Neck pain is a common symptom that everyone has encountered at least once in their life. It may indicate a disease of the internal organs, stretching of muscles and ligaments, or occur in the context of hypothermia. If your neck hurts, get 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 several reasons. If your neck hurts, you need to see a doctor
Why do adults have neck pain?
Pain in the neck region is divided into 2 types:
- cirvicalgia - a spasm occurs in one place, is characterized by a gradual course and varying degrees of intensity;
- cervicago - manifested by unexpected pain with sudden head movements or prolonged stay in one position.
Doctors identify the following causes of neck pain:
- Cervical osteochondrosis. The disease develops with a sedentary lifestyle and inadequate diet. Patients complain that the neck and head hurt from behind, there is tinnitus and dizziness, it is difficult to turn the neck, the movements are accompanied by a clicking sound.
- Disc herniation. With such pathology, the neck on the left side aches, the disc protrudes, causing pain in the lower back. A hernia can be cured with vacuum therapy and acupressure.
- Crick. After intense physical exertion, the person may experience a sharp pain in the neck. The affected area swells, it becomes impossible to turn the head, increases the risk of fainting. To alleviate the condition, the patient is given an anesthetic, a hot or cold compress is applied, and the stretched area is massaged.
- Cervical spondylosis. A dangerous disease that often leads to disability. It is often diagnosed in traumatized athletes or in the elderly. They complain that the neck and back of their neck are constantly aching and feel discomfort when turning their head. To relieve inflammation and pain, it is necessary to take medication, physiotherapy in combination with physiotherapy exercises to restore work capacity.
- Cervical myelopathy. It develops after the spinal cord channel narrows. the person feels weakness and pain in the neck. Your speech slows down and movement coordination is impaired. The cause of the condition could be a traffic accident or a fall from a height. The patient is instructed to undergo physical therapy, wear a soft collar and do strengthening exercises.
- Cervical injuries. Occurs after a fall, accident or fight. It is accompanied by sharp pain in any area of the neck. With a whiplash injury, ligaments are damaged, which leads to the loss of cervical lordosis and the bulging head position. Treatment can last from 1 to six months.
- Cervical spine injury. A person notices that their 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. In rubella or sore throat, the lymph nodes in the neck expand and ache.
- Diseases of the internal organs. If the pain syndrome occurs in the right hypochondrium and the neck aches in the right side, the cause may be cholecystitis. If your neck hurts and you spill whiskey in the morning, this is a symptom of high blood pressure. With angina pectoris and myocardial infarction, the neck and arms ache. Neck cramps and frontal pain can signal an oesophageal and thyroid disorder. Nerve damage is observed in case of poisoning by toxic substances. With severe pain in the cervical spine, it is possible to increase blood pressure. If the neck on the right hurts and is impossible to move, these are signs of meningitis. In laryngitis and pharyngitis, pain can be localized to either the right or 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 under the jaw, it could signal a fracture, osteomyelitis of the jaw, or temporomandibular joint dysfunction. With a broken jaw, the patient feels a severe 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 Sore Throat in a Child
In a child, neck pain can occur for these reasons:
- Excessive muscle strain or sprains during sports.
- Pain after a fall or car accident.
- An uncomfortable position while sleeping or sitting at 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 disease. The condition usually spreads through tick bites, so it is necessary to check for signs of neck bite outdoors.
Pain medications are prescribed to treat neck pain and inflammation in children. Applying a thermal pad to your neck for 20 minutes will help reduce muscle spasm. In addition, the child should sleep with a towel around the neck or a padded collar to avoid frequent head movements.
Diagnosis
To determine why the muscles in the neck hurt, the doctor performs a palpation test, after which additional test methods are used:
- radiography;
- 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 otolaryngologist and a dentist. In addition to the x-ray, the patient must have a blood test to identify the source of the infection.
drug treatment
When the neck hurts a lot with osteochondrosis, the doctor prescribes a complex therapy, which includes a special diet, a series of exercises, medications and preventive measures. To relieve pain and treat the disease, the following groups of medications 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 variety of ways. In acute complications, nerve block will be necessary. There are several types of blocks: intraosseous, paravertebral, facet and epidural. They all help to alleviate tonic muscle syndrome.
In combination with medications, it is helpful to perform physical therapy procedures. They relieve pain and increase the therapeutic effect of medications. The most effective procedures are considered magnetotherapy, laser therapy and treatment with low frequency currents. To correct posture and strengthen the ligament apparatus, kinesiotherapy and physiotherapy exercises are prescribed. If you exercise regularly, metabolic processes will normalize, the location of the vertebrae and discs will be restored, the load will be evenly distributed in the musculoskeletal system.
The principle of the osteochondrosis diet is to add to the diet foods that contain large amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants to improve metabolic processes. Meals must be divided, up to 6 times a day.
It is recommended to include the following products in the menu:
- lean meat and fish;
- fresh fruits and vegetables;
- fermented dairy and dairy products;
- cereals;
- nuts;
- seeds;
- mushrooms;
- olive oil.
It is advisable to steam, boil or roast the dishes. The consumption of farinaceous products, spices, smoked meats, canned foods, saturated meat broths, confectionery and fruits with a high sugar content should also be limited.
Important!It is necessary to replace strong black tea with herbal decoctions, unsweetened fruit juices and dried fruit jams. Completely limit alcohol and carbonated beverages.
Permanent pain often makes the patient irritable, so the doctor prescribes sedatives and antidepressants. If your left neck hurts, you can relieve the symptom with a warm warm pillow or by wrapping a scarf around your neck.
For cervical myelopathy, decongestants and anti-inflammatory drugs are used. If the nerve endings are compressed, injections of steroid hormones will be necessary. When an infectious agent is detected in the body, antibiotics are included in the course of treatment.
Observation!In cervical ischemic myelopathy, the use of neuroprotectors and medications with a vasodilating effect is effective.
If a patient is diagnosed with cervical spondylosis, then anti-inflammatory and chondroprotective drugs are prescribed. With intense pain, analgesics are used, with severe muscle spasms, muscle relaxants. Manual therapy and gentle massage are also indicated. With an acute pain syndrome, blockages of the affected areas are recommended. In combination with medications, it is useful to perform physiotherapeutic procedures - novocaine electrophoresis, ultrasound treatment, and special physiotherapy exercise complexes.
complications
If the neck hurts due to osteochondrosis, inadequate treatment or its absence can lead to serious complications:
- intervertebral hernia;
- kyphosis;
- intervertebral disc protrusion;
- radiculitis;
- salt deposits in the spine;
- spinal effusion;
- circulatory disorders;
- amyotrophy;
- paralysis of the lower extremities.
Prophylaxis
To prevent neck pain, a number of guidelines should be followed:
- Avoid hypothermia.
- Quit smoking.
- Correct weight.
- Perform physiotherapy exercises daily.
- Take a contrast shower.
- Visit the pool.
- Don't shake the weights.
- Monitor 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 to sleep on.
- Wear comfortable shoes to reduce stress on your spine.
- Walking barefoot on uneven surfaces in summer to strengthen the foot muscles and relieve tension in the musculoskeletal system.
- Stick to proper nutrition.
- Take massage courses.
- Learn relaxation methods with greater anxiety and emotion.