or sore throat, the lymph nodes in the neck dilate and hurt.
- Diseases of internal organs. If the pain syndrome occurs in the right hypochondrium, and the neck hurts on the right side, the cause may be cholecystitis. If the neck hurts and gives off whiskey in the morning, this is a symptom of hypertension. With angina and myocardial infarction, the neck and arms hurt. Neck cramps and pain in the front can signal an esophageal and thyroid disorder. Nerve damage is observed in case of poisoning with poisonous substances. With severe pain in the cervical spine, blood pressure jumps are possible. If the neck on the right hurts and it is impossible to move it, these are signs of meningitis. With laryngitis and pharyngitis, pain can be localized both to the right and to the left.
Often the neck hurts after sleeping due to an uncomfortable position of the body or a hard pillow.
Frequent stress and psycho-emotional stress can cause neck and back discomfort. Pain and tingling sensations in the neck and shoulders will require an injection or anesthetic medication.
If the neck hurts under the jaw, it may signal a fracture, osteomyelitis of the jaws, or temporomandibular joint dysfunction. With a broken lower jaw, the patient experiences a strong pain syndrome, his facial soft tissues swell, he becomes painful or even impossible to chew. Osteomyelitis is accompanied by an infectious and inflammatory process, fever, headache and chills.
Causes of neck pain in a child
In a child, neck pain may occur against the background of these reasons:
- Overexertion of muscles or sprains when practicing a sport.
- Pain after a fall or a car accident.
- An awkward position when sleeping or sitting in front of the computer.
- Meningitis: accompanied by increased irritability, headache, fever, photosensitivity, decreased appetite, nausea and vomiting. If left untreated, the disease can lead to serious complications and death.
- Lyme disease. The pathology is often spread by tick bites, so it is necessary to check the neck for signs of a bite on the outside.
Pain relievers are prescribed to treat neck pain and inflammation in children. Applying a heating pad to your neck for 20 minutes will help reduce muscle spasms. In addition, the child should sleep with a towel around the neck or a padded collar to avoid frequent movements of the head.
Diagnostic
To determine why the muscles of the neck hurt, the doctor conducts an examination with palpation, after which additional examination methods are used:
- radiography;
- myelography;
- neurological examination of reflexes and sensitivity;
- computed tomography of the spine;
- MRI;
- nuclear magnetic resonance.
If you suspect osteomyelitis of the jaws, you will need to see an otolaryngologist and dentist. In addition to the x-ray, the patient should have a blood test to identify the source of the infection.
Medical treatment
When the neck hurts badly with osteochondrosis, the doctor prescribes complex therapy, including a special diet, a series of exercises, drugs and preventive measures. To relieve pain and treat the disease, the following groups of drugs are used:
- Anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Antispasmodics.
- Antioxidant drugs: ascorbic acid, vitamins E and N.
- Means for improving blood circulation.
- Preparations for the prevention of degenerative changes in cartilage tissue.
Medicines can be used in various forms. In acute complications, a nerve block will be necessary. There are several types of blockages: intraosseous, paravertebral, facet and epidural. All of them help relieve tonic muscle syndrome.
In combination with drugs, it is useful to perform physiotherapy procedures. They relieve pain and increase the therapeutic effect of drugs. The most effective procedures are considered magnetotherapy, laser therapy and treatment with low frequency currents. To correct posture and strengthen the ligamentous apparatus, physiotherapy and physiotherapy exercises are prescribed. If you regularly perform exercises, metabolic processes will normalize, the location of the vertebrae and discs will be restored, the load will be evenly distributed in the musculoskeletal system.
The principle of the diet for osteochondrosis is to add to the diet foods that contain large amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants to improve metabolic processes. Meals should be divided up to 6 times a day.
It is recommended to include the following products in the menu:
- lean meat and fish;
- fresh fruits and vegetables;
- dairy products and fermented milk products;
- cereals;
- nuts;
- seeds;
- mushrooms;
- olive oil.
It is advisable to steam, boil or cook the dishes. You should also limit the consumption of flour products, spices, smoked meats, preserves, saturated meat broths, sweets and fruits with a high sugar content.
Important!It is necessary to replace strong black tea with decoctions of herbs, unsweetened fruit drinks and compotes of dried fruits. Completely limit alcohol and carbonated drinks.
The permanent pain often makes the patient irritable, which is why the doctor prescribes sedatives and antidepressants. If the neck on the left hurts, you can relieve the symptom with a warm heating pad or by wrapping a sling around your neck.
For cervical myelopathy, decongestants and anti-inflammatory drugs are used. If the nerve endings are compressed, injections of steroid hormones will be needed. When an infectious agent is detected in the body, antibiotics are included during the course of treatment.
To note!In ischemic cervical myelopathy, it is effective to use neuroprotectors and drugs with a vasodilator effect.
If a patient is diagnosed with cervical spondylosis, he is prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs and chondroprotectors. With severe pain, analgesics are used, along with severe muscle spasms, muscle relaxants. Manual therapy and gentle massage are also indicated. With acute pain syndrome, blockages of the affected areas are recommended. In combination with drugs, it is useful to perform physiotherapeutic procedures - electrophoresis with novocaine, ultrasound treatment and special complexes of physiotherapy exercises.
Complications
If the neck hurts due to osteochondrosis, improper treatment or its absence can lead to serious complications:
- intervertebral hernia;
- kyphosis;
- protrusion of the intervertebral disc;
- radiculitis;
- salt deposits in the spine;
- stroke;
- circulatory disorders;
- amyotrophy;
- paralysis of the lower limbs.
Prophylaxis
To prevent neck pain, a number of guidelines should be followed:
- Avoid hypothermia.
- Stop smoking.
- Correct weight.
- Perform physiotherapy exercises daily.
- Take a contrasting shower.
- Visit the swimming pool.
- Do not shake the weights.
- Watch your posture.
- Warm your neck during the cold season.
- If you are in a static position for a long time, take breaks every 50 minutes and restore blood circulation with a warm-up.
- Choose an orthopedic mattress and pillow for sleeping.
- Wear comfortable shoes to reduce stress on the spine.
- Walking barefoot on uneven surfaces in the summer to strengthen the muscles of the foot and relieve tension in the musculoskeletal system.
- Stick to good nutrition.
- Take massage classes.
- Learn relaxation methods with increased anxiety and emotionality.