Causes and Treatment of Neck Pain

The neck is considered the determining part of the human body's life. Major arteries, veins, capillaries and nerve fibers pass through it, forcing the entire body to function fully. Blood channels supply the brain with nutrients and oxygen, without which the most important organ in the nervous system cannot function normally. If a person has a sore throat, you need to look for the causes of the disorder and, as far as possible, eliminate them.

Types of Neck Pain

Pain syndrome is divided into two main groups:

1. Neck pain (lumbago) - Regularly, with varying strength and dynamics, spreads to the shoulders and beyond. Often it has a painful and pulling character. The cause is a painful spasm of the muscles in the neck.
2. Cervicago is a sharp pain that occurs unexpectedly during unexpected turns of the head, a long stay in an uncomfortable position. At the same time, the person is unable to freely rotate the neck and nod the head due to severe pain. "Shoot" in shoulders, chest, hands. This pain is associated with the effect of stimuli on the nerve endings that pass close to the brain.

Causes of the disorder

Patients often experience neck pain. Spasms are sometimes caused in the back due to inadvertent head movements. Occasionally, there is discomfort in the occipital region. It is especially unpleasant when the pain syndrome manifests itself in the morning due to uncomfortable posture while sleeping.

With the confluence of unfavorable circumstances, pain can arise due to the consequences of untreated infectious diseases. They are so insufferable that it is not possible to think about the reason for their occurrence.

Neck pain occurs for several reasons:

• Non-specific.
• Vertebrogenic.
• In case of malfunction of Organs internal organs.
• With the development of benign and malignant oncological formations.
• In case of injury.
• With inflammation of the bone tissue (subacute osteomyelitis, purulent lymphadenitis, spinal paralysis, meningitis, exacerbated thyroiditis).

non-specific reasons

Patients often need to experience non-specific pain. They arise as a response to excessive tension in the cervical muscles and are considered a natural body reaction. This sensation usually appears when a person is lying in an uncomfortable position for a long time or is physically overloaded.

Neck pain due to severe loads of a dynamic nature. To get rid of unpleasant sensations, the body must have a good rest. This pain is not very intense, it doesn't last long and it goes away on its own, without the need for special treatment.

When overload is persistent, physiological pain takes a chronic form - a dystrophic-degenerative process begins. Harmful factors must be eliminated immediately when alarming symptoms appear, and not wait for the disease to develop.

The statistical cause of pain can be:

• Wrong position during sleep.
• Frequent head movements.
• High, firm cushion.

spinal causes

Dysfunction of the cervical vertebrae, discs, joints that connect them, ligaments and muscles is the answer to the question of why the neck hurts. When pain syndrome is constantly observed, degenerative dystrophic diseases of the spine are recorded in such patients during X-ray examination. The neck is susceptible to this disease due to its anatomical structure:

• The neck joints are extremely mobile.
• The vertebrae have a very fragile structure and are small in size.
• They support enormous loads every second, supporting the skull.
• Neurovascular fibers are located within the vertebrae.

Degenerative dystrophic pathologies include:

• Osteochondrosis.
• Kyphosis.
• Spondylolisthesis (listez).
• Lordosis.
• Spondylopathy.
• Spinal stenosis.
• Intervertebral hernia. With it, the neck hurts, especially on one side.

With these disorders, complications can occur in the form of torticollis, disc protrusion, spinal cord tissue compression, progression of sciatica, spinal deformation, persistent headaches, dizziness, and ear noise.

internal problems

Neck pain that occurs in the front is associated with a malfunction of the thyroid gland. They usually manifest as inflammatory lesions of the gland (thyroiditis), are acute, subacute, chronic or of an autoimmune nature. The disorder is indicated by:

• Increases body temperature.
• Lethargy, drowsiness.
• Redness, possibly swelling of the skin on the front of the neck.
• Asphyxia, difficulty in swallowing.

Thyroiditis causes systematic throbbing pain. It grows when swallowing, turning the head, probing the gland.

Unexpected neck pain from the side signals inflammation of the lymph nodes in ENT organ diseases. The triggers for this condition can be:

• ENT diseases of another nature (pharyngitis, laryngitis, sinusitis, otitis media).
• Dental caries.
• Gingivitis.
• Retropharyngeal abscess.
• Diseases of an infectious nature.

The neck may visibly swell, losing its shape. Temperature rises rapidly, symptoms of underlying disease development are noted.

Development of cancer neoplasms

Neck pain causes cancer of the vertebral tissues, blood vessels and internal organs located in the neck. Spinal tumors can be:

• Primary (mesenchymal chondrosarcoma, osbolitosarcoma, lymphangioma).
• Secondary (myeloma, lymphogranulomotosis).

It turns out that the causes of neck pain are spinal cord tumors and nerve fibers.

neck injury

The spine in the neck region is quite fragile and vulnerable, which means that it is subject to injuries of varying severity, such as:

• Fractures, swelling, bruises.
• Dislocations, subluxations.
• Sprains, torn ligaments and muscles.
• Intervertebral disc fragment rupture.
• Extensive bruises, bruises.
• Compression of spinal cord tissues.

Neck injuries are extremely dangerous. This area contains important centers that allow the spinal cord to function. Brain affect at the level of 1 and 2 segments of the cervical vertebra leads to instantaneous death. Lower segment injuries can leave the person unable to feel the body below the neck and to move. Trauma to the 7th and 8th vertebrae affects the lower extremities.

bone inflammation

The cervical spine can become inflamed. They are often in the nature of systemic connective tissue diseases:

• Limban-Sachs disease.
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Periarteritis nodosa.
• Wagner's disease.
• MCTD (Sharpe syndrome).
• Progressive systemic sclerosis.
• Vasculitis.
• Ankylosing spondylitis

When a patient's neck aches and aches, the causes are often associated with ankylosing spondylitis (ankylosing spondylitis). In this case, the vertebral joints become inflamed, deformed and complete immobility of the cervical vertebrae occurs.

Neck pain in a child

In children, unlike adults, cervical pain is hidden not in the defeat of vertebral tissues and structures, but in:

• Lymphadenopathy.
• Bone tuberculosis.
• Zaushnitsa (pig).
• Meningitis.
• Tetanus.
• Pneumonia.
• Retropharyngeal abscess.
• Rheumatic diseases (polyarthritis, oligoarthritis).

When a child experiences pain and discomfort in the neck, this cannot be ignored. Consultation with a pediatrician is necessary, as the causes of this condition can be extremely serious.

Therapies and Diagnoses

You can completely free yourself from pain by identifying its root cause. You can relieve symptomatic painful sensations with the following medications:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs.
• Muscle relaxants that relieve muscle tone and spasms.
• Glucocorticoid hormonal agents. They are used to increase the effect of pain relievers.
• Chondroprotectors have long been used to restore cartilage tissue and stop the process of its breakdown.
• Decongestants, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, vitamin therapy to eliminate chronic pain.

An experienced practitioner must be involved in treating the disorder. First you need to see a therapist. He will, according to the complaints, assess the patient's general condition, say why the neck hurts, how to treat the condition, which irritating factors should be avoided.

Depending on the causes of the illness, the therapist will recommend visiting these restricted specialists:

• Rheumatologist.
• Orthopedist.
• Traumatologist.
• Neurologist.
• Massage therapist, chiropractor.
• Physical therapist.

For neck pain, such research methods are prescribed as:

• General blood analysis.
• Determination of ESR.
• Exam for rheumatoid factors.
• X-ray of the spine.
• CT and MRI (computed image and magnetic resonance) of the spine.

When an adult or child develops neck pain, it could be a sign of osteochondrosis, meningitis, a consequence of stress, or a side effect of taking certain medications. Doctors need to establish exactly why the patient is experiencing persistent neck pain.

If, upon examination, it is revealed that inflammation of the lymph nodes has become the main cause of neck pain, they are prescribed:

• UHF.
• Massage on the back and base of the skull.
• Corrective gymnastics.
• Medicines.

You cannot ignore illness. In later stages of its development, surgical intervention will be necessary to open the lymph nodes and clear them of accumulated pus.

non-drug treatment

Complex therapy strengthens the cervical muscles, helps to remove spasms, make them flexible and elastic, improve blood flow, restore the maneuverability of the neck vertebrae, prevent disease exacerbation and development. To do this, use:

• Physiotherapy.
• Acupressure.
• Manual therapy.
• Physiotherapy.
• Wearing splint collars.
• Spa treatment.
• Acupuncture.
• Spinal traction.

In the acute period, physiotherapy, massage, gymnastics are not used until the pain subsides. Modern physical therapy methods allow you to achieve a successful outcome without powerful medications and surgical intervention. This:

• Hilamat hardware system (Elgos).
• Laser wrist therapy.
• Electrophoresis.

Doctors advise patients on what to do when their necks hurt. Required:

• Sit upright, don't bend over when reading, writing or eating.
• The work chair must have an ergonomic backrest.
• Monitor your posture when walking.
• Sleep on a small orthopedic pillow.
• Rub the neck with prescribed ointments or gels with analgesic effect three times a day.
• Do a self-massage to eliminate the pain.

For sharp or painful neck pain, you should not:

• Throw your head back sharply.
• Frequently turn to the affected side.
• Work, read and write continuously in a folded position.
• Abuse wearing a splint necklace.
• Sleep on a big, tall pillow.

What to do if you broke your neck

Severe pain in the back of the neck, accompanied by muscle inflammation, occurs with prolonged exposure to cold drafts. People sometimes complain that they broke their necks. Doctors call this condition myositis. At the same time, the patient is unable to turn, bend, throw the head back calmly, the neck hurts a lot.

Your doctor will help you get rid of the disease quickly and effectively. Before visiting your office, there are a few steps you can take to alleviate discomfort and pain:

• The painful area should be lubricated with a warming ointment (usually these ointments have an unpleasant smell and cause a burning sensation on the skin).
• Massage your neck with gentle, light strokes.
• Apply dry heat to the inflamed area (wrap yourself in a wool scarf and secure a terry towel).
• Try not to make any sudden movements.

Do not take pain relievers without consulting a doctor. Only a doctor can prescribe them and determine the dosage.

Neck osteochondrosis treatment

Neck problems with osteochondrosis are more common than those in the lower back. Often the lower segments of the vertebrae are affected - 5-6 or 6-7. Pain manifests in the back, shoots up in the neck to the left, is felt especially intensely during an exacerbation.

Osteochondrosis is a chronic disease, manifested by periodic exacerbations, which can present with vague symptoms for a long period. For treatment, the patient is prescribed:

• Physiotherapy (hydrotherapy is especially effective for this disease).
• Analgesics.
• Using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It is recommended that they be drunk within 3 weeks. Then, the patient's condition is assessed and a decision is made about the future use of medications in this group.
• Special corrective gymnastics.
• Manual therapy.
• Along with conservative medicine, treatment with folk remedies is welcome: lotions, compresses, decoctions, infusions, ointments and homemade creams.

If it was possible to get rid of osteochondrosis in the early stages, one should not forget about prevention to prevent the disease from developing again.

folk recipes

Neck pain can be eliminated with popular recipes:

• A series infusion perfectly relieves inflammation. For the drug, 1 tablespoon is needed. me. dry raw materials, filled with a glass of boiling water. After 3-4 hours of infusion and effort, the medicine can be drunk half a glass before meals.
• An effective ointment is made from a mixture of St. John's wort, pine buds, eucalyptus leaves, mint and snake root. All components are turned into powder. Then 100 ml of boiling water is poured and boiled for 4-5 minutes. 75 g of melted butter (vegetables or butter can be used) is gradually added to the broth. The ointment is applied after it has hardened. Store in refrigerator.
• Likewise, you can prepare ointments with banana, hops, burdock, lavender, marshmallow, dandelion, yarrow.
• An excellent healing composition is possessed by an ointment based on dandelion root, birch buds, sown coriander fruits.

Surgical treatment is used in emergency cases and for strict indications - if there are complications from vertebral diseases, the patient suffers from intense chronic pain that cannot be eliminated with conservative treatment for six months. Surgery to relieve neck pain presents enormous risks. Therefore, to start with, all available treatment methods should be used to fight the disease.