Neck pain is a very unpleasant phenomenon that can affect anyone. Let's consider why neck pain occurs, how it occurs, how to correctly diagnose and treat it.
The neck has many functions, it is responsible for the activity of the spine and supports the head. Neck pain is common and is usually caused by heavy loads placed on this fragile but multifunctional part of the body. There are many causes of neck pain. So first things first.
Causes of neck pain
The causes of neck pain can be associated with various types of diseases or injuries. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the main factors that cause pain:
- Chronic diseases (osteochondrosis, osteoarthritis) have a degenerative nature and can appear in the neck muscles, ligaments or one of the parts of the spine.
- Injuries - pain occurs when intervertebral discs, ligaments, vertebrae and joints are damaged.
- Herniated intervertebral discs.
- Pain caused by diseases of the esophagus, muscle spasms, heart, lungs.
- Cervical spine tumors or kidney, thyroid or breast cancer metastases.
- Infectious bone diseases, tetanus, meningitis, etc.
How does neck pain manifest itself?
There are different symptoms of neck pain and each person experiences them differently. Let's look at the most common of them.
- It is difficult to turn your head from side to side or make up and down movements.
- The neck hurts on the left or right side, and a particular pain is felt when trying to raise the head.
- When turning the neck, painful sensations occur in the temples and shoulders.
- Pain can also occur at the back of the neck, which causes a feeling of numbness.
- Sleeping in the wrong position, sedentary work - the cause of neck, shoulder and back pain.
Neck and headache
Neck and head pains are caused by injury, mechanical damage or disease. If the pain is caused by an injury or spasm, it will stop after 1-2 weeks. Other causes of pain:
- Damage to the base of the neck, muscles or ligaments of the spine.
- Muscle spasms.
- Keeping the head in the wrong and uncomfortable position for a long time.
- Consequences of injuries or tumors.
- Acute thyroiditis.
- Ankylosing spondylitis.
- Infections and rheumatoid arthritis.
If your neck or headache causes you discomfort, pain or interferes with your normal activities, consult your doctor immediately. The doctor will help determine the cause of the pain and eliminate it.
Headache in the neck region
Headache in the neck area can occur due to active movements of the cervical vertebra. The cause of pain can be fatigue, lack of sleep, increased pressure and general diseases. Headaches in the neck area also occur due to chronic diseases or old injuries. Pain may appear due to exacerbation of osteochondrosis or chronic tonsillitis. Unpleasant sensations penetrate under the head, sometimes when trying to bend or turn the head, the pain spreads to the temples.
With such symptoms, it is necessary to take timely treatment measures. If the pain is not associated with tight muscles, but with a progressive disease, the results will be very unfavorable. Violation of blood vessels will negatively affect the supply of oxygen and blood to the brain, that is, it will cause vascular insufficiency. As a result, hearing will decrease significantly, vision and memory will decrease, and concentration will decrease. To prevent this, you should consult a surgeon or a neuropathologist.
Pain in the right side of the neck
Pain in the neck region on the right, as a rule, occurs due to cervical osteochondrosis (disease of the intervertebral discs). Elderly people often suffer from this disease. Pain is treated with friction, ointment, massage, manual therapy and orthopedic exercises.
But pain in the right side of the neck can be caused by other reasons. Thus, damage to the intervertebral discs, joints, vertebrae, muscles or ligaments will cause pain on the right side of the neck. Various immune disorders, infections and diseases of the spine also cause pain. Don't forget the dull pains and localized tumors in the neck area. They significantly weaken the immune system and cause pain.
Severe pain in the neck
Severe pain in the neck can occur due to already formed diseases, injuries or, rather, ordinary situations. Let's consider the causes of severe pain in the neck.
- Increased stress on the spine and long periods of sitting in an uncomfortable or incorrect position lead to spasms and severe muscle pain.
- Chronic diseases, infections, problems with the immune system.
- Sudden actions, emotional stress.
- Hypothermia of the muscles disrupts blood circulation, which causes neck pain.
- Excess weight is another cause of severe pain.
Pain in left neck
Pain in the left neck region is a signal of problems, which can be caused by injuries, diseases or mechanical damage. If the pain is not related to a disease, it disappears within 1-2 weeks. But some pain is chronic and can last for many years, causing discomfort and pain.
Pain in the left neck occurs in patients of any age. Pain can occur due to diseases of the spine, damage to the neck muscles or problems with ligaments. Pain in children occurs due to cervical lymphadenitis, that is, complications after sore throat and other colds. A neurologist or chiropractor can diagnose pain and prescribe treatment.
Pain in the front of the neck
Severe pain in the front of the neck is often a symptom of a neoplasm (malignant). The tumor appears near the spine, esophagus, thyroid gland, or larynx. Another cause of pain is angina. But pain can also occur due to inflammatory processes or styloid process syndrome. If the pain occurs due to needle syndrome (styloid process), painful sensations cause sharp pain in the ear and throat. Very often, patients with this disease have their tonsils removed, which is a mistake.
The cause of pain in the front of the neck can be accurately diagnosed using X-rays. It is difficult and even dangerous to determine the cause yourself. Because wrong diagnosis will lead to wrong treatment. To prevent this, seek qualified medical attention.
Pain in the back of the neck
Pain in the back of the neck can be caused by muscle spasms or muscle strain (often occurs when working for a long time in a sitting position). The muscles exert pressure on the blood vessels responsible for the delivery of oxygen to the brain, nerves and cervical vertebrae. A complex of manual therapy and massage procedures is used to eliminate muscle spasms.
If the pain in the back of the neck is caused by chronic diseases, tumors or infections, the disease is diagnosed first. Thanks to this, you can create an effective treatment plan and take all measures to eliminate painful symptoms.
Aching pain in the neck
Nagging pain in the neck is usually caused by sleeping in the wrong position, muscle spasms or pinched nerves. If you have a cold in your neck or have recently had a cold, pain will appear. You need to seek medical help to determine the exact cause of the pain. The doctor will send you for an ultrasound and X-ray of the cervical spine.
If the nagging pain in the neck is not related to diseases or infections, the doctor will prescribe rubs and ointments that will relieve the pain. Do not forget about preventive exercises that will prevent pain in the future. A little warm-up in the morning will relieve the pain and will be a great start to the working day.
Sharp pain in the neck
Acute pain in the neck occurs in both adults and children. Pain has many causes. Painful sensations can occur due to deformation of the spine, that is, osteochondrosis or osteoarthrosis. Injuries, damage to ligaments or muscles also cause severe pain in the neck. Only a doctor can determine the cause of acute pain.
When it comes to treating painful sensations, first of all, it is necessary to minimize physical activity and pressure on the neck. It is also worth paying attention to the correct position of the neck during sleep and especially during sedentary work. Do not forget about regular neck exercises that will prevent muscle atrophy.
Who to contact?
- Vertebrologist
- Neuropathologist
Diagnosis of neck pain
The diagnosis of neck pain should be made by a specialist. The following methods are used for diagnosis: X-ray, ultrasound, MRI. The method of determining the cause of pain is chosen by the doctor after examining the patient's symptoms and complaints.
Diagnosis and treatment of neck pain is carried out by a surgeon, orthopedist, rheumatologist and chiropractor. In some cases, the patient undergoes diagnosis and treatment by a physiotherapist, massage therapist or traumatologist. If the cause of the pain is a malignant neoplasm, the patient undergoes a biopsy and the diagnosis is made by an oncologist, surgeon, ENT doctor or therapist.
Treatment of neck pain
Treatment of neck pain depends on the cause. If the pain is caused by some disease, then it should be treated (only in this case the pain will go away). If the cause of the pain is an injury, muscle spasm or inflammation, the patient is prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs, minimal physical activity and special ointments.
In emergency cases, the patient is provided with complete immobility of the neck, for this purpose neck corsets are used. If acute pain pierces the neck, the first order of treatment is to refuse physical activity. This will tone your muscles and relieve muscle spasms. A massage will not be bad, it will improve blood circulation and work out stagnant muscles. For severe pain, patients are prescribed muscle relaxants. Remember that chronic neck pain is not normal. Therefore, seek qualified medical help at the first painful symptoms.
Prevention of neck pain
Prevention of neck pain is to completely eliminate the factors that cause pain. First of all, you need to make sure that the neck and spine are in a normal position. Do not sit in one place for a long time, regularly do basic exercises for your neck and back. Neck pain can be caused by smoking. In this case, prevention consists in giving up a bad habit. Excess weight problems are another factor that causes neck pain. A healthy lifestyle, regular exercise and sound sleep are the main preventive measures that will protect you from neck and back pain.
Neck pain is a problem that everyone faces sooner or later. There are many causes of pain, only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis. But regular preventive measures - neck exercises, healthy lifestyle and rejection of bad habits will protect you from painful sensations.