In medicine, neck pain is usually called cervicalgia.According to the results of numerous screening studies, they occur throughout the year in 12-72% of people of working age.That means they are sensationsknown to almost every person.In 1.7-11.5% of people, cervicalgia eventually leads to disability.Let's discover their most common causes and treatment methods.
Classification of cervicalgia
All neck pains are divided into acute and chronic.The first arise suddenly and have a pronounced character.They usually appear after hypothermia, heavy physical activity or heavy lifting.Chronic pain torments a person constantly, over a long period of time.They are mild, painful in nature and worsen after prolonged sitting or sleeping in an uncomfortable position.
Depending on the locationpain can be visceral, somatic superficial and deep.The first occurs due to damage to internal organs.Visceral (referred) pain may indicate inflammation of the throat, diseases of the esophagus or pharynx, acute thyroiditis, dissection of the vertebral or carotid arteries.
Superficial somatic pain occurs in the skin due to injuries or minor scratches, while deep pain is localized in the tissues.The cause of the latter is usually muscle strain or spinal pathology.
How to distinguish visceral pain from somatic pain?The first ones are diffuse in nature, that is, the person cannot determine their exact localization: they radiate to other parts of the body, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fever, etc.
In 2008, the Neck Pain Task Force suggested the following:stage of cervicalgia:
- The patient has no symptoms that would indicate structural abnormalities.The person's daily activity is not limited and does not require additional examination or treatment.Such cervicalgia disappears after minimal lifestyle correction.
- The person has no signs of serious structural damage to the spine or neck organs, but his daily activities are slightly impaired.The patient sometimes needs pain medication.In order to prevent the loss of working capacity, he needs lifestyle changes and special exercises.
- The person has no signs of serious organic damage, but there are neurological symptoms.The patient needs an additional examination and comprehensive treatment of the established pathology.
- The patient notices the appearance of signs of organic changes.He is worried about severe neck pain, which most often indicates injuries, tumors, myelopathy, systemic diseases, etc.The patient needs a serious examination and specialized treatment.
In the neck, pain can be central and neuropathic.Cervicalgia of central origin occurs in meningitis, acute cerebrovascular accidents, head injuries, increased intracranial pressure, and intracerebral tumors.Neuropathic pain occurs due to entrapment of spinal roots, tunnel neuropathies, traumatic nerve injuries, polyneuropathy, multiple sclerosis, etc..
The main causes of neck pain
Pain in the neck area can appear occasionally or torment a person every day.Periodic cervicalgia, which occurs every few months, is usually harmless and does not indicate any pathology.They pass quickly after proper rest or the use of anesthetic ointment.
But constant pain or sudden severe pain in the neck should cause a person serious concern.
Table 1. Main reasons
| The cause | Mechanism of pain syndrome development | Characteristic signs of pathology |
|---|---|---|
| Hard work or training in the gym | The creation of large amounts of lactic acid in the muscles.It is this substance that causes pain | The pain occurs the next morning after intense physical activity.Unpleasant sensations intensify when moving the hands or turning the head.It disappears in a few days |
| Hypothermia | Development of neuralgia – pain in the area of innervation of the occipital nerves | Usually the person has pain under the ear, in the neck and back of the head.In most cases, occipital neuralgia is unilateral: the pain occurs only on one side |
| Psychosomatics | Formation of muscle blocks - spastic contractions of neck and shoulder girdle muscles | A person has neck pain for no apparent reason.With a complete examination, doctors cannot detect signs of damage to the spine or diseases of the internal organs |
| Pathological biomechanics of the shoulder girdle | Disturbance of the normal functioning of the upper limb girdle muscles.Strain and spasm of the trapezius muscle | Slight impairment of mobility in the shoulders and cervical spine.Aching pain that intensifies after sitting for a long time in the same position or doing physical work |
| Cervical osteochondrosis | The appearance of pathological changes in one or more segments of spinal movement.Spinal mobility disorder, development of myofascial pain syndromes and pinching of spinal roots | Pain, paresthesias and motor disturbances in the cervical region, which spread to the back of the head and upper limbs.Detection of characteristic changes in the spine on magnetic resonance and radiography (osteophytes, reduced distance between vertebrae, signs of damage to intervertebral joints) |
| Cervicobrachial radiculitis | The development of the inflammatory process in the nerves that form the brachial plexus | Unilateral sharp pain spreading to the upper extremity.The patient complains of burning and numbness in the hands and the back of the head.Unpleasant symptoms appear after hypothermia or heavy physical work |
| Acute thyroiditis | The formation of inflammatory or purulent foci in the thyroid gland with the subsequent development of pain syndrome | Sharp pain and swelling in the area of the thyroid gland.On palpation, you can feel an enlarged, painful, nodular thyroid gland |
| Colds and infectious diseases | Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx, larynx, trachea due to inhalation of cold air or under the influence of infectious factors | Occurrence of pain and sore throat, headache, runny nose, elevated body temperature.General weakness, apathy, reduced working capacity |
| Burns of the pharynx or esophagus | Exposure of the mucous membrane to chemicals, high or low temperatures with further development of the inflammatory process | Severe pain along the esophagus, which increases when swallowing |
| Tension headaches | Constant overstrain of the muscles of the shoulder girdle, frequent stress, depression | Painful diffuse pain in the head that spreads to the cervical region |
| Subarachnoid hemorrhage | Irritation of brain membranes by spilling blood into the subarachnoid space | Sharp pain in the back of the head, reminiscent of a blow to the head |
| Multiple sclerosis | Damage to the myelin fibers of the brain and spinal cord with further development of neurological symptoms | Sudden pain in the neck that spreads to the spine.The patient himself describes his sensations as "an electric shock" |
| Tumors of the spine, lungs, neck organs | Compression of tissues, nerves or organs by a malignant neoplasm | Aching pain that lasts for a long time.If you have tumors of the pharynx or esophagus, the person has difficulty swallowing food |
| Inflammation of the lymph nodes | The development of an inflammatory process in the lymph nodes in response to infection, hypothermia, etc. | Painful sensations on the sides of the neck.When palpating along the sternocleidomastoid muscle, you may feel enlarged, painful lymph nodes |
Overwork or hypothermia
If your neck hurts after training, physical activity or prolonged monotonous work, muscle strain is to blame.Intense physical activity leads to the formation of lactic acid, which causes severe pain.Discomfort completely disappears after 3-4 days.
Neck pain radiating to the ear may occur after hypothermia.Neuralgia of the occipital nerve develops due to the effect of low temperature.The pathology is characterized by paroxysmal, shooting, burning pain in the back of the head.Pathology can be unilateral or bilateral.
Some people often have neck pain after sleeping.The reason for this may be the wrong choice of pillow.However, painful sensations can also indicate cervical osteochondrosis.Therefore, if your neck hurts after sleeping, the first thing you should do is change your pillow.If the pain does not go away, you must go to a traumatologist or a vertebrologist.
Psychosomatic pain
If you constantly have neck pain for no apparent reason, it may be a result of psychosomatics.Muscle blocks can occur due to suppressed emotions, stubbornness and one-sided thinking.People with psychosomatic cervicalgia regularly experience pain and tension in the muscles of the cervical spine, but even after a detailed examination, doctors cannot discover the cause of this phenomenon.
The latest scientific research has established a connection between personality characteristics and the appearance of vertebrogenic cervicalgia.As it turned out, increased anxiety and aggressiveness contribute to the development of cervical osteochondrosis.The discovered relationship can be used for more effective treatment of vertebrogenic pain in the shoulders and neck in people with neuroses or diseases similar to neuroses.
Violation of the biomechanics of the shoulder girdle
The reason why your neck and shoulders hurt may be due to improper functioning of the shoulder girdle muscles.Functional weakness of the deltoid and overloading of the trapezius muscles leads to the appearance of myofascial trigger points, which cause the development of pain.At first, there is pain in the neck muscles, but over time, organic changes develop in the spine.
Improper distribution of load on the muscles of the shoulder girdle is a common cause of cervicalgia.It is necessary to eliminate the cause of the pathology, that is, to restore normal biomechanics in the upper extremity belt.To achieve this, you must carefully monitor your posture and perform special exercises.
Osteochondrosis of the spine and its complications
Do you have constant pain in your neck and spine between your shoulder blades?This can be a signal of the development of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.The pathology is characterized by the gradual destruction of the nuclei of the intervertebral discs with the subsequent development of protrusions, hernias, spondyloarthrosis and cervical spondylosis.
Characteristic signs of osteochondrosis:
- pain in the muscles of the neck, collarbone;
- numbness in the back of the head;
- limited mobility in the cervical spine;
- sensory disorders in the upper extremities;
- mild weakness in arms;
- tinnitus, frequent dizziness, headaches.
A person with osteochondrosis not only has pain in the spine in the neck area.Due to the reflex tension of the muscles, it develops myofascial pain syndromes.They are characterized by pain, paresthesia and numbness in the muscles of the back, shoulder girdle and upper limb.
In the initial stages, osteochondrosis is detected by MRI.Later, the pathology can be diagnosed using radiography.X-rays of the cervical spine show a decrease in the distance between the vertebrae, pathological changes in the facet joints and osteophytosis.
Many people complain that they cannot turn their neck due to severe pain that occurs after suddenly lifting something heavy.This phenomenon indicates the formation of a herniated disc.The cause of pain in the back, neck and upper extremity is the pinching of one of the nerve roots coming out of the spinal cord.
Cervicobrachial radiculitis
The disease is characterized by inflammation of the spinal nerves involved in the formation of the brachial plexus.The cause of the inflammatory process can be acute intoxication, hypothermia, pinching of the nerve root by spasmodic muscles,intervertebral hernias or osteophytes.
People with sciatica feel severe pain in the neck, back of the head, shoulder and even in the upper limb.Painful sensations occur acutely and have a burning sensation.Many people complain of a feeling of numbness in the back of the head, crawling on the hand, sensory and motor disturbances in the upper extremity.
What to do if your neck hurts, it hurts to turn your head, it's hard to move your arm?Seek medical attention immediately.Cervicobrachial radiculitis requires serious treatment, which you cannot provide yourself.
thyroid disease
Most thyroid pathologies are not accompanied by pain.And only people with acute thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland) have pain in the front of the neck.Patients also feel elevated body temperature, chills, general weakness, body aches and other signs of intoxication.With a more detailed examination, you can feel an enlarged and painful thyroid gland.In some cases, there are several dense infiltrates in it.
Many people have neck pain after a diagnostic thyroid puncture.Unpleasant sensations last for several days.The cause of pain is soft tissue trauma during the procedure.
Inflammatory diseases of cervical organs
In inflammatory diseases of the pharynx and larynx, a person often has a sore throat, and the lymph nodes on the neck become inflamed.The cause of the pathology can be hypothermia, infections, consumption of low-quality alcohol or accidental contact with the mucous membrane of chemicals.Damage to the pharynx, larynx, or esophagus is indicated by neck pain that worsens with swallowing..
Diseases that cause pain in the neck and throat:
- pharyngitis;
- laryngitis;
- Angina;
- diphtheria;
- infectious mononucleosis;
- scarlet fever;
- epiglottitis;
- abscess of the pharynx;
- chemical burn of the esophagus.
The sides of the throat and neck usually hurt when you have a cold.The causes of the disease are hypothermia, sudden inhalation of cold air or a long walk in the cold.A good rest, hot tea and a few analgesic tablets help to cope with the disease.
If you have a sore throat in the lower part of the neck, you should suspect pharyngitis or tracheitis (inflammation of the larynx or trachea).The development of the disease is caused by a viral infection, inhalation of hot, cold or polluted air.If the throat and back of the head hurt, a retropharyngeal abscess is possible.The pathology is characterized by fever, difficulty swallowing, loss of appetite, general weakness and apathy.
Damage to the central or peripheral nervous system
Severe pain occurs with subarachnoid hemorrhages.The person himself describes them as "a blow to the head" and a throbbing sensation in the back of the head.The patient develops nausea, vomiting, confusion and meningeal signs.Neck stiffness develops approximately 6 hours after the onset of the first pain.
Meningitis has a similar clinical picture..A person with meningitis has very severe pain in the neck and head.Painful sensations intensify with movement.During the examination, tension of the occipital muscles is revealed in the patient.Because of this, a person cannot touch his chin to his chest even with help from the outside.At the same time, a characteristic rash appears on the patient's body.
Neck pain can be caused by damage to the spinal cord or peripheral nerves, tumors of the central nervous system, demyelinating diseases, etc.All these diseases have a polymorphic clinical picture, and pain is one of the symptoms of the pathology.
Back and spine pain can be one of the early signs of multiple sclerosis, a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system.People with this pathology develop the so-called Lhermitte's symptom.It is characterized by a feeling of electric shock in the back of the head that occurs when the head is tilted forward.
Malignant or benign neoplasms
Various tumors of the cervical spine, pharynx, esophagus, thyroid gland or other organs can also cause pain.Pain can also occur in people with Pancoast cancer, a malignant neoplasm located subpleurally in the apex of the lung.
Muscle damage
In some cases, the lateral muscles of the neck hurt in people with myositis, polymyalgia and fibromyalgia.These diseases are characterized by damage to skeletal muscles of any location.If a person notices tenderness in the muscles of the neck on the side for no apparent reason, he may have one of these diseases.
If you have sore muscles in the front of your neck near your larynx, think about whether you recently had to shout loudly, sing loudly, or talk for a long time.Then the cause of the discomfort is the overstrain of the vocal cords.
Other possible causes of cervicalgia
Pain on the left side of the chest and collarbone, extending into the neck, usually indicates heart disease.In people with a similar pain syndrome, angina pectoris, arrhythmias, heart failure or heart attack are detected.
The sides of the neck can hurt in people with caries, diseases of the oropharynx or nasopharynx.Unpleasant sensations can occur with tonsillitis - inflammation of the tonsils.If shoulder pain is noticed near the neck, it may be due to scoliosis of the cervical and/or thoracic spine.
Why do lymph nodes on the neck hurt?
Neck lymph nodes are located on the sides of the neck, along the sternocleidomastoid muscle.They are usually small in size and difficult to feel.However, in some cases, lymph nodes in the neck can become enlarged and painful.This phenomenon should be alarming, because it can indicate serious diseases and even malignant tumors.
Most often, pain in the lymph nodes on the neck occurs due to their inflammation (lymphadenitis).The pathology develops against the background of tonsillitis, rhinitis or an acute respiratory viral infection.The reason may be their damage by metastases of tumors of the pharynx, esophagus, lungs or other organs.
Signs of cervical lymphadenitis:
- enlarged lymph nodes.In some cases, their size can increase to 2-3 or more centimeters;
- appearance of hyperemia and edema.Lymphadenitis is usually accompanied by reddening of the skin and swelling in the area of inflamed lymph nodes;
- painful sensations.The person has pain behind the ear and neck on one or both sides.It may be difficult for the patient to turn the head and perform active shoulder movements;
- symptoms of intoxication.Body temperature rises, chills appear, general weakness, apathy and headache.In the acute form of lymphadenitis, intoxication occurs.
Cervical lymph nodes can become inflamed after a long stay in a draft.Most often, the pain is felt in the ear and under the ear on the neck.Slightly enlarged and painful lymph nodes can be felt under the patient's skin.
Are the lymph nodes in your neck swollen and painful, but you don't know what to do?It is best to go to the doctor immediately.The specialist will examine you carefully and prescribe an additional examination.After passing the necessary tests, you can find out the cause of the pathology.
Reasons for which the head and neck hurt most often
According to statistics, 70% of people with frequent headaches (cephalgia) have pain not only in the head, but also in the cervical region.Cervicalgia can be caused by radiation of painful sensations or have a vertebrogenic nature.Many men and women with osteochondrosis have neck pain that spreads to the head.Of all headaches, 15-20% are cervicogenic in nature.
Reasons why a person has pain in the neck, head and temples:
- excessive work;
- disturbed blood circulation in brain tissue;
- diseases of the cervical spine;
- inflammation of the paranasal sinuses;
- high blood pressure;
- heart disease;
- menopause period;
- migraine;
- overstrain of the muscles of the shoulder girdle.
The most common type of cephalalgia is tension-type headache (TTH).It occurs as a result of mental stress, heavy mental activity or long-term spasm of the muscles of the neck, back and girdle of the upper limbs.Neck massage, reflexology and short-term use of painkillers can help with tension headaches.
If you often have neck pain and dizziness, do not hesitate to seek treatment.Cervical neck massage and acupuncture can help resolve tension-type headaches.If you still feel pain after a massage course, you need a full examination.Maybe behind a banal headache is a serious problem.
What are the reasons for neck pain in children?
Sore throat in babies occurs with sore throat, acute respiratory viral infections, rubella, mumps, meningitis and some other infectious diseases.If a child has neck pain on only one side, the cause may be otitis media, retropharyngeal abscess, lymphadenitis or trauma.
Speaking of children's diseases, torticollis should be mentioned.The pathology is characterized by congenital shortening of the sternocleidomastoid muscle.Due to the malfunction, the baby's head takes a forced position.It is always facing upwards and in the opposite direction of the defective muscle.A child with torticollis also has pain on the side of the neck.The main reason for this is constant muscle strain.
what should i do?Grab your baby right away and go to the hospital.Timely seeking medical help will help to recognize the problem in time and start treatment.
Which doctor should I contact?It is best to see a pediatrician first.After the examination, the pediatrician will make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment or send you for a consultation with a specialist.
How to relieve acute neck pain
Some people complain after hypothermia or lifting heavy objects: "My neck hurts, I can't turn my head...".This symptom indicates acute inflammation of the spinal roots or neuralgia of the occipital nerve.If such pain occurs, always consult a doctor.
To relieve the pain, you can use tablets, gels or patches.In this case, it is best to use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids or warming ointments.Dry heat (heating pad, bag of heated sand or grain) also has a good effect.
You don't know which doctor to contact if you feel unbearable pain in your neck?Since such cervicalgia usually indicates inflammation or pinched nerves, it is best to see a neurologist immediately.He will prescribe adequate treatment and, if necessary, block medication.Injectable corticosteroids can relieve pain quickly and effectively.
How to treat vertebrogenic neck pain
Neck pain is treated by an orthopedic traumatologist or vertebrologist.After injuries and operations in the cervical region, doctors prescribe the patient to wear a Shants collar.Painkillers and muscle relaxants are used to relieve pain.In order to relieve muscle spasms and restore normal biomechanics of the shoulder girdle, experts recommend a set of exercises.Therapeutic gymnastics allows you to develop muscles and restore normal mobility of the spine.
Which doctor should you consult if your neck hurts during pregnancy?First of all, you should visit your treating gynecologist.He will examine you and send you for a consultation with a specialist who will prescribe an adequate treatment.