Neck pain is a common symptom that everyone has encountered at least once in their life. It can indicate a disease of the internal organs, stretching of muscles and ligaments or occurs in the context of hypothermia. If your neck hurts, you should seek medical attention. Only after examination and other diagnostic measures can the cause of the disease be determined and the correct treatment selected.
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, it is characterized by a gradual course and various degrees of intensity;
- cervicago: manifested by unexpected pain with sudden movements of the head 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 an 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 cracking noise.
- 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 acupressure and vacuum therapy.
- Stiff neck. After intense physical exertion, a person may feel a sharp pain in the neck. The affected area swells, it becomes impossible to turn the head, the risk of fainting increases. To alleviate the condition, an anesthetic drug is administered to the patient, a hot or cold compress is prepared, and the stretched area is massaged.
- Cervical spondylosis. A dangerous disease that often leads to disability. It is often diagnosed in injured athletes or the elderly. They complain that their neck and back of the head ache constantly and that they feel discomfort when turning their head. To relieve inflammation and pain it is necessary to take medications, physical therapy in combination with physical therapy exercises to regain the ability to work.
- Cervical myelopathyIt develops after narrowing of the spinal cord canal. the person feels weakness and pain in the neck. Their speech slows down and coordination of movements is impaired. The cause of the pathology can be a traffic accident or a fall from a height. The patient is advised to undergo physical therapy, wear a soft collar, and perform strengthening exercises.
- Whiplash injury. It occurs after a fall, accident, or fight. It is accompanied by a sharp pain in any area of the neck. With a whiplash injury, the ligaments are damaged, leading to loss of cervical lordosis and protruding head position. Treatment can last from 1 month to six months.
- Cervical spine injury. A person notices that his neck constantly hurts, and bruises appear. In this case, it is necessary to wear a special collar for 3 to 6 months.
- Infectious diseases. Skin infections cause acute pain and inflammation. With rubella or a sore throat, the lymph nodes in the neck are swollen and painful.
- Diseases of the internal organs. If the pain syndrome occurs in the right hypochondrium, and the neck hurts on the right side, then the cause may be cholecystitis. If the neck hurts and it emits whiskey in the morning, 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 may indicate 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, jumps in blood pressure are possible. If the neck on the right hurts and is impossible to move, these are signs of meningitis. With laryngitis and pharyngitis, the pain can be localized both on the right and on the left.
Often the neck hurts after sleeping due to an uncomfortable body position 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 will require an injection or anesthetic medication.
If the neck hurts below the jaw, this may indicate a fracture, osteomyelitis of the jaw, or temporomandibular joint dysfunction. With a broken lower jaw, the patient feels a strong pain syndrome, the soft tissues of the face 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, neck pain can occur against the background of such reasons:
- Overexertion of muscles or sprains when playing sports.
- Pain after a fall or car accident.
- An awkward position while sleeping or sitting in front of 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's desease. The pathology is often transmitted through tick bites, so it is necessary to check the neck for signs of a bite while outdoors.
Pain relievers are prescribed to treat neck pain and inflammation in children. Applying a heating pad to the neck for 20 minutes will help reduce muscle spasms. Also, the child should sleep with a towel around the neck or a padded collar to avoid frequent movements of the head.
Diagnostics
To determine why the neck muscles hurt, the doctor conducts an examination with palpation, after which additional examination methods are used:
- bone scan;
- 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 should see an ENT specialist and dentist. In addition to the x-ray, the patient must undergo a blood test to identify the source of the infection.
Drug treatment
When the neck hurts a lot with osteochondrosis, the doctor prescribes complex therapy, which includes a special diet, a series of exercises, drugs and preventive measures. To relieve pain and treat the disease, the following groups of drugs are used:
- Anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Antispasmodics.
- Antioxidant drugs: ascorbic acid, vitamins E and N.
- Means to improve blood circulation.
- Preparations for the prevention of degenerative changes in cartilage tissue.
Medicines can be used in a number of ways. In acute complications, nerve block will be required. There are several types of blocks: intraosseous, paravertebral, facet 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 ligamentous apparatus, kinesitherapy and physiotherapy exercises are prescribed. If you exercise regularly, the metabolic processes will normalize, the location of the vertebrae and discs will be restored, the load will be evenly distributed on the musculoskeletal system.
The principle of the diet for osteochondrosis is to add foods containing large amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants to the diet to improve metabolic processes. Meals should be divided, up to 6 times a day.
It is recommended to include the following products in the menu:
- lean meats and fish;
- fresh fruits and vegetables;
- dairy and fermented dairy products;
- cereals;
- walnuts;
- seeds
- mushrooms;
- olive oil.
It is advisable to steam, boil or bake the dishes. It is also advisable to limit the consumption of flour products, spices, smoked meats, preserves, saturated meat broths, confectionery and fruits with high sugar content.
Important!It is necessary to replace strong black tea with herbal decoctions, unsweetened fruit drinks and dried fruit compotes. Completely limit alcohol and carbonated drinks.
Permanent pain often irritates the patient, so the doctor prescribes sedatives and antidepressants. If your left neck hurts, you can alleviate 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 required. When an infectious agent is detected in the body, antibiotics are included in the course of treatment.
Note!In ischemic cervical myelopathy, it is effective to use neuroprotectants and drugs that have a vasodilator effect.
If a patient is diagnosed with cervical spondylosis, anti-inflammatory and chondroprotective drugs are prescribed. With severe pain, painkillers are used, with severe muscle spasms, muscle relaxants. Manual therapy and gentle massages 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;
- bulge of the intervertebral disc;
- radiculitis;
- salt deposits in the spine;
- spinal stroke;
- circulatory disorders;
- amyotrophy;
- paralysis of the lower extremities.
Prophylaxis
To prevent neck pain, a series of guidelines should be followed:
- Avoid hypothermia.
- Give up smoking.
- Correct weight.
- Do physical therapy exercises daily.
- Take a contrast shower.
- Visit the pool.
- Don't move the weights.
- Check your posture.
- Warm your neck during the cold season.
- If you are 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 the strain on your spine.
- Walking barefoot on uneven surfaces in summer to strengthen the foot muscles and relieve strain on the musculoskeletal system.
- Stick to proper nutrition.
- Take massage courses.
- Learn relaxation methods with increased anxiety and emotionality.