The neck is an important part of the body. From there, lymphatic vessels, large nerves, arteries, and the spinal cord pass. Neck pain can be a sign of various medical conditions. Prolonged discomfort indicates a serious pathology.
Assortments
Unpleasant feelings can manifest themselves as neck pain or lumbago. Cervicago is an acute syndrome that prevents you from turning your head. Neck pain - cervical. Occurs:
- Superficial somatic. Occurs when the skin is damaged.
- Deep somatic. Appears when muscles and vertebrae are affected.
- Visceral. It appears as a sign of an infectious disease or pathology of the internal organs.
If the pain in the neck covers the adjacent areas, they are diagnosed with either cervicobrachial (cervicobrachial syndrome) or cervicocranial (the discomfort covers the back of the head and then the whole head).
Causes
Anxiety is often caused by muscle cramps or muscle tension. They occur for the following reasons:
- hypothermia;
- sharp turn of the head;
- stay in the same position for a long time;
- muscle overload during work.
The anxiety caused by these factors does not require complex treatment. As a rule, they go by themselves in 1-3 weeks.
If there is severe anxiety, numbness, the patient suffers from dizziness, impaired mobility, the causes of the disease may be more serious. It is necessary to consult a specialist.
Acute pain syndrome is observed in the following cases:
- problems with the spine: bruises, soft tissue damage;
- inflammatory and infectious diseases;
- radiculitis;
- herniated intervertebral discs;
- curvature of the spine in the cervical spine;
- osteochondrosis, osteoarthritis;
- neurological diseases;
- fibromyalgia;
- oncology.
Pain syndrome can vary depending on the disease and its severity. A number of pathological symptoms may be suspected.
Causes of pain instead
The localization of unpleasant feelings is an important factor that allows you to accurately diagnose the problem during the initial examination. After determining the cause, the degree of damage is determined using other methods.
Pain in the front of the neck
Unpleasant sensations under the chin or along the entire front of the neck can indicate a number of pathologies. The list is impressive:
- inflammation of the lymph nodes;
- angina pectoris;
- cysts and abscesses;
- inflammation of muscles, ligaments and nerves;
- pathology of the thyroid gland.
It is not possible to independently determine which disease has this symptom. The cause of the pain may also be compression of blood vessels or nerves by a deformed intervertebral disc.
A set of programs aimed at eliminating diseases without surgery and pills has been developed. 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 painful, sharp or cramping pain in the neck. They occur due to low physical activity, constant work on the computer. Anxiety can be a sign of the following diseases:
- osteochondrosis - changes in the structure of the intervertebral discs;
- protrusion of intervertebral discs (protrusion);
- intervertebral hernia;
- spondylosis - bone growth on the vertebrae;
- muscle spasms;
- fractures of the vertebrae as a result of whiplash or osteoporosis.
Low back pain is a non-standard symptom and is associated with spinal tuberculosis, osteomyelitis, Reiter's syndrome.
Pain syndrome in the lateral surfaces of the neck
Anxiety in these areas is manifested by burning, throbbing pain, sometimes accompanied by a tingling sensation. Unpleasant feeling extends to the right or left shoulder or ear. Sometimes it is accompanied by the appearance of secondary torticollis due to constant bending of the head to the affected side.
This symptom is characteristic of the following pathologies:
- vascular problems, atherosclerosis;
- muscle spasm due to sudden dizziness, hypothermia or physical exertion;
- malignant formations localized in the larynx, thyroid gland, pharynx.
In the early stages of rheumatoid arthritis, the pain can spread to the cervical region, the back of the head, and the scalp. Strengthen as you turn your head or bend your neck.
Symptoms
Anxiety can rarely be the result of a restless posture or awkward head movements during sleep. No special treatment is required. It is recommended to exercise, take light rubs, take hot baths, use orthopedic mattresses and pillows to relieve discomfort. However, there are situations where you need to consult a neurologist or chiropractor urgently.
The alarming signs are:
- rigidity of movements;
- the duration of painful sensations is more than 1-2 days;
- appearance of pain in the shoulder, arm;
- frequent headaches accompanied by dizziness, especially in the back of the head;
- congruence of fingers, hands.
If you have an injury to your neck, head or back and the pain in these areas is a constant concern, you should seek help.
How to relieve neck pain with osteochondrosis
In case of severe pain, it is necessary to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or use a gel, cream with anti-inflammatory effect. You need to rub the product where you feel pain and numbness. If the pain intensifies when you turn your head, you should limit movement. Do not make sudden head movements. Do not load the arm for shoulder pain. It is possible to use painkillers that have a warming effect.
All these tips will help relieve pain in 1-2 days. However, complete treatment of osteochondrosis is needed to prevent recurrent attacks. There are both the most modern and long-established methods of treatment: UHT therapy, kinesitherapy, therapeutic massage, acupuncture, osteopathy, manual therapy, taping.
Diagnostics
The neurologist first treats neck pain. At the reception, the specialist listens to the patient's complaints and examines them. Identifies the cause of the problem. It often deviates from the norm of the spine. These changes are the cause of the development of concomitant diseases of the internal organs.
Each segment of the spinal cord is responsible for the functioning of a specific organ. When the position of the vertebrae changes or the height of the intervertebral discs decreases, the transmission of nerve impulses from the spinal cord to the internal organs is disrupted.
If the problem is in the cervical spine, the ENT organs, vocal cords, thyroid and parathyroid glands, neck muscles or forearms are affected. These are. more often, both spinal problems and diseases of the internal organs are diagnosed. Therefore, it is recommended to be examined by a chiropractor for neck pain. If other diseases are found, additional examination by narrow specialists: cardiologist, endocrinologist, otorhinolaryngologist.
A patient complaining of discomfort in the cervical spine undergoes a comprehensive diagnosis. The list of procedures includes the following:
- blood test: general and biochemical;
- blood test for thyroid hormone levels;
- computed tomography of the cervical spine;
- magnetic resonance imaging of the neck;
- Ultrasound examination of the neck vessels, salivary glands, thyroid gland with USDG.
With the help of MRI, a specialist examines the condition of the intervertebral discs in detail. The method allows to detect diseases at an early stage. The doctor will assess the condition of blood flow. If there is compression of the spinal cord and its roots, you will see them in the picture.
Treatment of cervical spine pathology
After the diagnosis, the doctor develops individual treatment tactics for each patient. Takes into account the severity of changes in the affected area, accompanying diseases, age and level of physical development. A number of measures are taken to eliminate the symptoms and causes of pathology.
Physiotherapy
The sessions are conducted using modern apparatus and equipment for shock wave therapy. With the help of these procedures, swelling and inflammation are eliminated, and blood flow to the affected area is improved. After a course of UHT-therapy, the elasticity of ligaments and tendons is restored, and metabolism is accelerated.
Find out
This method of manual therapy relieves pain and restores damaged muscles. Special bandages with thermal coating are used. They are carefully fixed to the damaged part of the body.
Manual therapy
It is performed using several methods for pathologies of the cervical spine. The session begins with a soothing massage with increasing kneading rate. The effect is felt after 1 procedure. After the course, the vertebrae return to the anatomically correct position, muscle spasms are eliminated. Blood circulation improves, soft tissues are restored.
Acupuncture
The procedure is indicated for various diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The effect on the biologically active points of the body allows to eliminate neck and weakness pain, increase blood supply in this area.
Mass therapy
Auxiliary therapy is effective for osteochondrosis and other diseases of the spine. Anxiety, swelling, spasms, fatigue are eliminated after the procedure. Blood flow, well-being and emotional state of the patient improve. Local or general massage is prescribed. Techniques are selected individually for each specific case.
Kinesitherapy
Exercise therapy and special decompression simulators are prescribed to strengthen the muscle corset. During the procedure, the load is removed from the spine and the risk of cartilage wear is minimized. The large hall is equipped with additional equipment for training - rolls, balls. The exercises are led by doctors and experienced instructors.