Neck pain is a rather unpleasant phenomenon that can affect anyone. Let's look at why neck pain occurs, what it is like, and how to properly diagnose and treat it.
The neck has many functions; It is responsible for the functioning of the spine and supports the head. Neck pain occurs frequently and is usually due to heavy loads placed on this fragile but multifunctional part of the body. There are many reasons that cause 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) are degenerative and can appear in the muscles of the neck, in the ligaments or in any part of the spine.
- Injuries: pain occurs when there are injuries to the intervertebral discs, ligaments, vertebrae and joints.
- Herniated intervertebral discs.
- Referred pain due to diseases of the esophagus, muscle spasms, heart, lungs.
- Tumors in the cervical spine or metastases from kidney, thyroid or breast cancer.
- Infectious bone diseases, tetanus, meningitis and others.
How does neck pain manifest?
There are different symptoms of neck pain and each person experiences them differently. Let's look at the most common ones.
- It is difficult for you to turn your head from side to side or make up and down movements.
- The neck hurts on the left or right side, and particular pain is felt when trying to raise the head.
- When turning the neck, painful sensations occur in the temples and shoulders.
- Pain may also appear in the back of the neck, causing a feeling of numbness.
- Sleeping in the wrong position, immobile sedentary work - the cause of pain in the neck, shoulders and back.
Pain in the neck and head.
Pain in the neck and head occurs due to injury, mechanical damage or illness. If the pain is due to an injury or spasm, it will go away after 1 to 2 weeks. Other causes of pain:
- Damage to the base of the neck, muscles or ligaments of the spine.
- Muscle spasms.
- Keeping your head in an incorrect and uncomfortable position for a long time.
- Consequences of injuries or tumors.
- Acute thyroiditis.
- Ankylosing spondyloarthritis.
- Infections and rheumatoid arthritis.
If neck and head pain causes discomfort, pain, or interferes with your normal activities, see your doctor immediately. The doctor will help determine the cause of the pain and eliminate it.
Headache in the neck area.
Headache in the neck area can occur due to active movements of the cervical vertebrae. The cause of pain can be fatigue, lack of sleep, pressure surges, and general ailments. Headache in the neck area also occurs due to chronic diseases or old injuries. Pain may appear due to an exacerbation of osteochondrosis or chronic tonsillitis. Unpleasant sensations permeate the base of the head, sometimes the pain radiates to the temples when trying to tilt or turn the head.
With such symptoms, it is necessary to take timely treatment measures. If the pain is not associated with pinched muscles, but with a progressive disease, the consequences will be very unfavorable. Infringement of blood vessels will negatively affect the supply of oxygen and blood to the brain, that is, it will lead to vascular insufficiency. As a result, hearing will decrease significantly, vision and memory will decrease, and concentration will decrease. To avoid this, it is necessary to consult a surgeon or neurologist.
Pain in the neck area on the right.
Pain in the right area of the neck is usually due to cervical osteochondrosis (intervertebral disc disease). Most often, older people suffer from this disease. Pain is treated with rubs, ointments, massage, manual therapy and orthopedic exercises.
But pain in the right area of the neck can also be due to other reasons. Thus, an injury to the intervertebral discs, joints, vertebrae, muscles or ligaments will cause pain on the right side of the neck. Various immune disorders, infections and spinal diseases also cause pain. Don't forget about referred pain and tumors located 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 common situations. Let's look at the causes of severe neck pain.
- Increased stress on the spine and prolonged stay in an uncomfortable or incorrect position cause severe muscle spasms and pain.
- Chronic diseases, infections, problems with the immune system.
- Sudden movements, emotional stress.
- Hypothermia of the muscles impairs blood circulation, causing neck pain.
- Excess weight is another cause of severe pain.
Pain in the left area of the neck.
Pain in the left area of the neck is a sign of problems; They may be due to injury, illness, or mechanical damage. If the pain is not associated with any disease, it disappears within 1 or 2 weeks. But some pain is chronic and can persist for many years, causing discomfort and pain.
Pain in the left neck area occurs in patients of all ages. Pain can occur due to spinal diseases, damage to the neck muscles, or problems with ligaments. In children, pain occurs due to cervical lymphadenitis, that is, complications after sore throat and other colds. A neurologist or chiropractor can diagnose the pain and prescribe treatment.
Pain in the front of the neck.
Severe pain in the front of the neck is usually 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 appears due to needle syndrome (styloid process), the painful sensations produce sharp pain in the ear and throat. Very often, with this disease, patients 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. Determining the cause on your own is difficult and even dangerous. Because incorrect diagnosis will lead to incorrect treatment. To prevent this from happening, seek qualified medical help.
Pain in 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 sitting). The muscles put pressure on the vessels responsible for the supply of oxygen to the brain, the functioning of the nerves and the cervical vertebrae. To eliminate muscle spasms, manual therapy and a complex of massage procedures are used.
If neck pain is due to chronic diseases, tumors or infections, the first step is to diagnose the disease. Thanks to this, you will be able to create an effective treatment plan and take all measures to eliminate painful symptoms.
Persistent pain in the neck area.
Persistent pain in the neck area is usually caused by sleeping in an incorrect position, muscle spasms, or pinched nerves. The pain will appear if you have a cold in your neck or have recently had a cold. To accurately determine the cause of the pain, it is necessary to seek medical help. The doctor will refer you for an ultrasound and x-ray of the cervical spine.
If persistent pain in the neck is not associated with illness or infection, the doctor will prescribe massages and ointments that will relieve the pain. Don't forget about preventive exercises, which will prevent the appearance of pain in the future. A little neck warm-up in the morning will relieve pain and be a good start to the work day.
Acute pain in the neck.
Acute pain in the neck area occurs in both adults and children. There are many reasons for pain. Painful sensations may 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 diagnose the cause of acute pain.
Regarding pain treatment, first of all it is necessary to minimize physical activity and pressure on the neck. It is also worth ensuring that the neck is in the correct position during sleep and, especially, during sedentary work. Don't forget to do regular neck exercises, which will prevent the muscles from atrophying.
Who to contact?
- Vertebrologist
- neuropathologist
Diagnosis of neck pain.
The diagnosis of neck pain must be made by a specialist. The following methods are used for diagnosis: x-ray, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging. The method by which the cause of the pain will be diagnosed is chosen by the doctor after an examination and studying the patient's symptoms and complaints.
Diagnosis and treatment of pain in the neck area is carried out by a surgeon, orthopedist, rheumatologist and chiropractor. In some cases, the patient is diagnosed and treated by a physical therapist, 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, otolaryngologist or therapist.
Neck pain treatment
Treatment for neck pain depends on the causes that caused it. If the pain is due to a disease, then it must be treated (only in this case the pain will disappear). If the cause of pain is injury, muscle spasms or inflammation, the patient is prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs, a minimum of physical activity and special ointments.
In an emergency, the patient is provided with complete immobility of the neck; cervical corsets are used for this. If acute pain pierces the neck, the first rule of treatment is to abandon physical activity. This will tidy up your muscles and eliminate muscle spasms. A massage won't hurt, it will improve blood circulation and exercise stagnant muscles. For severe pain, patients are prescribed muscle relaxants. Don't forget that chronic neck pain is not normal. Therefore, at the first painful symptoms, seek qualified medical help.
Neck pain prevention
Preventing neck pain involves completely eliminating the factors that cause the 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 neck and back exercises. Neck pain can be caused by smoking. In this case, prevention consists of giving up the bad habit. Excess weight problems are another factor that causes neck pain. A healthy lifestyle, regular exercise and healthy sleep are the main preventive measures that will protect you from pain in the cervical spine.
Neck pain is a problem that everyone faces sooner or later. There are many causes of pain; only a doctor can diagnose it accurately. But regular preventive measures (neck exercises, a healthy lifestyle and giving up bad habits) will protect you from painful sensations.