Neck pain can be painful for many reasons. In most cases, in order to choose the right painkiller, you must first identify the causes of pain and muscle tension. Both medications and folk remedies help to relieve neck pain quickly.
Neck structure
The neck includes the following:
- cervical spine,
- muscles,
- packages,
- larynx,
- thyroid gland.
There are seven vertebrae in the cervical spine. The cervical vertebra is not large compared to the rest of the spine. Like everyone else, it consists of processes involving the closure of the body and muscles and ligaments.
Between the vertebrae - discs with an outer hard part of fibrous fibers and an inner, soft pulp nucleus that provides shock absorption to the spinal cord.
Causes of neck pain
Traumatic injury
It can be obtained in an accident or traffic accident, while playing sports, when the head falls down. In the process of rapid movement of the cervical spine with a sudden braking, "lash symptom" occurs, which can lead to sprains of ligaments and muscles, compression fractures, dislocation of the cervical discs.
Weak posture
Prolonged work in a monotonous position, sleeping on an uncomfortable or overly soft pillow, and long-term static stress are factors that predispose. As a result, a bend occurs, the head begins to move relative to the body, and the neck ligaments and muscles begin to experience increasing tension.
Spinal osteochondrosis
In osteochondrosis, there is a flattening of the trophism of the disc and changes in the surrounding tissues. As a result, there is a decrease in cushioning function and pain in the neck.
Osteochondrosis can be caused by an unhealthy diet, back injuries, increased physical activity, unfavorable environment, chronic stress, sedentary lifestyle, bad habits. In addition, there is a genetic predisposition.
Osteochondrosis causes pain, dizziness and fainting in the neck, shoulders and arms. Hearing, vision, memory impairment. "Vertebral artery syndrome" - flickering flies in front of the eyes, tinnitus. Coordination and gait instability are impaired.
protruding or torn disc
This is the name of the disc coming out of the spine. With a hernia, the outer ring is destroyed by moving the central part in any direction - sideways, backwards or forwards.
The most difficult pathology is the internal displacement of the nucleus - it can cause damage to the spinal cord. With age, osteochondrosis of the spine can join the hernia. All of the above factors can be the cause of a hernia, but also include heavy bags, scoliosis, flat feet, and age-related changes in the body.
Symptoms are the same as osteochondrosis, along with pressure instability, insomnia, weakness in the hands, and numbness of the fingers.
Ischemic heart disease - heart attack, angina
With this pathology, radiating pain in the neck, as well as independent pain in the neck and lower jaw are possible. As a rule, they are combined with other symptoms 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 symptoms of spinal cord compression. Benign tumors (neurinoma, hemangioma) have the most regular round shape and a clear border.
Cervical pain is mild. There is concern about compression of tissues, mainly by a growing tumor. Malignant (lymphogranulomatosis, sarcoma, thyroid cancer) has virtually no borders and metastasizes to neighboring tissues.
Tissue destruction causes pain and worsens the general condition. Pain in the front of the neck occurs with tumors of the oral cavity, larynx, thyroid gland. Along with the pain, there are difficulties with swallowing, phonation disorders, swelling of the face and neck.
In a bone tumor, the spinal cord and nerve roots are often damaged, resulting in paralysis.
Neck myositis
Appears after hypothermia or prolonged muscle tension. 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 depths of the spine involved in neck movements.
Palpation reveals muscular hypertension and sometimes stiff, painful nodules. Chronic myositis leads to disruption of blood supply, trophism and replacement of muscle cells (myocytes) with connective tissue.
This causes pain and weakness in the neck muscles, with the appearance of torticollis, which disrupts the symmetrical function of the muscles at the edge of the spine: the inability to keep the head upright.
Other diseases that cause neck pain
Spondylolisthesis: one vertebra "slides" to another with a disc trap.
Bechterew's disease - ankylosing spondylitis.
Meningitis. Hypertonicity and stiffness of the neck muscles cause severe back pain in the neck when trying to bow.
How to relieve neck pain with medication
First you need to determine the cause of your neck pain. In any case, limit your mobility. In case of injury - to immobilize the injured part and take the patient to the trauma center.
If you have ischemic disease, call an ambulance and stop the pain with sublingual vasodilators, try to calm the patient.
If meningitis is likely - contact a sick person - call an ambulance. But in all cases - to stop the pain alone. Do not heat the wound!
There is a good effect of taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - acetic acid. It also reduces morning stiffness and has an antiplatelet effect - prevents erythrocytes from sticking together.
Propionic acid derivatives also help reduce pain. They are less toxic and are well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract with a sufficient range of action.
Tablets - an option for changing suppositories.
If your neck, shoulders and arms hurt
Gels are useful for treating shoulder and arm pain.
Relieve neck pain and tension during muscle spasms
It is good to give muscle relaxants along with analgesics to relieve existing muscle spasms.
External remedies for severe neck pain
In cervical osteochondrosis or other diseases, local therapy to relieve neck pain is no longer necessary - to use various rubs and compresses.
How to relieve neck pain with folk remedies
Tie a whole cabbage or burdock leaf around your neck.
Mix 50 ml of horseradish root juice with the same amount of vodka. Rub or apply compresses.
Use previously installed and activated carbon kerosene as a heating agent for grinding.
Make a honey cake from honey and flour, pull it to a painful place.
Use whole honey for grinding, you can - in half with aloe juice.
The mixture obtained by mixing equal amounts of radish juice, honey and vodka is used for grinding.
Use an infusion of chamomile or calendula for compresses on the neck. Grind horsadad root, add a little water, apply to the wound.
Add hot pepper, ammonia or honey to the medicine. Use for compresses.