Neck pain can be painful for many reasons. In most cases, you must first establish what causes the pain and muscle tension to choose the right pain reliever. Both medications and home remedies help to quickly relieve neck pain.
Neck structure
The neck includes:
- cervical spine,
- muscles,
- packages,
- larynx,
- thyroid gland.
There are seven vertebrae in the cervical spine. Compared to the rest of the spine, the cervical vertebrae are not large. They consist, like all the others, of the body and the processes with the muscles and connecting ligaments.
Between vertebrae: discs with a rigid outer part, consisting of fibrous fibers, and a soft inner nucleus pulposus, which provides shock absorption to the spine.
Causes of neck pain
Traumatic injury
It can be obtained by playing sports, falling head first, in an accident or traffic accident. With sudden braking in the process of rapid movement in the cervical spine, a "whip symptom" occurs, as a result of which sprains and muscles, compression fractures, displacement of cervical discs with the formation of hernias are possible.
Bad posture
Prolonged work in a monotonous position, sleeping on an uncomfortable or overly soft pillow, and prolonged static stress are predisposing factors. As a result, a hunched over appears, the head begins to move forward relative to the body, the ligaments and muscles of the neck begin to experience increased tension.
Spinal osteochondrosis
In osteochondrosis, there is a violation of the trophism of the disc with its flattening and changes in the surrounding tissues. As a result, a decrease in the amortization function and the appearance of pain in the neck.
The cause of osteochondrosis can be malnutrition, back injuries, increased physical activity, unfavorable environment, chronic stress, inactive lifestyle, bad habits. In addition, there is a genetic predisposition.
With osteochondrosis, pain in the neck, shoulders, arms, dizziness and fainting appear. Impaired hearing, vision, memory. "Vertebral artery syndrome": flies blinking in front of the eyes, tinnitus. Impaired coordination and gait instability.
Disc bulging or herniation
This is the name of the spinal disc bulge. With a hernia, the outer ring is destroyed with a displacement of its central part in any direction: sideways, backward or forward.
The most difficult pathology is the internal displacement of the nucleus; This can lead to a spinal cord violation. With age, spinal osteochondrosis can join the hernia. The cause of a hernia can be all of the above factors, as well as carrying heavy bags, scoliosis, flat feet, and age-related changes in the body.
The symptoms are similar to those of osteochondrosis, in addition to instability of blood pressure, insomnia, weakness in the hands, and numbness of the fingers.
Ischemic heart disease: heart attack, angina attack
With this pathology, both radiation pain radiating to the neck and independent pain in the neck and lower jaw are possible. As a general rule, they are combined with other signs of myocardial ischemia: fear of death, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea and vomiting.
Benign or malignant growths
The growing tumor puts pressure on the nerve roots, causing neck pain and other symptoms of spinal cord compression. Benign tumors (neuroma, hemangioma) usually have the correct round shape and a clear border.
The neck pain is mild. Basically, there is discomfort from compression of the tissues by a growing tumor. The malignant ones (lymphogranulomatosis, sarcoma, thyroid cancer) have practically no limits and metastasize to neighboring tissues.
The destruction of the tissue causes pain and deterioration of the general condition. Pain in the front of the neck occurs with tumors of the oral cavity, larynx, and thyroid gland. Along with pain, difficulties in swallowing, altered phonation, swelling of the face and neck arise.
A bone tumor often damages the spinal cord and nerve roots and causes paralysis.
Neck myositis
Appears after hypothermia or prolonged muscle strain. It is characterized by the appearance of sharp pain when moving. Pain can occur both with inflammation of the superficial muscles (sternocleidomastoid) and in the deep area around the spine, involved in neck movements.
Palpation reveals muscle hypertonicity and sometimes hard, painful nodules. Chronic myositis leads to disruption of the blood supply, trophism, and replacement of muscle cells (myocytes) with connective tissue.
This causes pain and weakness in the neck muscles, a violation of the symmetrical work of the muscles on the sides of the spine with the appearance of torticollis - the inability to keep the head strictly upright.
Other diseases that cause neck pain
Spondylolisthesis: one vertebra "slips" from the other with entrapment of the disc.
Bechterew's disease: ankylosing spondylarthritis.
Meningitis. Hypertonicity and stiffness of the neck muscles cause severe back pain in the neck when trying to tilt the head.
How to relieve neck pain with medication
First, you need to determine the possible cause of your neck pain. In either case, limit your mobility. In case of injury: to ensure immobilization of the damaged section and take the patient to the trauma center.
If you have a history of ischemic disease, call an ambulance and stop the pain with sublingual vasodilators, try to calm the patient.
If there is a possibility of meningitis, if there was contact with a sick person, also call an ambulance. But in all cases, to stop the pain on your own. Don't heat the sore spot!
A good effect is observed when taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - acetic acid. They also reduce morning stiffness and have an antiplatelet effect: they prevent erythrocytes from sticking together.
Propionic acid derivatives also help reduce pain. They are not very toxic, they are well absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract with a sufficient amplitude of action.
Option to replace drugs in tablets: suppositories.
If your neck, shoulders and arms hurt
The gels are useful for treating shoulder and arm pain.
Relieve neck pain and tension during muscle spasm
To relieve existing muscle spasm, along with painkillers, it is good to give muscle relaxants.
External remedies for severe neck pain
To relieve neck pain in case of cervical osteochondrosis or other diseases, local therapy will not be superfluous - the use of various rubs and compresses. After applying these rubs, wrap a warm handkerchief around your neck, avoid getting water out of it.
How to relieve neck pain with home remedies
Place a whole kale or burdock leaf on your neck.
Mix 50 ml of horseradish root juice with the same amount of vodka. Rub or apply compresses.
Use pre-settled kerosene passed through activated charcoal as a heating agent for grinding.
Make a honey cake with honey and flour, apply it on a sore spot.
Use whole honey to grind, you can, in half with aloe juice.
A mixture obtained by mixing equal parts of radish juice, honey and vodka, which is used for grinding.
Use chamomile or calendula infusion for compresses on the neck area. Grind the horseradish root, add a little water, apply to the sore spot.
Add hot pepper, ammonia, or honey to medicinal bile. Use for compresses.