Neck pain is a common symptom that every person has encountered at least once in their life. It may indicate disease of internal organs, stretching of muscles and ligaments, or occur in the background of hypothermia. If you have neck pain, you should seek medical attention. Only after examination and other diagnostic measures can the cause of the disease be determined and the correct treatment chosen.
Neck pain can occur for many different reasons. If your neck hurts, you need to see a doctor
Why do adults have neck pain?
Neck pain is divided into 2 types:
- cirvicalgia - spasm occurs in one place, characterized by a gradual course and varying degrees of intensity;
- cervicago - manifested by 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 improper diet. Patients complain that their neck and head hurt from the back, there is tinnitus and dizziness, it becomes difficult to turn the neck, the movements are accompanied by crunch.
- Herniated discs. With such pathology neck pain on the left side, the disc protrudes causing pain in the lower back. Hernia can be cured by vacuum therapy and acupressure.
- Crick. After intense physical exertion, a person may feel acute neck pain. The affected area swells, it becomes impossible to turn the head, the risk of fainting increases. To alleviate the condition, the patient is given an anesthetic, a warm or cold compress is made, and the stretched area is massaged.
- Cervical spondylosis. A dangerous disease that often leads to disability. It is often diagnosed in athletes with trauma or in the elderly. They complain that their neck and back of the head are constantly sore and that there is discomfort when turning the head. To alleviate inflammation and pain, it is necessary to take medication, physiotherapy in combination with physiotherapy exercises to restore working ability.
- Cervical myelopathy. It develops after narrowing of the spinal canal. the person feels weakness and neck pain. His speech slows down and movement coordination is weakened. The cause of the pathology can be a car accident or a fall from a height. The patient is recommended physiotherapy, wearing a soft necklace and performing strengthening exercises.
- Whiplash injury. It occurs after a fall, accident or fight. It is accompanied by sharp pain in any part of the neck. In a whip injury, the ligaments are damaged, leading to loss of cervical lordosis and protruding head position. Treatment can last from 1 month to 6 months.
- Cervical spine injury. The person notices that his neck is constantly aching and hematomas appear. In this case it is necessary to wear a special necklace for 3 to 6 months.
- Infectious diseases. Skin infections cause acute pain and inflammation. With rubella or sore throat, the lymph nodes in the neck expand 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 your neck hurts and you drop whiskey in the morning, it is a symptom of hypertension. Angina pectoris and myocardial infarction hurt the neck and arms. Neck cramps and anterior pain may signal esophageal and thyroid disorders. Nerve damage is observed in case of poisoning by toxic substances. With severe pain in the cervical spine, blood pressure spikes are possible. If the neck hurts on the right side and it is impossible to move it, these are signs of meningitis. In laryngitis and pharyngitis, the pain can be localized to both the right and left.
Often the neck hurts after sleeping due to an uncomfortable body position or a hard pillow.
Frequent stress and psycho-emotional stress can cause discomfort in the neck and back. Pain and tingling in the neck and shoulders require an injection or medication for anesthesia.
If the neck hurts below the jaw, this may signal a fracture, osteomyelitis of the jaw, or temporomandibular joint dysfunction. With a broken lower jaw, the patient feels a strong pain syndrome, the soft tissues of his face swell, it becomes painful or 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 can occur for the following reasons:
- Muscle strain or sprains in sports.
- Pain after a fall or car accident.
- Awkward position while sleeping or sitting at 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 a tick bite, so it is necessary to check for signs of bites on the neck while you are outdoors.
Painkillers are prescribed to treat neck pain and inflammation in children. Applying a heating pad to the neck for 20 minutes will help reduce muscle cramps. Also, the child should sleep with a towel around his neck or a padded collar to prevent frequent head movements.
Diagnosis
To determine why the neck muscles hurt, the doctor performs a palpation examination, after which additional examination methods are used:
- radiography;
- myelography;
- neurological examination of reflexes and sensitivities;
- computed tomography of the spine;
- MRI;
- nuclear magnetic resonance.
If osteomyelitis of the jaw is suspected, you will need to consult an otolaryngologist and dentist. In addition to the X-ray, the patient must also undergo a blood test to identify the source of the infection.
Drug treatment
When the neck is severely sore from osteochondrosis, the doctor prescribes complex therapy, including a special diet, a set of exercises, medications, and preventative measures. The following groups of drugs are used to relieve pain and treat disease:
- Anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Antispasmodics.
- Antioxidants: ascorbic acid, vitamins E and N.
- Means to improve blood circulation.
- Preparations for the prevention of degenerative changes in cartilage tissue.
Medications can be used in a variety of forms. In acute complications, nerve block will be required. There are several types of blockade: intraosseous, paravertebral, faceted, and epidural. They all help alleviate the muscular-tonic syndrome.
In combination with medication, it is useful to perform physiotherapy procedures. They relieve pain and increase the therapeutic effect of drugs. The most effective procedures are considered to be magnetotherapy, laser therapy and treatment with low-frequency currents. Kinesitherapy and physiotherapy exercises are prescribed to correct posture and strengthen the ligament apparatus. If you perform exercises regularly, metabolic processes will be normalized, the location of the vertebrae and discs will return, 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 partial, 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 and fermented milk products;
- cereals;
- nuts;
- seeds;
- mushrooms;
- olive oil.
The dishes are recommended to be steamed, boiled or baked. You should also limit your consumption of flour products, spices, smoked meats, canned foods, saturated meat soups, confectionery products and high-sugar fruits.
Bitan!Strong black tea should be replaced with herbal decoctions, unsweetened fruit drinks and dried fruit compotes. Completely limit alcohol and carbonated beverages.
Constant pain often makes the patient irritable, so the doctor prescribes sedatives and antidepressants. If your left neck hurts, you can relieve the symptom with a warm heating pad or wrapping a scarf around your neck.
Decongestants and anti-inflammatory drugs are used for cervical myelopathy. If the nerve endings are compressed, injections of steroid hormones will be required. When an infectious agent is detected in the body, antibiotics are included in the course of treatment.
Note!In ischemic cervical myelopathy, the use of neuroprotectors and drugs that have a vasodilating effect is effective.
If a patient is diagnosed with cervical spondylosis, then he is prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs and chondroprotectors. Analgesics are used for severe pain, muscle relaxants for severe muscle cramps. Manual therapy and gentle massage are also indicated. In acute pain syndrome, blockages of the affected areas are recommended. In combination with drugs it is useful to carry out 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;
- intervertebral disc protrusion;
- radiculitis;
- salt deposits in the spine;
- spinal stroke;
- circulatory disorders;
- amyotrophy;
- paralysis of the lower extremities.
Prophylaxis
To prevent neck pain, you need to follow a series of guidelines:
- Avoid hypothermia.
- Quit smoking.
- Exact weight.
- Perform physiotherapy exercises daily.
- Take a contrast shower.
- Visit the pool.
- Do not pull the weights.
- Track 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 warm up to restore blood circulation.
- Choose an orthopedic mattress and pillow for sleeping.
- Wear comfortable shoes to reduce stress on the spine.
- In summer, walk barefoot on uneven surfaces to strengthen the foot muscles and relieve tension in the musculoskeletal system.
- Stick to a proper diet.
- Attend massage courses.
- Learn relaxation methods with increased anxiety and emotionality.