Everyone has had severe neck pain. This does not need to have an accident or have abnormalities in the structure of the vertebrae. Improper organization of the workplace, sedentary lifestyle, intense physical activity - all this can lead to severe pain. With age, the manifestations of osteochondrosis can be complicated, and diseases of the internal organs only add to problems.
Sharp neck pains can occur suddenly, for example, with a sharp turn or tilt of the head. It can radiate to the head (mainly to the back of the head), chest, or even shoulders. These phenomena are often the result of low back pain (cervicago) or acute muscle spasms. We were left in a draft, we raised a heavy one - severe pain in the neck can last 5-10 days, but then they disappear. If the duration of pain is more than 10 days, have a sharp, aching or pulling character, significantly reduce the quality of life - you should seek treatment.
Since many lymphatic vessels, large veins and arteries pass through the cervical region, any problems within it must be treated carefully. The musculoskeletal cavity of the neck contains the thyroid gland, the pharynx, the beginning of the esophagus, the larynx and the upper part of the trachea. The neck muscles take part in the movement of the head, shoulders and even the jaws. Therefore, if you experience neck pain, you should immediately consult a doctor to find out the causes and prevent a number of serious problems.
Doctors will examine the condition of the spine and brain, perform x-rays, CT or MRI scans, check the degree of tension in the muscles of the neck, shoulders and upper back. Establishing the cause of the pain may result in the need for treatment for anything in the cervical spine. You should also be prepared for exercise to become a part of your daily life.
Severe pain in the cervical spine is a very important and practically significant problem in neurology. Its importance is determined by the following factors:
- neck pain with osteochondrosis are the most common pathologies caused by non-infection.
- painful sensations in the neck are subject to a chronic course with exacerbations. Intense and frequent pain can lead to temporary or even permanent disability.
These factors determine the importance of timely seeking medical care. If you feel any discomfort or pain, you should immediately visit a specialist. Self-treatment in such cases is unacceptable, as it can cause serious complications.
In addition, self-medication often leads to the need for surgery and causes disability in adults.
Only a doctor can competently work out a treatment regimen, including pain relief.
Types of neck pain
Distinguish between neck pain (neck pain) and neck pain (cervicago). Neck pain are:
- superficial somatic - associated with skin damage;
- deep somatic - due to damage to the muscles and cervical vertebrae;
- visceral - scattered, resulting from infections or diseases of the internal organs.
Neck pain affecting the surrounding areas are divided into two types:
- cervicobrachialgia - cervicobrachial syndrome with pain that radiates from the neck to the shoulders;
- cervicocranialgia: pain sensations begin directly in the cervical region or occipital region and spread to the head.
Neck pain of all types can be acute or chronic. The acute phase lasts about 10 days, but without proper treatment it can become chronic. Chronic pain is believed to last more than three months.
Cervicago is always a sensation of acute pain localized in the cervical spine and which does not allow you to turn your head.
If the discomfort is due to neuropathic reasons, it can be central (with damage to the spine) or peripheral (damage to peripheral nerves).
Causes of neck pain
Conventionally, the causes of neck pain can be divided into two groups: arising from diseases of the spine or due to other factors. The first are formed against the background of intervertebral hernias, arthrosis, dysfunction of the joints and subluxation of the vertebrae (whiplash). The consequences of these injuries can be felt throughout life. The second group includes neck pain caused by infectious and endocrine disorders, tumor processes, rheumatism.
Some of the more common causes of neck pain include:
- Myofascial syndrome.It occurs against the background of prolonged excessive tension of the neck muscles, sprains, hypothermia. They usually cause short-term painful sensations of moderate intensity, in which head mobility is often limited and muscle spasm. When pressed, pain and hardening are felt. Often, the pain caused by myofascial syndrome goes away on its own within 4-5 days.
- Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.The disease is a degenerative-dystrophic lesion of the spine, which occurs due to the deformation and destruction of the intervertebral discs. Due to the loss of elasticity, compression and destruction of the discs, the joint facets are overloaded, osteoarthritis occurs, and the nerve roots are pinched. This leads to the fact that the whole neck hurts a lot. With age, a decrease in cartilage hydrophilicity leads to a decrease in the distance between the vertebrae and damage to the intervertebral joints.
- Facet joint dysfunction.Damage to the structure of the intervertebral joints is one of the most common reasons why the entire neck hurts. Cartilage thins on the joint surfaces. This provokes the appearance of bone growths - osteophytes. They narrow the lumen of the holes between the vertebrae, causing compression of the nerve endings. As a rule, this is accompanied by dull pain (gradually increasing, of low intensity) in the neck region, which intensifies in the morning after sleeping in an uncomfortable position - on a high pillow, lying on the stomach. During movement, the pain may increase, but at rest it weakens. In this case, pain that radiates to the back of the head, ear, temples, shoulders is possible.
- Herniated and protruding discs.As a result of compression of the intervertebral discs, which have lost their elasticity, protrusions occur - protrusions in the spinal canal with the subsequent formation of a hernia. This leads to compression of the spinal cord, which disturbs the sensitivity of the hands: numbness, burning sensation, weakness, accompanied by pain. The shot (irregular one-sided) intensifies when bending, turning the head or throwing back. Therefore, a person must instinctively tilt his head forward and to the opposite sides to the localization of pain.
- Cervical myelopathy. . . Prolonged compression of the hernia disrupts blood circulation in the spinal cord. Because of this, not only the whole neck hurts a lot. But the violation is accompanied by pain that radiates to the area between the shoulder blades and shoulder. They get worse during movement and do not disappear even after taking painkillers. Characteristic signs of neck pain with cervical myelopathy are goosebumps, numbness in the arms and legs, and fine motor disturbances. Sometimes dizziness is possible, memory deteriorates, gait changes.
- Whiplash wounds.They arise as a result of a strong bending of the neck back or forward, followed by a recoil in the opposite direction. Such injuries often occur during an accident, but a normal fall on the back can also cause them. Trauma occurs due to strains and damage to the muscles, ligaments of the intervertebral discs, and the cervical vertebrae. The most severe cases are accompanied by dislocations and fractures. The consequence of an injury can be that the entire neck and shoulders are very sore, headaches, muscle spasms occur. Concomitant symptoms include blurred vision, increased fatigue, and frequent headache attacks.
Also, neck pain can be caused by musculo-tonic syndrome. It is a condition that causes prolonged spasms of several muscle groups in the head, chest and neck. Compression of neuromuscular triggers leads to pulling pain, sometimes very intense. In particular, the scalene muscle syndrome is a symptom complex, accompanied by a violation of the innervation and blood circulation of the scalene muscles of the neck, ranging from the cervical vertebrae to the 1st and 2nd ribs. This syndrome is characterized by neck pain and stiffness, which appear most often in the morning. The head in these cases is usually tilted forward and slightly towards the tense muscle. Painful sensations can be light, aching, but sometimes sharp, intensifying at night, with deep breaths, while tilting the head to the healthy side. Sometimes it is possible to radiate pain in the shoulders, in the axillary and interscapular regions, as well as in the front of the chest.
However, the causes of pain are not just spinal diseases. First of all, it is necessary to exclude infectious pathologies, in particular, nonspecific or tuberculous spondylitis, epidural abscesses. Metastatic lesions of the vertebrae can also be accompanied by persistent pain, which does not subside but worsens at rest. They are characterized by an increase in body temperature, general weakness and sweating. Even a slight pressure on the spinous processes causes attacks of local pain.
Risk factors that cause pain include flat feet, posture curvature, and strenuous exercise. Neck pain can occur against the background of constant overexertion, vibrations, prolonged immobile position of the body (for example, with fractures).
In addition, pain can occur due to tight and uncomfortable clothing, malnutrition and diseases of the internal organs. Taking these factors into account, we get a wide variety of clinical cases in which neck pain is formed.
It hurts in the neck: who to contact and what to do
If the neck hurts, traditional medicine offers drug treatment with drugs of different spectrum of action. They are designed to combat pain, relieve infectious or inflammatory processes and eliminate unpleasant symptoms. Surgery is performed only in very severe cases.
Drug treatment is based on the administration of local anesthetics, analgesics (NSAIDs), hormonal drugs (glucocorticoids), muscle relaxants (drugs to relieve muscle tension), antioxidants and, if necessary, antidepressants and anticonvulsants. Treatment is based on painkillers: drugs from other groups are prescribed as concomitant drugs that enhance the effect of pain relief, relieve inflammation and swelling.
The disadvantage of drug treatment is a huge number of side effects and temporary pain relief. Moreover, such treatment is aimed only at the elimination of symptoms, but is in no way directed at the root cause of the pain.
Who should be entrusted with such an important department for the body - the neck? In case of severe pain, a specialist is not needed, but a whole team who carefully examines, makes the correct diagnosis and prescribes therapy.
An integrated approach is applied, based on a combination of the following non-pharmacological methods:
- Physiotherapy.The muscles of the neck are very difficult to train, therefore, when choosing exercises, experts focus on the mobility of the thoracic region, shoulder girdle and the uniform distribution of loads on the spine. Physical therapy doctors select the optimal set of exercises aimed at shaping posture and eliminating neck pain.
- Kinesiotherapy.The clinics use kinesitherapy systems. The installation allows you to train the muscles of the cervical spine in depth. With the help of closed-chain exercises, neuromuscular problems of the skeleton can be effectively managed and the function of the ward can be increased.
- Osteopathy.Osteopathic neck correction is safe and painless, suitable for adults and children, pregnant women and professional athletes. Unlike other therapeutic methods, osteopathic medicine not only eliminates the pain syndrome, but relieves the patient from the source of pain, cures the underlying disease. For this, palpation and manual manipulation techniques are used on the muscles, joints, nerves, connective tissue, vessels and capillaries of the neck. Methods of osteopathic medicine accelerate recovery, increase the effectiveness of therapeutic, prophylactic or rehabilitative measures.
- Manual therapy.Effectively relieves tension from the neck. Specialists gently act on biologically active points, eliminate subluxations, displacements, perform manipulations aimed at relaxing the neck muscles, stretching the spine.
Competent selection and the right combination of therapeutic methods help to eliminate pain in the neck and get rid of discomfort. An integrated approach includes the joint and well-coordinated work of several specialists: rehabilitators, neurologists, traumatologists, orthopedists, psychologists. All follow the common goal of pain relief for the patient. It is important to have an individual approach to everyone, a combination of osteopathic and physiotherapeutic procedures, and even work on the deep and mental reasons for the fact that the whole neck hurts a lot.