There is no adult who has never felt neck pain in their life. Every fourth woman and every sixth man experiences this constantly. A sedentary lifestyle and time spent in front of the computer worsen the problem. Neck pain can also occur due to osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint and any other disease in this area, in the upper back and arms or the back of the head. In this article you will learn everything about neck pain and how to eliminate it.
Causes of neck pain
The most common causes are the following diseases:
- Cervical osteochondrosis, complicated by protrusion or hernia of intervertebral discs. The most common and important cause of neck pain. The pain is associated with compression of the spinal nerve roots by partially or completely destroyed intervertebral discs. The pain is very strong, sudden, and can be located only in the neck (on one or both sides) or radiate to other areas - head, back of the neck, arm, back, under the shoulder blade, etc. of pain therapy, restoration of the cartilaginous tissue of the discs and strengthening of the neck muscles. Sometimes these patients need the help of a neurosurgeon to remove the destroyed disc.
- Ankylosing spondylitis (rheumatoid spondylitis, ankylosing spondylitis) is an autoimmune inflammatory process in the joints of the cervical spine. The disease usually develops gradually and imperceptibly, spreading along the spine, from bottom to top. The cervical region is the last to be affected. It manifests itself as pain in the neck, stiffness of movement, which disappears after the start of physical activity. Over time, the pain intensifies and the spine becomes immobile. Long-term treatment with a rheumatologist will help.
- Osteoarthritis of the joints of the cervical spine (uncovered arthrosis). The cause of pain in the neck and back of the head in this case is degenerative-dystrophic changes in the small joints that connect the cervical vertebrae. It often has a professional origin, develops when working in a stationary state with the head bent or forcibly turned, or after suffering injuries. Symptoms: pain at the site of the injury, radiating to the shoulder and clicking sounds when moving, sometimes headaches, dizziness, high or low blood pressure, hearing impairment. Treatment by a neurologist and rheumatologist.
- Torticollis is a change in the position of the neck that prevents head rotation and other movements. It can be congenital (in children) and acquired (in adults) after injuries, against the background of rough scars on the skin, persistent spasm of the cervical and occipital muscles during degenerative-dystrophic and inflammatory processes in the spine and surrounding soft tissues. Symptoms: tilt of the head and raised shoulder on the affected side, pain in the neck and back of the head when trying to tilt the head in the opposite direction. Pain increases with physical activity and stress. Treatment can be conservative (for spasms) or surgical, carried out by an orthopedic surgeon or traumatologist.
- Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is associated with irritation of the nerve endings in muscles, which leads to spasm and pain.
Clinical anatomy of the neck
In the case of degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the spine, as well as arthritis of the facet joints (between individual vertebrae), bony growths or swollen soft tissues can compress the vertebral artery, which leads to impaired blood supply to the brain, headaches and dizziness . Pain can also be a result of compression of the spinal roots that extend from the spinal cord. Along the brachial nerve plexus, this pain radiates into the arm.
First aid for neck pain – what to do
Neck pain may increase gradually, but sometimes it appears acutely, suddenly in the form of low back pain radiating to other areas. It is difficult to bear so much suffering. What to do, how to get rid of them?
Pills and ointments for neck pain
Emergency self-help algorithm:
- Take a sedative - panic only aggravates the situation; you can take: 20 drops of tranquilizer or a tablet with the substance levomenthol solution in menthyl isovalerate under the tongue; These medications not only soothe but also dilate blood vessels, which in turn helps reduce muscle spasm and associated pain; You can also take 1 to 2 tablets of valerian extract or any other sedative you have on hand.
- Take painkillers (optional).
- To get rid of severe pain, you can use external pain relievers: ointments, gels, patches.
Exercises for neck pain
If the pain is not very strong, is painful in nature and is combined with stiffness, you can try to get rid of it with the help of exercises. They need to be performed smoothly, without making sudden movements. An approximate set of exercises that relieve pain:
- initial position (IP) – lying on your back, head supported on a flat pillow; Press your head tightly against the pillow and hold for a count of 5; pause and repeat; do 5 – 7 approaches;
- IP - lying on the left side, head supported on a flat pillow; raise your head and keep it in this position until you count to 5; take a short break and then at least five approaches;
- IP - lying on your side on the right; repeat the previous exercise on the right side;
- IP - lying face down, hands crossed behind the head; raise your head, resisting with your hands; each approach – 5 seconds with a small break, repeat 5 – 7 times.
It is contraindicated to relieve severe acute pain with exercise.
In these cases, it is best to keep the neck still, using, for example, a Shants collar. But prolonged immobilization leads to weakening of the muscular corset and aggravation of the situation. Therefore, the Shants collar can be used to reduce pain before consulting a doctor. Only a specialist can determine the duration of immobilization.
After completely or partially eliminating the pain syndrome on your own, you need to consult a doctor, otherwise it will return and it will be very difficult to alleviate it.
Exercises for neck pain
What not to do if you have neck pain
If you often experience neck pain, remember that you should not:
- staying in a forced position for a long time with a tense neck - a painful muscle spasm develops;
- lifting weights, performing heavy work - microtrauma occurs in the spine with the tissues close to it, gradual destruction of cartilaginous and bone structures;
- often exposed to stress - they are accompanied by vascular spasms, which negatively affects blood circulation and the condition of the spine;
- smoking, frequent alcohol consumption – contributes to persistent vasoconstriction;
- hypothermia - muscles located near the spine become inflamed, myositis develops;
- sleeping on a high, soft pillow means staying in an uncomfortable static position for a long time;
- make sharp turns of the head - sudden compression of the nerve and the appearance of severe pain are possible.
When you need to see a doctor urgently
Do not hesitate to seek medical help if:
- neck pain occurs regularly and is not always completely relieved with painkillers;
- you have experienced a painful attack for the first time or have experienced it repeatedly, when any movement brings great suffering;
- pain syndrome is accompanied by general disorders: fever, chills, etc. ;
- suddenly there was a short-lasting sharp pain in the neck on the left, radiating to the arm, shoulder blade or back of the head - a sign of acute circulatory disorder in the heart muscle area (angina attack);
- Sudden attacks of headache and dizziness appeared, sometimes with loss of consciousness - a sign of compression of the vertebral artery.
If these symptoms appear, there is no point in treating yourself: this will only make the problem worse. No folk remedies or grandmother's advice will help.
Only a doctor can help alleviate pain by developing an individual treatment plan based on examination and establishing an accurate diagnosis. If you have doubts about which doctor to see, go for an appointment with a therapist, he will understand the situation and, if necessary, will refer you to another specialist.
Types of neck pain and how to deal with it
Pain syndrome can manifest itself in different ways: only on one side of the neck or anywhere, locally or radiate to other parts of the body. Let's try to figure out what indicates the appearance of pain and what to do in each specific case.
Severe neck pain due to coronavirus and ARVI
Any viral infections can be accompanied by neck pain. This is due to intoxication caused by the infectious agent. After the person recovers, these symptoms disappear.
But in some people, a few days or weeks after a viral infection, the pain syndrome reappears, sometimes accompanied by swelling in the spine and stiffness of movement (the head has difficulty turning from side to side) in the morning.
This condition requires immediate examination as it may be associated with autoimmune processes in the facet joints (connecting vertebrae) of the spine.
Coronavirus infection has a serious impact on the immune system, causing several disturbances in its functioning. If a person has a predisposition to an autoimmune process (close relatives who suffer from these diseases), it is quite possible that a viral infection will serve as the starting point (trigger) for its appearance. What to do: see a therapist or rheumatologist.
Severe neck pain and fever
If severe pain in the neck appears suddenly and is accompanied by a fever, this indicates the presence of an acute inflammatory process:
- viral infection or exacerbation of some chronic inflammatory process (bronchitis, sinusitis, etc. ) - in this case, the disease is also accompanied by catarrhal symptoms - cough and runny nose; what to do: if the pain is not very severe and the temperature is not high, you can wait to see a doctor; the persistence of pain after recovery should be a reason to see a doctor;
- bacterial purulent inflammatory processes - abscesses, phlegmons; what to do: consult a surgeon, as symptoms can only be eliminated through surgery;
- autoimmune process in the joints of the cervical spine; the first symptoms appear a few days or weeks after the acute inflammatory process, there are no catarrhal symptoms; what to do: consult a doctor immediately; self-medication is contraindicated.
Severe pain in the neck, radiating to the head
Sometimes, there is sharp and sudden pain in the neck, in the spinal region, radiating to the head (cervicocranialgia), associated with pinching of the spinal roots that extend from the 1st and 2nd cervical vertebrae (C1 - C2) with transmission of pain to the nerve trigeminal, whose nuclei are located in the upper sections of the spinal cord. This is called radicular pain syndrome, it can be very strong and quite long-lasting. What to do: For self-help, you can take a painkiller tablet and apply an anesthetic patch to the painful area.
If the pain does not go away, call an ambulance, the doctor can temporarily relieve the pain. But after removing them, you should definitely consult a neurologist.
Severe pain in the neck and back of the head may be the result of compression of the vertebral artery. In these cases, it is usually accompanied by dizziness and fainting, as the brain suffers from a lack of oxygen.
Similar pain can occur with high blood pressure (BP). The attack is accompanied by nausea and vomiting. What to do: pain in the neck and back of the head is dangerous, so if it appears, you need to call an ambulance.
Neck and shoulders hurt
Neck pain can radiate to the shoulders. Typically, neck and shoulder pain is associated with muscle spasms and tension when the neurovascular bundle between the scalene muscles is compressed. Morning stiffness appears, due to constant pain, the head is in a forced position: it is slightly tilted forward and towards the affected side. If a blood vessel is also compressed, dizziness, darkening of the eyes and fainting may occur. Irradiation of pain from the neck to the shoulders is also characteristic of osteochondrosis and arthrosis of the joints of the 5-6 vertebrae (C5-C6). When the pathological focus is located at C5, the pain radiates along the outer anterior surface of the shoulder, so that the patient cannot move the arm to the side.
What to do: you cannot tolerate these symptoms; you cannot cure them alone; it is necessary to consult a neurologist.
Neck pain on the right or left side
If your neck hurts on one side:
- very strong sudden attack– sign of violation of the spinal roots on the right or left side; A patch with lidocaine can help, but it is a temporary measure, you need to see a neurologist;
- sudden, short but sharp paroxysmal pain in the left neck– may be a symptom of angina pectoris; if these symptoms reappear, you will need to seek help from a therapist or cardiologist;
- aching pain on the left or right side– often develops with prolonged tense position of the head due to spasm of the neck muscles; To relieve spasms, use analgesic ointments and patches; When painful muscle spasms appear, you need to monitor your posture and avoid work in which your head is in a static, tense position for a long time.
What to do: If you experience constant or recurring pain on the right or left side of your neck, it's best to start by seeing a therapist.
Severe back and neck pain
Painful sensations in the back, transmitted to the neck, are usually a consequence of osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic spine. There is a gradual destruction of the shock-absorbing cartilaginous intervertebral cushion - the disc. The disc becomes thinner, cracks and can partially or completely extend beyond the spinal column, compressing the nerve roots, which is accompanied by severe back pain that radiates to the neck. Painful sensations are aggravated by spasms of the back and neck muscles.
When C6 is affected, neck pain radiates to the scapula, shoulder girdle, shoulder, forearm, and 1 finger. At the same time, muscle strength decreases and hand movements require additional effort. Damage to C7 - waves of pain are transmitted to the scapula, back of the hand, index and middle fingers. Symptoms of C8 injury - possible irradiation of pain along the inner posterior surface of the hand to the little finger.
What to do: to relieve the pain you need to take an anesthetic orally and apply an anesthetic gel to the skin. After the pain subsides, see a neurologist.
This pain in the back of the head can also occur with scoliosis - a lateral curvature of the spine. Scoliosis can cause squeezing and pinching of the vertebrae, pinched nerves, and constant back pain. What to do: treatment is carried out by an orthopedist-traumatologist.
Severe neck pain with irradiation
Sometimes neck pain spreads to other areas. These are so-called referred pains, in which pain impulses from the main focus spread along the nerve fibers connecting individual parts of the body and internal organs.
Painful waves can radiate:
In ear -painful sensations have different origins; most often they are related:
- with inflammatory diseases of the ENT organs - sore throat, chronic tonsillitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis; it is usually a sore throat and ear, accompanied by symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough; in chronic inflammatory processes the disease is not as acute, without fever the pain is moderate;
- with degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the cervical spine (osteochondrosis) and their consequences - protrusion and herniated discs; neck pain syndrome is associated with compression of the spinal roots by a disc protruding beyond the spine or overgrown bone tissue of the vertebrae; referred pain in the ear with osteochondrosis is a sign of compression of the nerve root of the 3rd cervical vertebra (C3);
- with arthritis (inflammation) or arthrosis (metabolic disorders) in the C3 - C4 joints, connecting the cervical vertebrae;
In the teeth -painful irradiation on teeth:
- usually associated with osteochondrosis - damage to the C3 – C4 vertebrae;
- have a reflected character; this is due to dental problems: deep caries and periodontitis of the teeth on the lateral part of the dentition of the upper jaw; multiple malocclusions; the pain can radiate from the oral cavity to the neck, there is often the feeling that it is the neck that hurts, radiating to the teeth on the right or left; what to do: treat or remove damaged teeth, restore the bite; reflected pain syndrome may be associated with arthritis or osteoarthritis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) - it feels like your teeth hurt and the pain radiates to your neck;
In the eyes -if the upper cervical vertebrae are affected (osteochondrosis, arthritis or arthrosis of the joints), pain along the sensitive branches of the nerves in the neck may radiate to the eyes or tissues around the eyeball;
In the temple -often a sign of cervical osteochondrosis or arthrosis (arthritis) of the TMJ;
In your hand -with cervical osteochondrosis or arthritis (arthrosis) of the C6 – C8 joints, as well as with spasm of the cervical muscles;
On the shoulder blade &ndah;damage to C6 – C7, as well as glenohumeral periarthritis;
On the clavicle -pain syndrome can develop after an injury to the clavicle and be transmitted along the nerve fibers from the brachial plexus to the neck, as well as with arthritis or arthrosis of the shoulder joint.
When waves of pain radiate to other organs and tissues, it is difficult for the patient himself to figure out what hurts and which specialist to contact. Therefore, it is best to start with a therapist; he will figure out where to refer the patient next.
Severe pain in the neck muscles
Pain in the neck muscles is often associated with various injuries and diseases of the spine, but can also manifest itself as an independent disease - myofascial pain syndrome.
What to do: Treatment can be started by a neurologist, but a consultation with a rheumatologist may be necessary.
The back of the neck hurts a lot
Pain in the back of the head and neck is most often associated with cervical osteochondrosis and pathology of the joints of the cervical vertebrae. This is accompanied by a painful spasm of the neck muscles.
What to do: it is better to start by consulting a neurologist, perhaps after the examination he will refer the patient to a rheumatologist.
Pain in the front part of the neck in the larynx region
Painful sensations in the anterior cervical region, combined with difficulty swallowing, may arise with the growth of thyroid tissue (inflammatory process, goiter). At the same time, the external increase is not always noticeable, since the goiter can grow behind the sternum.
What to do: urgently contact an endocrinologist.
The larynx can hurt due to acute and chronic diseases of the ENT organs. These diseases are accompanied by a cough, sore throat, and sometimes an increase in body temperature. Laryngitis is especially dangerous, accompanied by pain, severe coughing and the risk of swelling of the larynx.
What to do: look for a therapist or otorhinolaryngologist.
Neck pain when turning or bending
Myofascial pain syndrome with reflex in the ear and eyeball area when turning
Painful turning and tilting of the head can be a consequence of:
- osteochondrosis and infringement of the spinal roots; the pain syndrome is intense and sudden, it is almost impossible to turn or tilt the head; what to do: consult a neurologist urgently;
- acute neck injury or prolonged microtrauma; in the absence of bone changes (fractures, dislocations), pain syndrome is associated with spasm and subsequent inflammation of the neck muscles; what to do: seek help from a neurologist;
- curvature of the spine - scoliosis; the pain is aching in nature and intensifies when bending the neck; what to do: contact an orthopedist-traumatologist.
Neck pain after sleeping
Typically, these pains rarely appear out of nowhere; more frequently they are associated with some hidden disease of the spine or cervical muscles. After sleep, they appear with prolonged incorrect position of the head, which leads to compression of blood vessels and nerves. After sleep, this manifests as severe pain, numbness and restricted movement. After some time this disappears.
What to do: contact a neurologist and make sure you do not have a serious pathology.
Severe pain and tightness in the neck
The causes of neck pain accompanied by a crisis may be osteochondrosis, arthrosis of the facet joints or increased mobility of the cervical vertebrae. In any case, this is a sign of a pathological process, which can only be established after an examination.
What to do: look for a neurologist, but you may also need help from other specialists.
Treating diseases that cause neck pain
There are analgesics for temporary pain relief, but to completely alleviate the patient's suffering, the doctor must perform an examination and find out the cause of the pain. The patient cannot do this alone, he needs to go to a clinic.
Diagnosis
Clinical examination of the neck - the first stage of diagnosis
During the initial consultation, the doctor conducts a clinical examination of the patient and, based on its results, may prescribe the following additional studies:
- Laboratory Tests– general clinical, biochemical and immunological blood tests. The data obtained makes it possible to identify inflammatory, metabolic and autoimmune processes.
- Instrumental diagnostic methods:X-ray of the affected part of the spine, if necessary- shoulder joint;Soft tissue ultrasound;Magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography– more detailed examination of the cervical region;electroneuromyography– to assess the condition of spinal nerve roots.
After the examination, the doctor will be able to make the correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
Methods to treat neck pain
Treatment of cervical pain syndrome can only be individual, as it depends on the identified disorders and the final diagnosis. Concomitant diagnoses – the presence of several other diseases in the patient – must also be taken into consideration.
The combination of modern and traditional oriental techniques allows the patient to immediately relieve acute pain.
This restores hope for a normal life, even for patients with long-term severe pain syndrome. After the course, they regularly come to the clinic for preventive treatment, which allows them to completely get rid of pain and lead a normal life. Contact the medical center, doctors will definitely help you!