The neck is an important part of the body. Lymphatic vessels, large nerves, arteries, and spinal cord pass through it. Neck pain can be a symptom of various medical conditions. Unpleasant sensations that last for a long time indicate a serious pathology.
Varieties
Unpleasant sensations can manifest as neck pain or low back pain. Cervicago is an acute syndrome that prevents you from turning your head. Neck pain - cervicalgia. Happens:
- Superficial somatic. It occurs when the skin is damaged.
- Deep somatic. It appears when the muscles and vertebrae are affected.
- Visceral. It arises as a sign of an infectious disease or pathology of the internal organs.
If the pain in the neck captures the adjacent areas, they diagnose cervicobrachyalgia (cervicobrachial syndrome) or cervicocranialgia (the discomfort spreads to the back of the head and then to the entire head).
Causes of occurrence
Most of the time, the discomfort is due to muscle cramps or strains. They occur for the following reasons:
- hypothermia;
- a sharp turn of the head;
- prolonged stay in the same position;
- Overexertion of the muscles during work.
The discomfort caused by these factors does not require complex treatment. As a general rule, they disappear on their own in 1-3 weeks.
If there is severe discomfort, numbness, the patient suffers from dizziness, reduced mobility, the causes of the disease can be much more serious. It is imperative to consult a specialist.
Acute pain syndrome is seen when:
- problems with the spine: bruises, soft tissue injuries;
- inflammatory and infectious diseases;
- radiculitis;
- herniated intervertebral discs;
- curvature of the spine in the cervical spine;
- osteochondrosis, arthrosis;
- neurological diseases;
- fibromyalgia;
- oncology.
Pain syndrome can vary depending on the disease and its degree. Pathology can be suspected by a number of accompanying signs.
Causes of pain by location.
The location of unpleasant sensations is an important factor that allows you to accurately diagnose the problem during the initial examination. Having established the cause, using other methods, the degree of damage is established.
Painful sensations in the front of the neck.
Unpleasant sensations under the chin or around the neck in the front can indicate a number of pathologies. The list is impressive:
- Swelling of the lymph nodes;
- angina pectoris;
- cysts and abscesses;
- inflammation of muscles, ligaments and nerves;
- thyroid gland pathology.
It is impossible to independently determine which disease has this symptom. Pain can also be caused by pinching of blood vessels or nerves by the intervertebral disc, which is deformed.
A complex of programs has been developed aimed at eliminating diseases without surgery or pills. It is necessary to consult experienced doctors: neurologists, osteopaths, chiropractors, kinesitherapists, masseurs.
Neck pain in the back
Changes in the spine are the main cause of sharp or painful pain in the neck region. They occur due to low physical activity, constant work at the computer. Discomfort can be a symptom of the following diseases:
- osteochondrosis - changes in the structure of the intervertebral discs;
- bulging of intervertebral discs (bulge);
- intervertebral hernia;
- spondylosis - bony growths on the vertebrae;
- muscle spasms;
- vertebral fractures as a result of whiplash or osteoporosis.
Back pain in the neck is a non-standard symptom and spinal tuberculosis, osteomyelitis, Reiter's syndrome.
Pain syndrome on the lateral surfaces of the neck.
Discomfort in these areas is manifested by burning, stabbing pain, sometimes accompanied by a tingling sensation. The unpleasant sensation spreads to the shoulder or ear to the right or left. Sometimes they are accompanied by the appearance of secondary torticollis due to the constant inclination of the head towards the affected side.
This symptom is inherent in the following pathologies:
- blood vessel problems, atherosclerosis;
- muscle spasm due to a sharp turn of the head, hypothermia or physical exertion;
- malignant formations localized in the larynx, thyroid gland, pharynx.
In the early stage of rheumatoid arthritis, pain can spread to the cervical region, the back of the head, and the head. When turning your head or bending your neck, step up.
Symptoms
If discomfort is rarely bothersome, it may be the result of an awkward posture in a dream or an awkward movement of the head. No special treatment is required. To eliminate discomfort, they exercise, lightly rub, take warm baths, it is recommended to use an orthopedic mattress and pillows. But there are situations in which the consultation of a neurologist or chiropractor is urgently needed.
The alarming signs are:
- stiffness of movements;
- the duration of the painful sensation is more than 1-2 days;
- the appearance of concomitant pain in the shoulder, arm;
- frequent headaches, especially in the back of the head, accompanied by dizziness;
- numbness of fingers, hands.
If you have suffered an injury to your neck, head, or spine and pain in these areas is constantly bothering you, you should seek help.
How to relieve neck pain with osteochondrosis.
In case of acute pain, it is necessary to take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug or use a gel, cream with an anti-inflammatory effect. You should rub the product where you feel pain and numbness. If the pain worsens when you turn your head, you should restrict movement. Don't jerk your head. For shoulder pain, do not load your arm. It is possible to use pain relievers with a warming effect.
All these recommendations will help to relieve pain for 1-2 days. But to prevent repeated attacks, a complete cure for osteochondrosis is necessary. There are the most modern and long-established treatment methods: UHT therapy, kinesitherapy, therapeutic massage, acupuncture, osteopathy, manual therapy, bandaging.
Diagnosis
A neurologist deals primarily with the treatment of neck pain. At the reception, the specialist listens to the patient's complaints and conducts an examination. She identifies the cause of the problem. Most often, it becomes a deviation from the norm of the state of the spine. These changes are the reason for the development of concomitant diseases of the internal organs.
Each segment of the spinal cord is responsible for the work of a specific organ. When the vertebrae change position or the height of the intervertebral discs decreases, the transmission of nerve impulses from the spinal cord to the internal organs is interrupted.
If the problem is in the cervical spine, the ENT organs, the vocal cords, the thyroid and parathyroid glands, the muscles of the neck or the forearms are affected. Those. more often they diagnose both problems with the spine and diseases of the internal organs. Therefore, for neck pain, an examination by a chiropractor is recommended. If other diseases are detected, an additional examination of narrow specialists - a cardiologist, an endocrinologist, an otolaryngologist.
A patient complaining of cervical spine discomfort undergoes a comprehensive diagnosis. The list of procedures includes:
- blood test: general and biochemical;
- a blood test to determine the level of thyroid hormones;
- computed tomography of the cervical spine;
- magnetic resonance imaging of the neck area;
- ultrasound examination of the neck vessels, salivary glands, thyroid gland with USDG.
With the help of an MRI, a specialist examines in detail the condition of the intervertebral discs. The method allows you to diagnose diseases at an early stage. The doctor will evaluate the state of blood flow. If there is compression of the spinal cord and its roots, you will see them in the picture.
Treatment of pathology of the cervical spine.
After diagnosis, the doctor develops an individual treatment tactic for each patient. It takes into account the severity of changes in the affected area, concomitant diseases, age and level of physical development. A set of measures is being taken to eliminate the symptoms and causes of the pathology.
Physiotherapy
The sessions are carried out using modern apparatus and equipment for shock wave therapy. With the help of these procedures, swelling, inflammation is removed and blood flow to the damaged area is improved. After the course of UHT therapy, the elasticity of ligaments and tendons is restored, metabolism is accelerated.
Recording
This method of manual therapy relieves pain and repairs damaged muscles. Special thermal-coated bandages are used. They are carefully fixed on the damaged part of the body.
Manual therapy
For pathologies of the cervical spine, it is carried out using various techniques. The session begins with a relaxing massage with increasing kneading rhythm. The effect is felt after 1 procedure. After the course, the vertebrae return to the anatomically correct position, muscle spasms are eliminated. Improves blood circulation, soft tissues are restored.
Acupuncture
The procedure is indicated for various diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The action on biologically active points of the body allows it to eliminate pain in the neck and weakness, to increase blood flow in this area.
Masotherapy
An auxiliary method of therapy is effective for osteochondrosis and other diseases of the spine. After the procedures, discomfort, swelling, spasms and fatigue are eliminated. It improves blood flow, the patient's well-being and her emotional state. Local or general massage is prescribed. Techniques are selected individually for each specific case.
Kinesitherapy
Exercise therapy and classes on special decompression simulators are prescribed to strengthen the muscle corset. During the procedures, the load is removed from the spine and the risk of cartilage abrasion is minimized. A large room is equipped for training with additional equipment: rollers, balls. The exercises are supervised by experienced doctors and instructors.