Neck pain is a common problem that bothers many people. The symptom may be accompanied by limited mobility in the cervical spine, muscle tension and headache. There are many causes of neck pain. A complete diagnosis is necessary to choose the right treatment.
In this article we will tell you what to do if your neck hurts a lot, what can cause the pain and how to prevent it. Clinic doctors have extensive experience in treating neck pain of various origins. Comprehensive therapy is selected individually, taking into account the patient's condition, causes of pain and other factors that affect the outcome of treatment.
Types of pain in the cervical spine
There are two types of neck pain:
- Vertebrogenic— occur with damage to the intervertebral discs, compression of the spinal cord and spinal roots. The pain can spread from the neck to the back of the head and into the fingers. Muscle weakness and numbness in one or both arms can also be a concern.
- Invertebrates- appear due to an inflammatory process in the neck muscles. This also includes pain due to diseases of the thyroid gland and nearby lymph nodes. In this case, the inflammatory process can be accompanied by an increase in body temperature and painful pain.
If the discomfort does not go away within a few days and intensifies with movement, you should consult a doctor. A specialist will determine the cause of neck pain and prescribe effective treatment.
Causes of neck pain
Pain in the neck muscles can be caused by many diseases: from muscle strain to serious pathologies of the spine and internal organs. Sometimes it is very difficult for the patient to independently determine the affected area - in the throat or in the upper part of the spine, since the pain can be felt on all sides of the neck.
The most common causes of acute pain:
- myositis- inflammation of one or more neck muscles, accompanied by severe pain, swelling and limited movement of the head. It occurs as a result of infectious diseases, injuries and frequent uncomfortable positions of the body.
- Cervical osteochondrosis- degenerative-dystrophic disease of the spine. The cervical spine, along with the lumbar spine, is very mobile. As a result of constant stress, the nutrition of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs breaks down. Bone tissue grows, intervertebral discs are damaged and come out in the form of protrusions and hernias. The pain is due to the fact that the bulging discs press on the spinal ligaments and spinal nerve roots. The pain is very strong, sudden and can be felt only in the neck on one or both sides. They can also radiate to other areas - on the head, on the back of the head, arm, back, under the shoulder blade.
- Intervertebral hernia- an advanced form of osteochondrosis, when compression of nerve roots occurs. This disease is characterized by pronounced neurological manifestations: pain in the arm, decreased muscle strength and impaired sensitivity of the skin of the upper extremities.
- spondilosis- an advanced stage of osteochondrosis, in which the ends of the vertebral bodies are overgrown with bony protrusions - osteophytes. The beads are then joined together. In this case, the intervertebral discs are flattened and, in addition to pain, the patient experiences severe limitations when moving the head.
- Rheumatoid spondylitis- autoimmune inflammatory process in the joints of the cervical spine. As a result of the malfunction of the immune system, its cells begin to attack their own body. The disease develops gradually and spreads to all joints of the entire spine. The cervical region is rarely affected. The vertebrae are deformed and their mobility is impaired. Pain appears in the neck, stiffness of movements appears, which gradually disappears after performing active movements. Over time, the pain intensifies and the spine becomes immobile.
- Osteoarthritis of the joints of the cervical spine- the destruction of small nodes located between the arches of the cervical vertebrae. In this case, the cartilaginous surfaces of two adjacent bones are destroyed. The distance between individual vertebrae decreases, one bone begins to rub against another, which causes pain. It often appears after injuries or is an occupational disease, it develops when you work in a stationary state with your head bent or turned with force. It appears as pain at the site of the lesion, radiating to the shoulder and cracking when moving.
- Torticollis– congenital or acquired neck deformity with head tilt or turning to one side. The disease is associated with pathology of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, located laterally along the anterolateral surfaces of the neck on both sides. It appears as a tilt of the head and a raised shoulder on the affected side, accompanied by pain in the neck and back of the head when trying to tilt the head in the opposite direction. The pain increases with physical activity and stress.
- Myofascial pain syndromeis a pain syndrome associated with the formation of local painful areas in the muscle, which are called "trigger points". It occurs due to prolonged muscle tension, uneven load distribution and compression of nerves by surrounding structures. In this case, the patient experiences pain in the muscles at rest, which intensify with physical activity, pressing certain points of the muscles, which feel like quite strong compressions. Pain from these points can spread to other areas of the body.
- Compressive fractureis a spinal injury in which compression of the vertebral body and damage to the spinal canal occurs. It happens when engaging in traumatic sports, as well as in elderly people due to the fragility of bone tissue. It can result from whiplash injury in an accident and can be seriously life-threatening.
Rare causes of cervical spine pain include:
- Osteomyelitis- purulent inflammation affecting the bone marrow, periosteum and the bone itself. It most often occurs due to infection and the functioning of the immune system.
- Spinal tuberculosis- a serious disease caused by Koch's bacilli and affecting different parts of the spine, most often affecting the thoracic region. The first symptoms may appear several years after infection.
If discomfort and pain in the neck are accompanied by a sore throat, fever and weakness, this may signal the development of a viral infection, laryngitis and other colds.
Neck pain can also be a manifestation of:
- Benign and malignant tumors of the neck organs;
- gastrointestinal diseases;
- foreign bodies in the throat;
- thyroid diseases;
- angina pectoris, called angina pectoris;
- soft tissue abscesses of the neck;
- diseases of the lymph nodes.
If the neck muscles on the sides hurt, the cause can be not only a spasm or injury, but also many other diseases. Clinics adhere to an evidence-based approach to diagnosis. This allows you to accurately determine the origin of the symptom and prescribe effective treatment.
Diagnosing
In most cases, neck pain is non-specific, that is, caused by muscle and ligament pathology. Also, the pain syndrome often develops as a result of degenerative changes in the cervical spine - osteochondrosis. Therefore, first of all, you should contact a neurologist or vertebrologist.
To make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment, the doctor interviews the patient in detail about his symptoms, their severity, location and conditions of occurrence. It also clarifies the presence of chronic, hereditary diseases, injuries and medications taken. The specialist then performs a complete visual examination, palpation of the neck and evaluation of the neurological condition, including the determination of muscle strength and sensation in the extremities. To confirm the diagnosis and exclude diseases not related to the spine, the patient is recommended to undergo a comprehensive diagnosis. This may include:
- complete blood count, blood test for markers of inflammation levels, thyroid hormone levels;
- X-ray of the cervical spine;
- Ultrasound with examination of the condition of blood vessels;
- electroneuromyography;
- MRI, CT.
The most informative method is MRI. With its help, pathological diseases of the spine are identified in the early stages and signs of compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots are detected.
At the clinic meeting, the doctor will talk in detail about modern diagnostic methods, interpret the results of the study and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Treatment of pain in the cervical spine
The doctor determines how to treat acute neck pain individually for each patient, taking into account all the characteristics of the body and the course of the disease.
People with the same diagnosis may be prescribed different treatments because they have different medical histories: chronic diseases, level of physical development, intensity of pain, age.
Complex treatment is used to relieve severe neck pain associated with diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Therapy may include: medication, physical therapy, massage, exercise therapy.
Drug treatment- taking medications containing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, in some cases corticosteroids are also used. The main goal of drug treatment is to reduce inflammation and relieve pain, eliminating further tissue destruction.
Physiotherapy- a group of treatment methods based on the influence of natural and artificially created factors on the body - light, water, electric current, magnetic fields, mechanical and temperature effects. These techniques initiate and accelerate the body's natural recovery processes.
Physiotherapy methods that help treat cervical spine include:
- Laser therapy is a painless procedure, it helps to get rid of pain, relieve inflammation and local swelling and improves tissue regeneration.
- Magnetic therapy helps relieve pain and inflammation.
- Shock wave therapy improves spinal mobility, relaxes muscles and also accelerates tissue recovery.
- Acupuncture is a technique of traditional Chinese medicine that can effectively and quickly relieve muscle pain and tension.
Manual therapy- treatment of a disease with hands, in which the doctor makes certain, soft, vibrating movements. Thanks to this method, the mobility of the joints and spine is restored, the muscles are relaxed and the pain is reduced. Manual therapy is based on oriental techniques for the treatment of the spine.
Massage- one of the most famous and popular methods for treating osteochondrosis and other diseases of the spine. With the help of massage, you can relieve neck pain during sudden movement, relieve tension and restore the mobility of the spinal joints. Massage relaxes spasm muscles, strengthens them and reduces pain. It is also used to prevent diseases of the cervical spine.
Healing fitness- is prescribed individually, taking into account the type of disease and its stage. The class consists of several techniques and special exercises that help improve joint mobility, relieve swelling, muscle tension, and then strengthen the muscle corset to prevent the progression of the disease.
Preventing
A sedentary lifestyle, prolonged work at the computer and many other factors lead to problems with the musculoskeletal system - this causes neck pain. Simple recommendations for prevention will help to avoid the development of serious diseases of the cervical spine and their complications:
- Do a short warm-up every 30-40 minutes during breaks from computer work.
- Sleep on an orthopedic mattress and orthopedic pillow.
- Pay close attention to the ergonomics of the workplace: the chair should be comfortable with a special pillow for the neck, the computer should be placed at eye level or slightly higher.
- Do not talk on the phone with your cheek against your shoulder.
- Distribute the load evenly in both hands if you are carrying something heavy.
- Eat a balanced, varied diet, include a large amount of vegetables and fruits in your diet.
- Move more, give your body enough activity.
Regular yoga classes and swimming in the pool help with neck pain. It is recommended to perform the exercises with an instructor, who will design an appropriate training program and monitor the correctness of its implementation.