Neck pain

There is no adult who has not experienced neck pain in his life. Every fourth woman and every sixth man constantly experience it. Sedentary lifestyle and time spent at the computer aggravates the problem. Neck pain can also occur due to arthrosis of the shoulder joint and any other disease in this area, in the upper back and arms, or in the back of the head. From this article you can learn everything about neck pain and how to get rid of 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. Pain is associated with compression of spinal nerve roots with partially or completely destroyed intervertebral discs. The pain is very strong, sudden, can be localized only on the neck (one or both sides) or spread to other areas - head, back of the head, arm, back, under the shoulder, etc. Sh. Treatment consists ofPain therapy, restoration of cartilage tissue of discs and strengthening of neck muscles. Sometimes such patients require 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 imperceptibly, spreading along the spine from the bottom up. The cervical region is the last to be affected. It is manifested by 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.
• Arthrosis of cervical spine joints (non-vertebral arthrosis). The cause of pain in the back of the neck and head in this case is degenerative-dystrophic changes in the small joints connecting the cervical spine. It often has an occupational origin, develops while working in a stationary position with the head tilted or forcibly turned, or after receiving injuries. Symptoms: pain at the site of injury, radiating to the shoulder and cramping when moving, sometimes headache, dizziness, high or low blood pressure, hearing loss. Treatment by a neurologist and a rheumatologist.
• Torticollis is a change in the position of the neck that prevents turning the head and other movements. It can be congenital (in children) and acquired (in adults) after injuries, rough skin scars, constant spasm of cervical and occipital muscles during degenerative-dystrophic and inflammatory processes in the spine and surrounding soft tissues. Symptoms: head tilt 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. The pain is aggravated by physical exertion and stress. Treatment can be conservative (during spasms) or surgical, performed by a surgeon or orthopedic traumatologist.
• Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is associated with irritation of the nerve endings of the muscles, causing them 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 joint (between separate vertebrae), bony formations or swollen soft tissues can compress the vertebral artery, which leads to impaired blood supply to the brain, headache and dizziness. . Pain can also be the result of compression of spinal roots extending from the spinal cord. Along the plexus of the brachial nerve, such pain radiates down the arm.

First aid for neck pain - what to do

Neck pain can gradually increase, but sometimes it appears acutely, suddenly in the form of lumbago with radiation to other areas. It is hard to bear such suffering. What to do, how to get rid of them?

Tablets and ointments for neck pain

Emergency self-help algorithm:

• Take a sedative - panic only aggravates the situation; You can take: 20 drops of soothing drops or a tablet with the substance levomenthol solution in menthyl isovalerate under the tongue; These drugs not only relax, but also dilate blood vessels, which in turn helps to reduce muscle spasm and associated pain; You can also take 1-2 tablets of valerian extract or any other sedative you have on hand.
• Take pain medication (optional).
• To get rid of painful pain, you can use external pain relievers: ointments, gels, patches.

Exercises for neck pain

If the pain is not very strong, painful and combined with stiffness, then you can try to get rid of it with the help of exercises. They should be performed smoothly, without sudden movements. An approximate set of exercises that relieves pain:

• Initial position (IP) - lying on the back, head on a flat pillow; Press your head firmly against the pillow and hold until you count to 5; take a break and repeat; do 5-7 approaches;
• IP - lying on the left side, head on a flat pillow; Raise your head and hold in this position for a count of 5; a short break and then at least five approaches;
• IP - lying on the right side; Repeat the previous exercise on the right side;
• IP - lying on the stomach, hands wrapped around the head; Raise your head up, resist with your hands; Each approach - 5 seconds with a short break, repeat 5-7 times.

Contraindicated for relief of severe acute pain with exercises.

In such cases, it is better to keep the neck covered, for example, using a collar. But long-term immobilization leads to weakening of the muscular corset and aggravation of the situation. Therefore, a Schantz 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 see a doctor, otherwise it will return and it will be quite difficult to relieve it.

Exercises for neck pain

What not to do if you have neck pain

If you often have neck pain, you should remember that you should not:

• Being in a forced position for a long time with a tense neck - painful muscle spasm develops;
• lift weights, perform heavy work - microtrauma occurs on the spine with the tissues near it, gradual destruction of cartilage and bone structures;
• are often exposed to stress - they are accompanied by vascular spasm, which negatively affects blood circulation and the condition of the spine;
• Smoking, frequent drinking of alcohol - contributes to constant vasoconstriction;
• hypothermia - the muscles near the spine are inflamed, myositis develops;
• Sleeping on a high soft pillow means staying in an uncomfortable static position for a long time;
• Make a sudden turn of the head - it is possible to suddenly pinch a nerve and experience severe pain.

When necessary, consult a doctor immediately

Do not hesitate to seek medical attention if:

• Neck pain occurs regularly and is not always relieved by painkillers;
• You experienced a painful attack for the first time or you have already experienced it many times, when any movement causes severe suffering;
• Pain syndrome is accompanied by general disorders: fever, chills, etc. Sh.
• suddenly there was a sharp short-term pain on the left side of the neck, which spread to the arm, shoulder blade or the back of the head - a sign of acute blood circulation in the area of the heart muscle (angina);
• Sudden attacks of headache and dizziness appeared, sometimes with loss of consciousness - a sign of compression of the vertebral artery.

If such symptoms appear, there is no point in treating yourself: it will only worsen the problem. Neither folk remedies nor grandmother's advice will help.

Only a doctor can help relieve pain by developing an individual treatment plan based on examination and accurate diagnosis. If you are in doubt about which doctor to consult, make an appointment with a therapist, he will understand the situation and, if necessary, refer you to another specialist.

Types of neck pain and how to deal with it

Pain syndrome can be manifested in different ways: only on one side of the neck or everywhere, locally or on other parts of the body. Let's try to figure out what the appearance of pain indicates and what to do in each specific case.

Severe neck pain due to coronavirus and ARVI

Any viral infection can be accompanied by neck pain. This is due to intoxication caused by an infectious agent. As soon as the person recovers, these symptoms disappear.

But in some people, a few days or weeks after the viral infection, the pain syndrome appears again, sometimes it is accompanied by swelling of the spine and stiffness of movement (it is difficult to turn the head to the sides) in the morning.

This condition requires urgent investigation, as it may be related to autoimmune processes in the vertebral joint (connecting vertebrae).

The infection of the coronavirus has a serious effect on the immune system, which causes various disturbances in its functioning. If a person has a tendency to an autoimmune process (close relatives suffering from such diseases), then it is quite possible that a viral infection becomes the starting point (trigger) of its initiation. What to do: consult a therapist or rheumatologist.

Acute neck pain and fever

If severe pain in the neck appears suddenly and is accompanied by fever, then this indicates the presence of an acute inflammatory process:

• Viral infection or exacerbation of some chronic inflammatory processes (bronchitis, sinusitis, etc. ) - in this case, the disease is accompanied by catarrhal symptoms - cough and runny nose; What to do: if the pain is not too strong and the temperature is not high, you can wait for the doctor; The prolongation of pain after recovery should be a reason to consult a doctor;
• Bacterial purulent inflammatory processes - abscesses, phlegmons; What to do: consult a surgeon, because the symptoms can be eliminated only by surgery;
• autoimmune process in cervical spine joints; The first symptoms appear in 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 that radiates to the head

Sometimes, there is a sharp, sudden pain in the back of the neck that radiates to the head (cervicocranialgia), which is associated with stretching of the spinal roots extending from the 1st and 2nd cervical vertebrae (C1-C2) with the transmission of pain to the trigeminal nerve. , whose nuclei are located in the upper sections of the spinal cord. This is the so-called radicular pain syndrome, it can be very strong and quite long. What to do: As self-help, you can take a pain-relieving tablet and apply anesthetic varnish to the painful area.

If the pain does not go away, call an ambulance, the doctor can temporarily relieve the pain. But after their removal, you must consult a neurologist.

Aching pain in the back of the neck and head can be the result of compression of the vertebral artery. In such cases, it is often accompanied by dizziness and weakness, because the brain experiences 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 they appear, you need to call an ambulance.

My neck and shoulders hurt

Aching pain in the neck can spread to the shoulders. Typically, neck and shoulder pain is associated with spasms and muscle tension when the neurovascular bundle between the scalene muscles is compressed. Morning stiffness appears, due to constant aching pain, the head is in a forced position: it is slightly tilted forward and towards the affected side. If the blood vessel is also constricted, dizziness, blurred vision and weakness may occur. Pain radiating from the neck to the shoulders is also characteristic of osteochondrosis and arthrosis of the facet joints of the 5-6 vertebrae (C5-C6). When the pathological focus is localized in C5, the pain radiates along the anterior outer surface of the shoulder, so the patient cannot move the arm to the side.

What to do: you cannot tolerate such symptoms, you cannot cure them on your own, you need to consult a neurologist.

Neck pain on the right or left side

If your neck hurts on one side:

• A very strong sudden attack- a sign of spinal cord fracture on the right or left side; A lidocaine patch will help, but this is a temporary measure, it is necessary to contact a neurologist;
• Sudden paroxysmal short but sharp pain in left neck- may be a symptom of angina pectoris; If such symptoms recur, you should consult a therapist or cardiologist for help;
• Pain in the left or right side- often develops with a prolonged tense position of the head due to spasm of the neck muscles; To relieve spasms, use pain-relieving ointments and patches; When painful muscle spasms appear, you should 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 have constant or regularly recurring pain on the right or left side of the neck, it is better to start consulting a therapist.

Severe back and neck pain

Painful sensations in the back, which are transferred to the neck, are usually the result of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. There is a gradual destruction of the intercartilage shock-absorbing pad - disk. The disc thins, 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 back and neck muscle spasms.

When C6 is injured, neck pain radiates to the scapula, shoulder girdle, shoulder, forearm, and 1 finger. At the same time, muscle strength decreases and hand movement requires additional effort. Damage to C7 - waves of pain are transmitted to the scapula, back of the hand, index and middle fingers. Symptoms of damage to C8 - possible radiation of pain along the inner surface of the back 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, consult a neurologist.

Such pain behind the neck can also occur with scoliosis - lateral curvature of the spine. Scoliosis can cause compression and compression of the vertebrae, pinching of nerves and constant back pain. What to do: the treatment is carried out by an orthopedic traumatologist.

Acute neck pain with radiation

Sometimes the pain in the neck spreads to other places. These are the so-called pains in which pain impulses spread from the main focus along nerve fibers that connect individual parts of the body and internal organs.

Pain waves can emit:

in Ყur -Painful sensations are of different origins; Most often they are related to:

1. with inflammatory diseases of ENT organs - sore throat, chronic tonsillitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis; Usually it is a sore throat and ear, accompanied by symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough; During chronic inflammatory processes, the disease is not so acute, without fever, the pain is moderate;
2. with degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the cervical spine (osteochondrosis) and its consequences - protrusion and disc herniation; Cervical pain syndrome is associated with stretching of the spinal roots by a disc that protrudes beyond the spinal column or by overgrown bony tissue of the spine; Ear pain with osteochondrosis is a sign of nerve root compression of the 3rd cervical vertebra (C3);
3. with arthritis (inflammation) or arthrosis (metabolic disorders) in the C3 - C4 joint, connecting the cervical spine;

in the teethPainful radiation in the teeth:

1. usually associated with osteochondrosis - damage to the C3-C4 spine;
2. has a reflected character; This is caused by dental problems: deep caries and periodontitis of the teeth of the lateral part of the maxillary dentition; various malocclusions; The pain can spread from the mouth to the neck, often there is a feeling that the neck hurts, the teeth radiate to the right or left; What to do: treat or remove damaged teeth, restore the bite; Reflected pain syndrome can be associated with arthritis or arthrosis of the temporomandibular joint - it seems that your teeth hurt and the pain spreads to the neck;

in the eyes -If the upper cervical vertebrae are damaged (osteochondrosis, arthritis or arthrosis of the joints), pain along the sensitive branches of the neck nerves can spread to the eyes or the tissues around the eyeball;

in the temple -often a sign of cervical osteochondrosis or joint arthrosis (arthritis);

in your handsduring cervical osteochondrosis or arthritis (arthrosis) of the C6-C8 joints, as well as with spasm of the cervical muscles;

in the mouth of the shoulder &ndah;C6 – C7 damage, as well as glenohumeral periarthritis;

in the collar -The pain syndrome can develop after a collar injury and be transmitted along the nerve fibers of the brachial plexus to the neck, as well as during arthritis or arthrosis of the shoulder joint.

When pain waves radiate to other organs and tissues, it is difficult for the patient himself to find out what hurts and which specialist to contact. Therefore, it is better to start with a therapist, he will find out where to refer the patient next.

Severe pain in neck muscles

Pain in the neck muscles is usually associated with various injuries and diseases of the spine, but it can also be manifested as an independent disease - myofascial pain syndrome.

What to do: Treatment can be started by a neurologist, but a rheumatologist may need to be consulted.

My neck hurts a lot

Pain in the back of the head and neck is most often associated with cervical osteochondrosis and pathology of the cervical spine phase joints. This is accompanied by a painful spasm of the neck muscles.

What to do: it is better to start with a consultation with a neurologist, maybe after the examination he will refer the patient to a rheumatologist.

Pain in the front of the neck in the area of the larynx

Painful sensations in the area of the anterior cervix, along with swallowing disorders, may appear with the growth of thyroid gland tissue (inflammatory process, goiter). At the same time, the external increase is not always noticeable, because the goitre can grow behind the breast.

What to do: immediately consult an endocrinologist.

The larynx can be affected by acute and chronic diseases of the ENT organs. Such diseases are accompanied by cough, sore throat and sometimes an increase in body temperature. Laryngitis is especially dangerous, accompanied by pain, barking cough and the risk of swelling of the larynx.

What to do: contact a therapist or otolaryngologist.

Neck pain when turning or bending

Myofascial pain syndrome in the region of the ear and eyeball when turning

Painful bending and tilting of the head can be as follows:

• Osteochondrosis and disorders of spinal roots; The pain syndrome is strong and sudden, it is almost impossible to turn or bend the head; What to do: consult a neurologist immediately;
• acute neck injury or prolonged microtrauma; In the absence of bone changes (fractures, dislocations), the pain syndrome is associated with spasm and subsequent inflammation of the neck muscles; What to do: seek the help of a neurologist;
• curvature of the spine - scoliosis; The pain is painful and intensifies when bending the neck; What to do: contact an orthopedic traumatologist.

Neck pain after sleep

As a rule, such pains rarely appear anywhere, more often they are associated with a hidden disease of the spine or cervical muscles. After sleep, they appear with a prolonged wrong position of the head, which causes compression of blood vessels and nerves. After sleeping, this manifests as aching pain, numbness and limitation of movement. After some time it disappears.

What to do: contact a neurologist and make sure that you do not have a serious pathology.

Severe pain and cramping in the neck

The causes of neck pain accompanied by cramping can be osteochondrosis, arthrosis of the joints or increased mobility of the cervical spine. In any case, this is a sign of a pathological process that can be determined only after examination.

What to do: contact a neurologist, but you may also need the help of other specialists.

Treatment of diseases causing neck pain

There are painkillers that temporarily relieve the pain, but in order for the patient to be completely freed from suffering, the doctor must conduct an examination and find out the cause of the pain. The patient cannot do it on his own, he needs to go to the clinic.

diagnosis

Clinical examination of the neck - the first stage of diagnosis

During the initial appointment, 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 obtained data make it possible to identify inflammatory, metabolic and autoimmune processes.
• Instrumental diagnostic methods:If necessary, X-ray of the damaged part of the spine- shoulder joint;Ultrasound of soft tissues;MRI or CT- a more detailed examination of the cervical region;Electromyography- to assess the condition of the spinal nerve roots.

After the examination, the doctor can make a correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

Methods of treating neck pain

Cervical pain syndrome treatment can only be individual, as it depends on the detected disorders and the final diagnosis. It is also necessary to take into account the accompanying diagnosis - the presence of various diseases in the patient.

The combination of modern and traditional oriental techniques allows the patient to immediately relieve acute pain.

This gives hope of a normal life even to patients with long-term severe pain syndrome. After completing 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, the doctors will definitely help you!