Neck pain is an unpleasant problem that can significantly spoil the mood and quality of life.The symptom occurs in 30-40% of the population and can lead to loss of movement and disability.
Treatment methods differ depending on the causes.Early diagnosis and quality treatment, started after the problem is detected, will help you forget about this unpleasant symptom.
Why does your neck hurt?
The etiopathogenesis (mechanism of development) of pain is divided into three main groups:
- somatogenic.This includes pain due to injury and inflammation, ischemic processes and mechanical tissue damage.
- neurogenic.It occurs when the structure and function of the central and peripheral nervous system are disturbed.
- psychogenic.In this case, psychological and social factors play a role.Emotional activity can cause reflex contraction of muscles, resulting in pain.
Pain can be acute or chronic.If your neck hurts sharply, this is most likely a normal reaction to an injury.To stop the pain, it is necessary to wait for the complete healing of the tissues or to speed up this process.Chronic pain has a different mechanism of development – impairments occur constantly and maladaptation occurs.The body cannot deal with the damaging factor on its own.
The causes of pain are divided into two main groups: vertebral (related to the spine) and non-vertebral.They can develop both by somatogenic and by neuropathic mechanism.in the first case, the structures of the spine and muscles are involved in the process, and in the second - the roots of the spinal nerves and peripheral nerve endings.The psychogenic mechanism comes into play a little later and aggravates the current situation.
Vertebrogenic neck pain can be divided into the following subtypes:
- myogenic.Pain occurs when muscles are stretched or squeezed.Also, the cause can be prolonged contraction of muscle fibers.
- arthrogenic.Damage to the joints connecting the vertebrae occurs.The distance between the structural elements of the spine decreases, constant mutual damage occurs, which provokes pain.
- discogenic.Occurs with bulging, displacement and herniation of discs.
- spondylogenic.The cause of pain in this case is damage to the structures of the vertebra, its tissues or processes.It can be a destructive process or a bulky neoplasm that is influenced from the outside.
- neuropathic.The neck hurts due to compression of a root or nerve ending.The causes can be a bulky neoplasm, hernia or hypertrophy of individual structures.
Non-vertebral neck pain is divided into:
- myofascial syndrome;
- pain caused by psychological factors;
- radiation of pain during a pathological process in other parts of the body;
- symptoms of inflammatory processes.
Below we will look at the individual causes of pain, but for now, familiarize yourself with the risk factors that can cause this symptom:
- incorrect position during work;
- lack of anatomical position of the spine during sleep;
- low level of physical activity;
- excessive load on the spine;
- overweight;
- lack of a rational approach to nutrition;
- disturbed drinking regime;
- frequent stress;
- bad habits (drinking alcohol, nicotine).
Causes of neck pain
Let's look at the main causes of pain and the mechanism of development of symptoms in these conditions.
Osteochondrosis
In this pathology, the connections between the joints of the spine are broken, the disc bulges and hernias form.The condition occurs in those who have a hereditary predisposition and do not monitor their posture, diet and lifestyle.In addition to neck pain, a person feels general weakness and tinnitus.Seizures and disturbances of consciousness appear.Pain may occur in the arms, back of the head, and the area between the shoulder blades.The joints may creak when the head is turned and numbness may be felt.
The pain associated with this disease is chronic and painful.It can reach such an intensity that it becomes difficult to sleep.In the early stages, the process can be easily corrected, but the more the pathology progresses, the more difficult it is to correct.
Osteoarthritis of the cervical vertebrae
The disease has a destructive nature - intervertebral joints are destroyed, their structure is disturbed and bone tissue overgrowth occurs.The neck can hurt on one side, the pain also radiates to the upper limb and chest.
Violation of blood vessels and nerve endings leads to hearing and vision impairment, a person becomes more tired, experiences memory loss and distraction.Lack of effective treatment can lead to complications and disability.
Disc herniation
The pathology begins with protrusion of the disc contents and then moves out of the normal anatomical position.Even a slight shift can manifest as a pronounced symptom.The spinal canal is narrow and all the nerve roots are in close proximity to each other.As soon as a hernia begins to appear, the neck and back hurt.If the patient tries to eliminate the pain with conventional painkillers, the symptom disappears, but the problem remains and after a while reminds of itself again.
Stretching the neck muscles
Almost everyone has encountered this problem - long-term tension in the cervical spine or intense training after a while is reflected in severe muscle pain.The pain appears acutely and often begins to bother you after sleep.on the affected side of the neck swelling and swelling are noted.Turning the head becomes difficult, the patient tries to give his head the most comfortable position so as not to feel pain.The pain will go away by itself, you just need to rest the damaged area.To alleviate the situation, consult a doctor: he can recommend a compress or ointment with an analgesic.
spondylosis
The disease is a complication of osteochondrosis that cannot be treated.The disease is serious and can limit a person's physical activity.In addition to osteochondrosis, spondylosis can be caused by trauma.The patient experiences constant pain, it can move to the back of the head and the collar area.Sometimes the neck hurts pulsatingly, accompanied by stiffness and difficulty turning the head.
In order to eliminate the disease, complex treatment is needed, which combines an effect on the cause and individual symptoms of the disease.
Cervical myelopathy
The patient has neck pain in this case due to narrowing of the spinal canal.In order to recognize the pathology in time, it is necessary to pay attention to the following symptoms: the patient feels weakness, numbness and tingling in the limbs.The condition is accompanied by disturbances in speech, coordination and balance.The gait becomes unstable, the position of the body in space is disturbed.If you have recently experienced injuries, falls or traffic accidents, it is most likely myelopathy.
Whiplash
In this case, the neck hurts as a result of soft tissue damage.The mechanism of occurrence is strong flexion and subsequent extension.The patient usually experiences pain after a fall or struggle.The injury can be recognized by the following sign: the head is slightly protruding forward and the physiological curves of the cervical spine are disturbed.
Trauma
Causes of injury are impacts, accidents and failed dives.The patient experiences excruciating pain in the neck and back of the head.Motor activity is severely limited, soft tissues swell, hematomas and bruises appear.
Infectious diseases
The inflammatory response, which is a response to an infectious disease, leads to acute pain.The mechanism of development is an increase in lymph nodes.lymphatic vessels that put pressure on the muscles and lead to their spasm.This condition is seen in sore throat and rubella.
An infectious disease in which neck pain is a leading symptom is meningitis.The pathology is accompanied by tension in the muscles of the back of the head, the patient cannot bend his head and it is in an unnaturally extended position.
Diseases of internal organs
Some diseases of the internal organs can lead to pain radiating to the neck.This is facilitated by the peculiarities of innervation and reflex mechanisms.So pain in the gallbladder, esophagus and heart can radiate to the neck.Also, pain is observed in pathologies of the thyroid gland, larynx and pharynx.
Some of the pathologies can proceed normally and are easily treated.But sometimes the neck hurts due to serious pathologies that require emergency care.
Other reasons
The neck may hurt after the patient has had a draft or has become very cold.This leads to muscle spasm, which is accompanied by pain.It also happens that a person simply "lies down" while sleeping in an uncomfortable position.After prolonged work, stress or intensive training, this symptom may also appear.
Types of neck pain
This symptom can be divided into the following subtypes:
- cervix.This is acute pain and restriction of movement, also known as "cervical lumbago".
- cervicalgia.Neck pain due to diseases of internal organs, spine and other causes.You can divide the pain depending on the cause, as described above.Also, the type of pain depends on its nature: acute or chronic.
There is a special commission for the study of neck pain.She suggested identifying the following types of pain depending on the stage:
Stage 1
Short-term cervical pain that stops after a while on its own or after lifestyle changes.There are no symptoms to indicate structural damage.No additional methods of diagnosis and treatment are required.
Stage 2
There are no signs of serious disorders of the anatomical structures, but the daily activity of the patient is impaired: it is necessary to take painkillers.The condition can be corrected with lifestyle changes and a little exercise.
Stage 3
Neurological symptoms appear, additional diagnostics and complex treatment are required.
Stage 4
Signs of organic lesions appear.The patient is worried about severe intense pain, which corresponds to tumors, myelopathies or systemic pathology.Quality, comprehensive diagnostics and specialized treatment are necessary.
Basic principles of neck pain treatment
How to treat neck pain depends on the specific situation and the mechanisms of disease development.Also, the choice of method is influenced by the stage of the process and its nature.The attending physician can determine the tactics after a complete examination and additional diagnostic methods.
The beginning of any treatment is a change in lifestyle.This depends only on the patient and determines the success of the rest of the treatment procedures.
These methods also apply to preventive measures to prevent neck pain:
- gymnastics and warming up the neck muscles, which relieves muscle tension;
- general strengthening of the muscular corset of the back;
- correct position at the table, during work and rest;
- if you do sedentary work, get up periodically and do simple exercises;
- place a pillow under your back when sitting for a long time;
- Adjust the position of the monitor so that you do not strain your neck.This applies to both the computer and the phone;
- if you often talk on the phone, use a headset or speakerphone;
- when working with documents, use a stand so that the documents are at eye level;
- Pay attention to your bed - give preference to an orthopedic mattress and pillow.
- always use a seat belt when traveling - this prevents injuries and stretching of the neck muscles;
- Make sure your diet is balanced and rational.In addition to the normal combination of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, food should contain trace elements, minerals and vitamins;
- drink enough pure water, in addition to tea, coffee and juices;
- avoid stress or learn to respond to it properly;
- give up nicotine and other bad habits.
Treatment of pain should be comprehensive, affecting not only the symptoms, but also the cause of development.If your neck hurts, conservative methods, medications and physical therapy are used.In severe stages of some conditions, surgical treatment is recommended.
Medicines used to treat pain:
- nonsteroidal drugs relieve inflammation, swelling, and pain;
- ointments to reduce pain;
- muscle relaxants;
- glucocorticosteroids;
- vitamin injections.
Physiotherapy methods are also effective for neck pain.You should first consult your doctor, as these methods are used depending on the stage of the process.
The following methods are considered effective:
- massage;
- exercise therapy;
- acupuncture;
- medicinal baths;
- healing shower;
- mud treatment.
Neck pain treatment should be timely and high-quality - only then you can count on success and pain relief.