Why does the neck hurt and how to eliminate the pain?

Neck pain can be associated with various abnormalities.The main cause may be both diseases of the musculoskeletal system and disorders in the functioning of the internal organs.

Relieving the pain syndrome does not solve the problem: diagnosed pathologies should be corrected in accordance with the adequate course of treatment.

Possible causes of neck pain

There are a large number of causes that explain the onset of neck pain.The source can be diseases of the musculoskeletal system, impaired blood circulation in the neck, vascular disease.

One of the most common causes of pain is the pathology of the spine.The neck can also be harmful due to pathologies of the internal organs, infectious and viral processes.

Osteochondrosis

With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the neck hurts due to thinning and deformation of the vertebrae.These disorders lead to the formation of vertebral micro -cracks, which provokes the growth of osteophytes and the appearance of hernia.Pathological entities have a traumatic effect on the surrounding tissues and nerve endings, causing an inflammatory process.

With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the pain syndrome is located in the back of the neck.When the neck is rotated, severe discomfort and crispy to pain are added.

The pain is exacerbated by turns of the head or sudden movements, coughing or sneezing.With the development of osteochondrosis, the pain spreads and reaches the areas of the shoulder and forearm.

Particularly severe pain happens in the morning.There is also a stiffness of movements, the patient is literally not able to turn his head aside.

Gradually, the pain becomes more pronounced, transformed by acute to stupid.

Acute attacks of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are compared to shock - they are such a shooting and piercing.

Also, the following symptoms are observed in that disease:

• Weakness of the hands;
• headache;
• seizures;
• dizziness;
• noise and ringing in the ears;
• feeling of disorientation;
• insomnia;
• Emotional instability.

The neck of myositis

Cervical myositis is an inflammation of the neck muscles.The main symptom of this deviation is intense pain, which can reduce or increase.The patient cannot turn his head, tilt him forward, or throw him back.

Most often, myositis pain extends only to one side of the neck, but sometimes both can affect both at once.The pain is characterized by irradiation with the upper body.

Also, with the inflammatory process of the neck muscles, the weight in the neck is felt, swelling in the vertebrae.In the area of the head, pain may cause to the back of the head or temple.There are also difficulties in chewing and ingestion of food.

With the development of the pathological process, the temperature rises, coughing, suffocation attacks occurs.

Hernia of the spine of the cervix

This pathology is the result of the progression of osteochondrosis.It is very dangerous: there are a large number of nerve endings of the spinal cord in the cervical region.In addition, there are centers that are responsible for the oxygen flow in the lungs.That is why with hernia there are attacks of headache, dizziness, suffocation.

With a strong convexity of hernias, one can suffocate.

If hernia hits the discs in the space between the first and fourth vertebrae, then the pain is short -term, they are sudden.With damage to the discs after the fourth vertebra, the pain is localized in the shoulder area, after the sixth - from the shoulder joint to the fingers of the upper limbs.

In addition to the patient's neck pain, the patient is observed:

• Feeling weak in the hands, their numbness;
• reduction of head mobility;
• migraines;
• dizziness;
• Violation of visual acuity.

With the progression of the disease, the coordination of movements is impaired, one becomes less stable.

Spondylarthrosis

With arthrosis of spondille of the cervical spine, there is an inflammation of the facet joints, which is why their structure is impaired.In this case, the joints experience increased loading and are damaged, leading to the formation of osteophytes - the growth of bones that put pressure on the vessels and nerve roots.

With the arthrosis of Spondylo, short pains in this area appear on the neck, which are given to their hands, nape and shoulder blades.Sensitivity in the neck also decreases, its mobility after sleep is limited.In addition, patients note the dizziness and flinching of flies in front of their eyes.

The nature of the pain depends on the stage of spondilo arthrosis:

1. First of all, it is virtually absent: only with prolonged loads does a sense of discomfort arise.
2. In the second stage there is acute pain in the morning.
3. The third person experiences burning pain.
4. At the fourth stage, the mobility of the affected joints is disturbed and over time, provided that there is no adequate treatment, they are completely immobilized.

With the development of the pathological process, additional symptoms occur: tinnitus, numbness of the cervical and shoulder areas, changes in the level of blood pressure and impaired movement coordination.

Bicetv's disease (ankylosing spondylitis)

Busterev's disease is a chronic inflammatory process of the spine that is applied to joints and ligaments.With this disease, the inflammatory process initially affects the location of the sacrum and iliac bones, and then slowly spreads to the upper parts, exposing the entire spinal column to degenerative changes.

Sometimes the process of developing the pathological process begins with the neck, namely with cervical radiculitis.In this case, the patient feels a sharp drop out of the neck in the hand.

With ankylosing spondylitis, there is a stiffness of the spine, limiting breast mobility and loss of flexibility with the spine.The spine is curved in the thoracic and lumbar regions.In this case, the "posture of the speaker" is observed.

The disease progresses slowly so that it has been unnoticed for a long time.

Cervical tuberculosis

Spinal tuberculosis can affect any of its departments, while the cervical is to the smallest extent the subject of this disease.However, such a pathology (in 5% of cases) has been discovered.

Symptoms in this case are:

• Severe, constant pain in the neck muscles;
• swelling of the affected area is constantly increasing in size;
• sore throat;
• cough;
• Hard swallowing.

Tuberculosis pain syndrome of the cervical spine is very strong.The patient tries not to move his head as this causes him great suffering.In this case, absolutely all muscles hurt, including deep muscle layers.

Tumor neoplasms of the cervical department

Tumors in the cervical spine are quite rare, but tumor metastases often penetrate into this area that are located in the kidneys, mammary glands.

In tumors in the neck, the patient experiences pronounced pain, which become more intensity as the pathological process progresses.

In addition, symptoms such as:

• Weakness in the muscles;
• muscle cramps;
• numbness;
• headache;
• dizziness;
• difficulty in swallowing;
• insomnia;
• Business countries are becoming a seizure;
• Abundant compartment of cold sweat.

Tumors that are located high in the neck affect the brain.This causes the onset of neurological symptoms that were mentioned in the list.

Meningitis

The neck muscles often hurt in the case of meningitis.It is an inflammatory process that affects the shells of the brain or spinal cord.In this case, a spasm of the muscle fibers of the back of the head occurs.

With meningitis, one experiences dull neck pain, cannot lie on his back in the usual position.

Also, with meningitis, such characteristic characteristics arise:

• a constant headache in which there is a feeling of cracking of the cranial box inside;
• Convulsions of the upper and lower limbs;
• hallucinations;
• unmotivated aggression;
• fever;
• nausea and vomiting;
• the inability to perceive a bright color;
• A violation of consciousness.

Thyroid

Thyroid dysfunctions affect the patient's general well -being and cause a set of characteristic symptoms.

This part of the endocrine system is located in the throat area, so that its inflammation or lesion of another nature causes neck pain.A similar symptom occurs in hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, thyroid development.The appearance of pain is due to an increase in the size of the gland as well as to the hormonal disorders in the body.

With these diseases, the pain is of a real regular character and is located in the front of the neck.The pain can be applied to the back area, an ears area.Tingling can also be observed periodically.

Additional symptoms:

• feeling of heat;
• increased sweating;
• heart heart rate;
• Dreaminess.

Neuralgia

Neuralgia of the cervical spine is a disorder of the nerve roots associated with a violation of the structure of the intervertebral disc.

Cervical neuralgia is accompanied by similar symptoms:

• The pain in the neck that occurs unexpectedly when he turns his head, touching the spot to the back nerve.In the initial stage of the development of the pathology, the pain is localized at the lower neck, the back of the head and subsequently extends to the eye area.The nature of the pain is acute painful sensations that resemble an electric shock.
• Increased photosensitivity.
• The soreness of the scalp.
• One -sided headache, which are persistent pain.
• Blood pressure.
• Heat, chills.
• Trembling hands.

Neck pain can be due to intense emotional stress, increased physical activity.

Which doctor to contact?

The appearance of regular neck pains that are pronounced and radiate to separate areas of the body is an occasion to see a doctor.

First, you should visit the therapist who, after analyzing the main symptoms, will determine which specialist will require in a certain case.

Creating causes that cause neck pain, as well as the treatment of pathologies in which it is found, deals with such specialized specialists:

• Neurologist.This specialist deals with diseases in which the cervical nerve or damage to the spinal cord occurred.The neurologist is engaged in cases where neck pain is accompanied by migraines, dizziness and convulsions.
• Traumatologist.The doctor is engaged in cases where the pain is caused by injuries.
• Vertebologist.The specialist corrects the patient's condition in case of impaired function of the musculoskeletal system-internegral hernia, spondylitis.
• Orthopedist.To consult this doctor with pathologies such as thinning of cartilage, scoliosis, osteoporosis.
• Osteopath.This specialist treats patients who suffer from degenerative changes in the joints and vertebrae.Osteopath treats osteochondrosis, participates in the patient's posture correction.
• Rheumatologist.The doctor is engaged in cases of muscle and bone damage - rheumatism, arthritis.

In addition to these experts, a manual therapist, physiotherapist, massage therapist may be required.

Diagnostic methods

For neck pain, such diagnostic measures are prescribed as:

• History collection;
• visual inspection;
• Check the sensitivity of the affected area as well as its mobility;
• Blood and urine tests;
• X -ray examination of the cervical spine;
• MRI;
• CT;
• Electromyography.

Based on the results of the diagnosis, the specialist determines the cause of neck pain and prescribes adequate treatment.

What to do if your neck hurts: approaching treatment

A specific disease is treated according to a particular scheme.It all depends on the root cause of the pain syndrome, but we can distinguish the basic approaches to eliminate unpleasant sensations.

Drug therapy

Often, neck pain becomes very intense.To suppress its weight, the patient is prescribed medication.In this case, the following medicines are appropriate:

• anti -inflammatory drugs in the form of tablets;
• Mussorelaxants - painkillers that relieve spasm;
• Analgesics used to exacerbate diseases.

In diseases that cause neck pain and trigger processes of cartilage and bone tissue, chondroprotectors - drugs that have a positive effect on the processes of its recovery and also have an anesthetic effect.

Also, patients with neck pain are shown medicines that normalize the metabolic processes in the affected tissues.

Physiotherapy

If the neck muscles hurt due to degenerative processes of the spine, such physiotherapy procedures are prescribed:

• Diadinamotherapy- impact on the affected areas with double current waves;
• balneotherapy- measures related to water procedures;
• electrotherapy- exposure to electrical current to the affected areas;
• Magnetotherapy- exposure to magnetic fields to inflamed areas of the cervical region;
• Laser therapy- Laser exposure.

Physiotherapy procedures are not performed in the case of a general serious condition of the patient, during the period of exacerbation of osteochondrosis, with mental disorders, impaired skin integrity at the site of the alleged effect.

The auxiliary treatment methods not only contribute to reducing the intensity of pain, but also enhance immunity, restore the full blood circulation in the affected areas and reduce the severity of disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Massage

In the case of pain localized in the neck, it can also be included in the complex therapy of the massage procedure.They are performed by a specialist as the wrong approach can cause additional harm to the bone and muscle structures.

The massage of the neck that relaxes his muscles is performed in a position of sitting or lying.The effect is exerted on the trapezoidal muscles that support the cervical vertebrae.

Initially, the specialist made the movements of light from top to bottom.After warming techniques, the area of special processes is rubbed.Then, rubbing the back surface of the neck, vibration exposure.

The massage session takes 3 to 10 minutes.

Surgery

Neck pain may be required if there are such pathologies:

• hernia on the intervertebral disc;
• compression of spinal roots or radiculopathy;
• spinal cord compression or myelopathy.

The surgery of the cervical spine is aimed at removing the vertebrae, which have a traumatic effect on the spinal cord.

Currently, classical operations that require a long rehabilitation period replace less invasive methods:

• an endoscopy in which intervention is performed by puncture;
• Microsurgical operations that allow you to remove hernia without damaging the surrounding tissues of the spinal cord.

Folk remedies

In the case of neck pain, you can try to calm it yourself with the help of folk remedies.The most effective are:

• Compress with horseradish.The horseradish leaf should be rinsed with boiling water, cool to a comfortable temperature, attach it to the neck.Wrap the scarf on top.You need to apply the compress before going to bed and leave it all night.If there is a strong burning sensation, you should remove the compress and rinse the skin with warm water.
• Compress with laurel oil.10 drops of oil should be diluted in 1 liter of warm water.Dip the fabric in the liquid and attach it to the neck for 20-30 minutes.
• Lubrication of the affected area with copper.Once applied, you must firmly press the processed area with your palms and then tear it sharply.Repeat until the honey is completely absorbed.

General recommendations

In diseases that cause severe pain in the cervical spine, you should pay attention to the following recommendations:

• It is necessary to hold the stand properly both when sitting and walking.
• When pain in the cervical region occurs during exercise, it is worth stopping their application, let the muscles relax.In the future, the extent of the load must be revised by which the neck area is subjected.
• It is necessary to take time for exercise regularly, at least not too intense.For the health of the spine, swimming, yoga are useful.
• It is recommended to give preference to the backpack, not a bag: it gives a uniform load from the left and right part of the body.
• It is useful to take a contrast shower.Alternating temperatures has a positive effect on blood circulation, does not allow the blood and lymph to stagnate.

The same recommendations can be used as prevention.

The neck muscles can be harmful due to various pathologies of the spine, a slightly more painful syndrome is due to pathologies of the internal organs.The treatment regimen depends on the cause diagnosed by a doctor after a comprehensive examination.