Neck pain is a common symptom that every person has encountered at least once in their life. It can indicate a disease of the internal organs, stretching of muscles and ligaments, or occurs against the background of hypothermia. If your neck hurts, you should see a doctor. Only after examination and other diagnostic measures it is possible to determine the cause of the disease and select the correct treatment.
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 - manifested by unexpected pain with sudden head movements or with 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 the neck and head hurt from behind, there is tinnitus and dizziness, it becomes difficult to turn the neck, movements are accompanied by a creak.
- 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.
- ratchet. After intense physical exertion, a person may experience sharp pain in the neck. The affected area swells, it becomes impossible to turn the head, the risk of fainting increases. To relieve the condition, the patient is given an anesthetic drug, a hot 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 the elderly. They complain that the neck and back of the head constantly hurt and there is discomfort when turning the head. To relieve inflammation and pain it is necessary to take medications, physiotherapy in combination with physiotherapy exercises to restore working capacity.
- Cervical myelopathy. It develops after the narrowing of the spinal cord canal. the person feels weakness and pain in the neck. His speech slows down and movement coordination is impaired. The cause of the pathology can be a car accident or a fall from a height. The patient is advised to undergo physiotherapy, wear a soft collar and perform strengthening exercises.
- Whiplash injury. It occurs after a fall, an accident or a fight. It is accompanied by a sharp pain in any area of the neck. With whiplash, the ligaments are damaged, which leads to the loss of cervical lordosis and the position of the protruding head. The treatment can last from 1 month to six months.
- Injury of the cervical spine. A person notices that his neck constantly hurts and hematomas appear. In this case, it is necessary to wear a special collar for 3-6 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 the 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 in the morning he gives in to whiskey, then this is a symptom of hypertension. With angina pectoris and myocardial infarction, the neck and arms hurt. Neck cramps and pain in the front can signal a disorder of the esophagus and thyroid. Nerve damage is observed in case of poisoning with poisonous substances. With severe pain in the cervical spine, sudden changes in blood pressure 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 on the right and on 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 require an injection or anesthetic drug.
If the neck hurts below the jaw, this could signal a fracture, osteomyelitis of the jaws, or temporomandibular joint dysfunction. With a broken lower jaw, the patient experiences severe pain syndrome, his facial soft tissues 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, pain in the neck can occur against the background of such reasons:
- Overexertion of the muscles or sprains during sports practice.
- Pain after a fall or car accident.
- An uncomfortable 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 condition is often spread through tick bites, so you need to check your neck for signs of a bite while outdoors.
Pain medications are prescribed to treat neck pain and inflammation in children. Applying a heat pad to the neck for 20 minutes will help reduce muscle spasm. Also, the baby should sleep with a towel around the neck or a padded collar to avoid frequent head movements.
Diagnostics
To determine why the neck muscles hurt, the doctor conducts an examination with palpation, after which additional methods of examination are used:
- radiography;
- myelography;
- neurological examination of reflexes and sensitivity;
- computed tomography of the spine;
- magnetic resonance;
- nuclear magnetic resonance.
If you suspect osteomyelitis of the jaws, you will need to consult an otolaryngologist and a dentist. In addition to the x-ray, the patient must undergo a blood test to identify the source of the infection.
Pharmacological treatment
When the neck hurts a lot with osteochondrosis, the doctor prescribes complex therapy, including a special diet, a set of exercises, drugs and preventive measures. To relieve pain and cure 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.
- Prepare for the prevention of degenerative changes in cartilage tissue.
Medicines can be used in various forms. In acute complications, nerve block will be needed. There are several types of blocks: intraosseous, paravertebral, faceted and epidural. All of them help relieve muscle tonic syndrome.
In combination with drugs, it is useful to carry out 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. To correct posture and strengthen the ligament apparatus, kinesitherapy and physiotherapy exercises are prescribed. If you regularly perform exercises, the metabolic processes will normalize, the position 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 foods that contain large amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants to the diet to improve metabolic processes. Meals should be fractional, up to 6 times a day.
It is recommended to include the following products in the menu:
- lean meat and fish;
- fresh fruit and vegetables;
- dairy and fermented dairy products;
- cereals;
- peanuts;
- seeds;
- mushrooms;
- olive oil.
It is recommended to steam, boil or cook dishes. You should also limit the consumption of flour products, spices, smoked meats, canned food, saturated meat broths, confectionery, and fruits with a high sugar content.
Important!It is necessary to replace strong black tea with herbal decoctions, unsweetened fruit drinks and dried fruit compotes. Limit alcohol and carbonated drinks completely.
Permanent pain often makes the patient irritable, so the doctor prescribes sedatives and antidepressants. If the left neck hurts, you can relieve the symptom with a warm heating pad or by wrapping a scarf around your neck.
For cervical myelopathy, decongestants and anti-inflammatory drugs are used. If the nerve endings are compressed, steroid hormone injections will be needed. When an infectious agent is detected in the body, antibiotics are included in the course of treatment.
Note!In cervical ischemic myelopathy, it is effective to use neuroprotectors and drugs that have a vasodilating effect.
If a patient is diagnosed with cervical spondylosis, he is prescribed anti-inflammatory and chondroprotective drugs. With severe pain, analgesics are used, with severe muscle spasms, muscle relaxants. Manual therapy and gentle massage are also indicated. With an 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;
- protrusion of the intervertebral disc;
- radiculitis;
- salt deposits in the spine;
- spinal stroke;
- circulatory disorders;
- amyotrophy;
- paralysis of the lower limbs.
Prophylaxis
To prevent neck pain, you need to follow a number of guidelines:
- Avoid hypothermia.
- Stop smoking.
- Correct weight.
- Perform physiotherapy exercises daily.
- Take a contrast shower.
- Visit the swimming pool.
- Don't yank the weights.
- Monitor your posture.
- Warm your neck during the cold season.
- If you stay 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 your spine.
- Walking barefoot on uneven surfaces in the summer to strengthen the foot muscles and relieve tension in the musculoskeletal system.
- Stick to proper nutrition.
- Take massage classes.
- Learn relaxation methods with increased anxiety and emotionality.