Neck pain can occur for a variety of reasons. Let's answer the question "What to do if your neck hurts? " And advise on the best treatment methods.
Neck pain can cause significant discomfort to each of us. At the same time, the usual way of life is disrupted and the person is deprived of the opportunity to perform daily tasks. He often has dizziness, tinnitus and loss of visual organs. The reasons for such violations can be very different in nature. We will talk about them later.
What neck pain is there?
Neck pain can be temporary and cause only mild discomfort to the person, or be more intense and disrupt the normal rhythm of life. As a rule, patients notice a sharp spasm of muscles in this part of the body, which is accompanied by severe pain. It may be throbbing, pain or tingling.
In this case, there is an increase in discomfort during the period of physical activity or prolonged stay in one position. For these reasons, the person must rotate the whole body to prevent increased strain on the neck.
Thus, neck pain can be classified as follows:
- Sharp. Duration not longer than 10 days;
- Chronic. Disturb a person for an extended period of time;
- Vertebrogens. They occur in the presence of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the cervical spine, including spinal cord compression and damage to the intervertebral discs;
- Nonvertebrogenic. They are manifested in the background of other negative factors, including inflammatory and infectious processes in the muscle area, disorders of the lymph nodes and thyroid gland.
In addition to painful sensations of a vertebrogenic nature, discomfort is observed in the area of the upper extremities, the back of the head, the shoulder joint and the arms. In this case, there is a loss of sensitivity, limited motor activity and numbness in the extremities, which is considered a consequence of compression of the spinal roots. In addition, in these cases, the patient records the syndrome of acute pain in the head, dizziness and fainting, which indicates the presence of an intervertebral disc herniation.
The need for an urgent visit to a specialist indicates the presence of painful sensations of an acute nature, which are accompanied by loss of sensitivity in the back of the head, the appearance of tinnitus and dizziness.
Causes of neck pain
Before you decide what to do if you have neck pain, you should accurately diagnose the nature of the disease. In some cases, a person may find it difficult to distinguish between a sore throat and discomfort in the cervical spine because the feelings can be intense and associated with pain throughout the neck. If the patient feels fever or sore throat at the same time, it may indicate the presence of viral infections, which include: pharyngitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis, ARVI, etc. In addition, similar symptoms may occur when:
- Insufficient intake of vitamins in the body;
- In case of presence of foreign objects in the throat area;
- Increased cortisol synthesis in the adrenal cortex;
- Presence of pathological neoplasms in the throat;
- Gastroesophageal reflux.
But, as a rule, patients can distinguish diseases in the throat region from neck pain, which can be localized in the front, back and sides.
Causes of pain in the front of the neck
The appearance of discomfort in the front of the neck or under the chin can be noticed in the background:
- Inflammation in the area of muscles connected to nerves and ligaments;
- Pathological processes in the thyroid gland;
- Acute insufficiency of myocardial blood supply;
- In the presence of abscesses and cystic formations;
- Destructive processes in the area of lymph nodes.
It should be noted that the factors that cause pain in this part of the body are difficult to determine. In such cases, it is better to schedule an examination with an experienced specialist for an accurate diagnosis of the disease.
It is important to note that discomfort in the front part of the neck can occur with compression of nerve roots and pathological changes on the intervertebral discs.
Causes of back pain
One of the most frequently asked questions of modern people is: "What to do if the neck hurts from the back? " Indeed, physical inactivity, long-term computer use, the presence of addiction, unwillingness to lead a healthy lifestyle - all this can lead to pathological disorders in the spine and as a resultthis cause neck pain.
Therefore, if your neck hurts from behind, and you do not know what to do with the unpleasant manifestations, we recommend that you first consult an experienced vertebrologist or manual. The fact is that the above signs most often indicate serious pathologies of the spine, which include:
- Osteochondrosis. It is characterized by degenerative-dystrophic disorders in the area of intervertebral discs, as well as a decrease in their strength and height;
- Protrusion. We are talking about the protrusion of the intervertebral disc, which increases the likelihood of pinching arteries and nerve roots;
- Spinal disc herniation. In the absence of timely therapeutic measures, the nucleus pulposus can enlarge and penetrate the spinal canal. In this case, the spinal cord and nerve roots are compressed. In advanced stages, the contents of the intervertebral disc are able to separate and "float freely" along the spinal canal. This in turn can cause a complete lack of motor activity of the spine;
- Spondylosis. It is a disease in which pathological bone growths appear at the end of the vertebrae. In this case, the intervertebral discs flatten, which can gradually cause pathological connections of the nearby vertebrae and a decrease in motor activity in the neck;
- Myofascial syndrome. Pathological process characterized by the appearance of spasms in muscle tissue and, as a result, the appearance of acute pain syndrome during movement;
- Compression fractures. This process occurs in the vertebral region in the elderly. It manifests itself as a result of a concussion or as a consequence of osteoporosis and poses a serious danger to the human body;
- Ankylosing spondylitis. It is accompanied by pathological adhesions of the vertebrae, damage to all joints and a total decrease in motor activity.
In rare cases, pain in the back of the neck occurs against the background of osteomyelitis or tuberculosis of the spine.
What is the reason for the pain in the side of the neck?
Typically, pain in the side of the neck is throbbing or tingling. In addition, pain can radiate to the ear or shoulder joint, often leading to neck curvature toward the lesion. Similar situations occur in the presence of the following diseases:
- Vascular pathologies, including the deposition of cholesterol on the inner walls of blood vessels;
- Muscle cramps, which are manifested due to excessive load on the neck, exposure to heat factors or a sharp change in the position of the head;
- Presence of malignant formations in the larynx, pharynx or thyroid gland.
Diagnosis of neck pain
So, in order to understand what to do if your neck hurts, you first need to find out the etiology of the origin of the disease. The most common cause of discomfort is a pathological process in the cervical spine. Therefore, it is recommended to visit a vertebrologist, neurologist or manualist at the first unpleasant symptoms.
After hearing the patient's complaints and carrying out the necessary diagnostic measures, the doctor will give clear recommendations for further treatment. Not only will you be able to understand what to do if your shoulders and neck hurt, but you will also be able to understand the cause of the discomfort that has arisen.
However, it is the pathological changes of the spine that most often provoke the above-mentioned problem. Indeed, even minor pathologies in the spine can cause disorders in the transmission of nerve signals from the spinal cord to the internal systems of the body.
This is due to the fact that each part of the spinal cord controls the work of a certain organ, and in the case of any disorders in the neck, neck and shoulder muscles, as well as the ENT organs and the thyroid gland. glands, are affected. The intensity of the pain syndrome depends on the degree of disease development.
Therefore, if you have pain in the back of the head and neck, before looking for a way out, what to do, it is necessary to make a comprehensive diagnosis. The following activities are being implemented within it:
- A blood test is done;
- Ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland, cervical vessels and salivary glands is performed;
- A blood test for thyroid hormones is done;
- An X-ray of the cervical spine is being taken;
- Electromyography is prescribed;
- MRI;
- CT.
In this case, the most informative diagnostic method is MRI. It is possible to make a detailed analysis of the condition of the intervertebral discs, study the condition of the blood supply organs and identify the symptoms of spinal root compression. Thanks to this method, it is possible to judge in advance the presence of a certain disease in its initial stages of development, which significantly increases the effectiveness of future therapeutic measures.
Treatment of neck pain
To understand what to do if left, front or back neck pain, it is necessary to consider individual points, which include the intensity of the pain syndrome, the severity of existing changes, the presence of chronic pathologies and the appropriate specialist. opinion. In addition, patients with the same type of disorder may be recommended different therapeutic measures, because in this case the age factor and individual characteristics of the organism are taken into account.
However, even if a person has severe back pain in the neck, there is no special way to fix the situation. The recommended therapeutic measures are always complex in nature and are aimed both at eliminating the negative manifestations of the disease and at combating its causes.
Key components of the treatment provided include:
- Use of drugs;
- Manual treatment;
- Osteopathy;
- Massage procedures;
- Use of physiotherapy methods;
- Visit to rehabilitation specialists.
In addition, when a pathological process in the area of the cervical spine is detected, the patient should correct his usual way of life. For example, office workers and drivers are encouraged to introduce regular physical exercises and change their body position more often during the working day.
You should also enrich your diet with healthy foods. This will speed up the body's recovery process.
Remedies for neck pain
The nature of the prescribed drugs depends on the diagnosis and the presence of chronic pathologies. The following is a list of medications that are recommended for most patients when diagnosing such a disease:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They have a strong anesthetic effect, relieve inflammation;
- Corticosteroid hormones. Helps cope with inflammation in situations where nonsteroidal drugs are inactive;
- The use of drugs that eliminate muscle cramps, which can significantly reduce the intensity of the pain syndrome;
- A group of drugs whose main ingredients are glycosaminoglycans (chondroprotectors). They promote the regeneration of cartilage tissue, have increased efficiency in the early stages of spinal disease;
- Vitamin D. Promotes the restoration of brain function, improves the condition of the skeletal system;
- Vitamins of group B. They enable the improvement of the process of impulse transmission from the spinal cord to the internal systems, as well as the normalization of their normal functioning;
- Antibacterial drugs, antihypertensives, hormonal drugs, etc.
In case of painful manifestations of significant intensity, a solution containing anesthetic and corticosteroid hormone is injected into the area of the nerve endings in the neck. However, during the implementation of the blockade, there is a possibility of injury and infection of the nerve, which requires high professional training of specialists.
Manual door treatment
One of the most effective methods of relieving neck pain and the reasons that caused it is manual therapy. The method is based on direct action on the spine and nearby tissues. The key difference between this procedure and therapeutic massage is the ability to not only work the muscles of the neck and back, but also to affect the spine.
By performing manual treatment by a competent specialist, it is possible to achieve a noticeable improvement in the patient's condition after the first procedures. Healing effect can be achieved due to:
- Bringing the vertebrae to the correct position and restoring the axis of the spine;
- Expansion of the intervertebral space and release of constricted veins and roots. This allows you to normalize the functioning of the body's internal systems, especially the brain;
- Elimination of muscle cramps and stiffness in the neck, which can reduce the intensity of pain;
- Restoring blood supply to tissues.
Physiotherapy treatment for neck pain
The key goal of physiotherapeutic procedures is to increase the efficiency of implemented therapeutic measures. They are resorted to only outside the exacerbation stage. In addition to a competent professional approach, physiotherapy has a pronounced analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect, and also allows you to improve blood flow to tissues and restore muscle tone.
The patient is usually recommended to attend courses that include 10-15 sessions. This includes:
- Ultrasound method;
- Use of laser radiation;
- Exposure to the affected area with a constant electric current in combination with the application of medicinal substances;
- Shock wave therapy;
- Spinal traction;
- Mud treatment, etc.
The number of procedures and the frequency of their implementation is determined on an individual basis. Separate methods of influence can be carried out simultaneously, others must be carried out at certain intervals.
The effect of shock wave therapy for neck pain
You should reject the possibility of any self-medication, because it can not only worsen your condition, but also lead to irreversible consequences. For example, if your neck hurts from behind in the foot or you have a pinched nerve, it is better to contact an experienced specialist in a proven clinic.
In good clinics, modern and effective methods of treatment are implemented, thanks to which every patient has the opportunity to normalize the condition of the neck without dangerous consequences for the body. Thanks to the use of innovative and highly efficient equipment, as well as the participation of top specialists in medical procedures, you can count on a long-term and reliable result.
The course of shock wave therapy will allow you to quickly stop the pain syndrome, cope with the causes of the disease, as well as eliminate the likelihood of complications in bone tissue and muscle area. Already after the first procedure of exposure to shock waves, you will be able to feel a noticeable improvement in your condition.
Physiotherapy exercises for neck pain
If you have neck pain after sleeping or dizziness, the obligatory phase of treatment, among other methods, is exercise therapy. Since the cause of pain in the cervical spine is often excessive muscle tension and accompanying degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine, exercise should be carried out daily.
For each patient, the exercise therapy program is compiled individually. In this case, the individual characteristics of the organism, the age factor, the severity of the disorder and the degree of physical readiness of the person are taken into account. The participation of rehabilitation doctors in the development of this program is mandatory. In this case, the patient must avoid overload and sudden movements.
Preventive actions
In order to prevent the occurrence of neck pain, the patient should first of all pay attention to the organization of his working day. If his work includes a long stay in one position, the prerequisite for maintaining health is the periodic performance of gymnastics. Obesity is often the cause of pathological conditions in the cervical spine. This indicates the need to introduce a proper diet, go to the gym and exercise in the pool. A special orthopedic mattress should be used during night sleep.