Neck pain can occur for a variety of reasons. Let's answer the question "What to do if the neck hurts? " And recommend the best methods of treatment.
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 carry out daily work. He often has dizziness, tinnitus and deterioration of the visual organs. The reasons for such violations can be of a very different nature. We will talk about this further.
What are neck pains?
Neck pain can be temporary and cause only slight discomfort to a person, or it can be more intense and disrupt the normal rhythm of life. As a rule, patients notice a strong muscle spasm in this part of the body, which is accompanied by severe pain. It can be throbbing, sore, or tingling.
In this case, an increase in discomfort is observed during the period of physical activity or with a prolonged stay in one position. For these reasons, a person must make full-body turns to avoid an increase in the load on the neck.
Therefore, neck pain can be classified as follows:
- Sharp. Duration not exceeding 10 days;
- Chronic. Annoying the person for a long time;
- Vertebrogenic. They occur in the presence of degenerative-dystrophic changes of the cervical spine, including compression of the roots of the spinal cord and damage to the intervertebral discs;
- Not vertebrogenic. They manifest themselves against the background of other negative factors, including inflammatory and infectious processes in the muscle area, disorders in the lymph nodes and thyroid gland.
With painful sensations of a vertebrogenic nature, discomfort is observed in the area of the upper extremities, in the back of the head, in the shoulder joint and in the hands. In this case there is a loss of sensation, limitation of motor activity and numbness in the region of the limbs, which is considered a consequence of compression of the spinal roots. Also, in such cases, the patient notes acute pain syndrome in the head area, dizziness and the appearance of fainting conditions, which indicates the presence of a herniated intervertebral disc.
The need for an urgent visit to a specialist is indicated by the presence of painful sensations of an acute nature, which are accompanied by loss of sensation in the back of the head, the appearance of tinnitus and dizziness.
Causes of neck pain
Before deciding what to do if your neck hurts, you should accurately diagnose the nature of the disease. In some cases, it can be difficult for a person to distinguish between pain in the throat and discomfort in the cervical spine, as the sensations can be intense and associated with pain throughout the neck. If at the same time the patient feels a fever or sore throat, this may indicate the presence of viral infections, which include: pharyngitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis, ARVI, etc. Also, similar symptoms can occur when:
- Insufficient intake of vitamins in the body;
- In case of presence of foreign bodies in the throat area;
- Increased synthesis of cortisol by the adrenal cortex;
- The presence of pathological neoplasms in the throat;
- Gastroesophageal reflux.
But, as a rule, patients are able to distinguish diseases in the throat region from pain in the neck, which can be localized in its anterior, posterior and lateral parts.
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 observed against the background of:
- Inflammation in the area of the muscles associated with nerves and ligaments;
- Pathological processes in the thyroid gland;
- Acute insufficiency of blood supply to the myocardium;
- In the presence of abscesses and cystic formations;
- Destructive processes in the area of the 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 best to make an appointment with an experienced specialist for an accurate diagnosis of the disease.
It is important to note that discomfort in the front of the neck can occur when the nerve roots are compressed and with pathological changes in the intervertebral discs.
Causes of pain in the back of the neck
One of the most frequently asked questions among modern people goes like this: "What to do if the neck hurts from behind? " Indeed, physical inactivity, prolonged use of the computer, the presence of addictions, the reluctance to practice a style of healthy life - all this can lead to pathological disorders in the vertebrae and, as a result, provoke the appearance of pain in the neck.
Therefore, if your neck hurts from behind and you do not know what to do with unpleasant manifestations, we recommend that you first of all contact an experienced vertebrologist or manualist. 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 the intervertebral discs, as well as a decrease in their strength and height;
- Boss. We are talking about the protrusion of the intervertebral disc, which increases the likelihood of pinching the arteries and nerve roots;
- Spinal disc herniation. In the absence of timely therapeutic measures, the nucleus pulposus can increase and penetrate the spinal canal. In this case, the spinal cord and nerve roots are compressed. In the 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 in the spine;
- spondylosis. We are talking about a disorder in which pathological bone growths appear in the extreme part of the vertebrae. In this case, flattening of the intervertebral discs occurs, which can gradually provoke pathological connections of the neighboring vertebrae and a decrease in motor activity in the neck;
- Myofascial syndrome. A pathological process characterized by the appearance of spasms in the muscle tissue and, as a result, the onset of an acute pain syndrome during the period of movement;
- Compression fractures. This process occurs in the area of the vertebrae in the elderly. It occurs as a result of whiplash or as a result of osteoporosis, and represents a serious danger to the human body;
- Ankylosing spondylitis. It is accompanied by pathological fusion 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, the pain in the side of the neck is throbbing or tingling. In addition, the pain can radiate to the ear or shoulder joint, which often leads to a curvature of the neck towards the injury. Similar situations occur in the presence of the following ailments:
- Vascular pathologies, including the deposition of cholesterol on the inner walls of blood vessels;
- Muscle spasms, which occur due to excessive stress on the neck, exposure to thermal factors or a sharp change in the position of the head;
- The presence of malignant formations in the larynx, pharynx or thyroid gland.
Neck Pain Diagnosis
So, to understand what to do if the neck hurts, first of all, one should find out the etiology of the origin of the disease. The most common cause of discomfort is a pathological process in the cervical vertebrae. That is why, when the first unpleasant symptoms occur, it is recommended to visit a vertebrologist, neurologist or manualist.
After listening to 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 can also understand the cause of the discomfort that has arisen.
However, it is precisely the pathological changes in the spine that most often provoke the onset of the aforementioned disorder. In fact, even minor pathologies in the vertebral region can cause disturbances 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 case of disorders in the cervical region, the muscles of the neck and shoulder region, as well as the ENT organs and the thyroid gland, are affected. The intensity of the pain syndrome depends on the degree of development of the disease.
Therefore, if you have pain in the back of the head and neck, before looking for a way out, what to do, you should carry out a full diagnosis. During it, the following activities are carried out:
- A blood test is performed;
- An ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland, cervical vessels and salivary glands is performed;
- A blood test is done for the presence of thyroid hormones;
- X-ray of the cervical spine is performed;
- Electromyography is prescribed;
- magnetic resonance;
- CT.
In this case, the most informative diagnostic method is magnetic resonance imaging. In the course of it, it is possible to carry out a detailed analysis of the state of the intervertebral discs, study the state of the blood supply organs and identify symptoms of compression of the spinal roots. Thanks to this method, it is possible to judge in advance the presence of a particular ailment, in its initial stages of development, which significantly increases the effectiveness of future therapeutic measures.
Neck pain treatment
To understand what to do if the left, front or back side of the neck hurts, it is necessary to take into account the individual points, which include the intensity of the pain syndrome, the severity of existing changes, the presence of chronic pathologies and the corresponding expert opinion. In addition, different therapeutic measures may be recommended to patients with the same type of ailments, since 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 specific way of what to do to correct 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 their causes.
Key components of the treatment provided include:
- The use of drugs;
- Manual treatment;
- osteopathy;
- Massage procedures;
- The use of physiotherapeutic methods;
- Visit to a rehabilitation specialist.
Also, when a pathological process is detected in the region of the cervical vertebrae, the patient must correct his usual way of life. For example, employees and drivers are encouraged to introduce regular physical workouts and to change body positions more frequently during the working day.
You should also enrich your diet with healthy foods. This will speed up the body's recovery process.
Neck pain medications
The nature of the drugs prescribed depends on the diagnosis and the presence of chronic diseases. Below we provide a list of medications recommended for most patients when diagnosing such ailment:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They have a powerful anesthetic effect, relieve inflammation;
- Corticosteroid hormones. Helps cope with inflammation in situations where non-steroidal drugs are inactive;
- The use of drugs that eliminate muscle spasms, which can significantly reduce the intensity of the pain syndrome;
- A group of drugs, the main components of which are glycosaminoglycans (chondroprotectors). Promotes the regeneration of cartilage tissue, has greater efficiency in the early stages of spinal diseases;
- Vitamin D. Promotes the restoration of brain function, improves the condition of the skeletal system;
- Vitamins of group B. They allow to improve the process of transmission of impulses from the spinal cord to internal systems, as well as to normalize their normal functioning;
- Antibacterial drugs, antihypertensive drugs, hormonal drugs, etc.
In case of painful manifestations of significant intensity, a solution is injected into the area of the nerve endings on the neck, which contains an anesthetic drug and a corticosteroid hormone. However, during the implementation of the blockade, there is a possibility of nerve injuries and infections, which require high professional training by a specialist.
Manual neck treatment
One of the most effective methods of eliminating neck pain and the reasons that provoked their appearance is manual therapy. The method is based on a direct effect on the spine and neighboring tissues. The key difference between this procedure and therapeutic massage is the ability to train not only the muscles of the neck and back, but also to affect the spine.
With the implementation of manual treatment by a competent specialist, it is possible to achieve a noticeable improvement in the patient's condition after the first procedures. It is possible to achieve a healing effect due to:
- Bring the vertebrae into the correct position and restore the axis of the spine;
- Expansion of the intervertebral space and release of crushed vessels and roots. This allows you to normalize the functioning of the internal systems of the body, in particular the brain;
- Relief of muscle spasms and neck stiffness, which can reduce the intensity of pain
- Restoration of blood supply to tissues.
Physiotherapy treatment for neck pain
The key objective of physiotherapeutic procedures is to increase the effectiveness of the implemented therapeutic measures. It occurs only outside the exacerbation phase. With a competent professional approach, physiotherapy has a pronounced analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect, and also allows you to improve blood flow in the tissues and restore muscle tone.
Most often, the patient is advised to take courses that include 10-15 sessions. These include:
- Ultrasound method;
- Use of laser radiation;
- Exposure to the affected area with constant electric current in combination with the administration of medicinal substances;
- Shock wave therapy;
- Traction of the spine;
- Mud treatment, etc.
The number of procedures and the frequency of their implementation are determined on an individual basis. Separate influencing methods can be performed simultaneously, the rest must be performed at specified intervals.
Action of shock wave therapy for neck pain
You should refuse the possibility of any self-medication, as this can not only worsen your condition, but also lead to irreversible consequences. For example, if the neck hurts from behind the base or a pinched nerve, it is best to contact an experienced specialist in a proven clinic.
In good clinics, modern and effective methods of treatment are implemented, thanks to which each 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 high-level specialists in medical procedures, you can count on a reliable and long-term result.
The implemented course of shock wave therapy will allow you to quickly stop the pain syndrome, cope with the causes of the disease and eliminate the likelihood of complications in the bone tissue and muscle area. You will be able to feel a noticeable improvement in your condition already after the first shock wave exposure procedure.
Physiotherapy exercises for neck pain
If the neck hurts after sleep or it hurts to turn the head, an obligatory stage of treatment, along with other methods, is physical therapy. Since the cause of cervical spine pain is often excessive muscle tension and concomitant degenerative-dystrophic changes of the vertebrae, physical therapy should be performed on a daily basis.
For each patient, the physical therapy program is compiled individually. In this case, the individual characteristics of the organism, the age factor, the severity of the ailments and the degree of physical fitness of a person are taken into account. The participation of a rehabilitation physician in the development of the above program is mandatory. In this case, the patient must avoid overloads and sudden movements.
Preventive actions
To prevent the occurrence of neck pain, first of all, the patient should pay attention to the organization of his working day. If his work involves a long stay in one position, then a prerequisite for maintaining health is periodic performance of gymnastics. Obesity is often the cause of pathological conditions in the cervical spine. This suggests the need to introduce proper nutrition, going to the gym and exercising in the pool. When sleeping at night it is necessary to use a special orthopedic mattress.