Neck pain is a common symptom characterized by pain in the cervical spine.It is caused by mechanical damage or systemic disease.A person complains that his neck hurts when he bends over or turns his head sharply.Acute pain can last for 10 days, then disappear.If it continues for a long time and does not give rest, then you need to immediately seek help from a specialist.You can get treatment for neck pain, diseases and injuries that cause it in specialized clinics.
Causes of neck pain
Pain in the neck area occurs for the following reasons:
- acute torticollis - a pain syndrome caused by injury to the neck muscles, lifting heavy objects or staying for a long time in an uncomfortable position, it usually disappears in 1-2 days;
- wear and tear of the spine - deformation of the joints and bones of the spine;
- Whiplash - a sudden movement of the head that damages the tendons and ligaments of the neck;
- pinched nerve - cervical radiculopathy, which occurs due to damage to the intervertebral disc;
- cervical osteochondrosis is a spinal disease that causes degenerative changes in the intervertebral disc and is accompanied by severe pain in the neck, radiating to the arm;
- hernia in the cervical spine - a disease that leads to pinched nerve roots, pain in the neck and shoulders, decreased sensitivity in the arms and decreased muscle strength;
- Acute thyroiditis is a rare disease characterized by inflammation of the thyroid gland.
Factors that provoke neck pain include:
- febrile state;
- sudden weight loss;
- impaired movement coordination;
- physical fatigue;
- cervical injury;
- vitamin B deficiency;
- poor posture;
- genetic predisposition;
- unhealthy lifestyle.
A common cause of neck pain in children is lymphadenitis, a complication of tonsillitis.Discomfort in the head and neck area is observed when infected.Intracranial bleeding, neoplasms and abscesses can also cause painful syndromes.
Types of neck pain
Depending on the location of the pain, neck pain is divided into the following types:
Cervicgia
Pain only in the neck area.If it spreads to the arm, then this syndrome is called cervico-brachialgia.When it radiates to the head, it is cervicocranialgia.
Cervix lumbago or cervix
It is characterized by severe acute pain with any movement of the neck and head.It may radiate to the back of the head or the thoracic spine.The duration of the attack can reach 10 days.In rare cases, pain persists for 2-3 months.
Diagnostic methods
First of all, the doctor conducts a visual examination and palpation of the neck to determine the nature of the pain and the cause of its occurrence.To confirm the diagnosis, the clinic carries out laboratory tests and recommends that the patient undergo a simple x-ray if an injury or disease of the skeletal system is suspected, a computed tomography scan or an MRI if the specialist suspects that the cause of the pain may be a disease of the cervical vertebrae.Electromyography will be needed to check the function of the nervous system.
In the clinic, the cause of neck pain is determined using the following methods:
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
- Ultrasound (ultrasound examination)
- Duplex scanning
- Computed tomography
- Computer electroencephalography
- Full body examination (examination)
Treatment for neck pain
The treatment strategy is chosen taking into account the pathology or injury that causes neck pain.Conservative and surgical treatment is usually carried out using modern technology.If the underlying disease can be cured, the patient is given analgesics, glucocorticoids, local anesthetics, antioxidants and muscle relaxants.If necessary, antidepressants and anticonvulsants can be used.Pain relievers are the basis of drug treatment aimed at relieving pain, swelling and inflammation.
Physiotherapy procedures - osteopathy, physical therapy, neck massage, manual therapy - will also help relieve pain.Ultrasound therapy is recommended to relieve spasms and improve blood circulation.The duration of treatment depends on the severity of the pathological process.
If the patient is diagnosed with intervertebral hernia and spinal cord damage, he is referred for surgery.
In specialized clinics, the following methods are used to treat neck pain:
- Manual therapy
- Kinesio Recording
- Physiotherapy
- Therapeutic massage
- Reflexology
- Ozone therapy
- Plasma therapy
- SVF therapy
- Therapeutic exercise
- Shock wave therapy
- Interstitial electrical stimulation
Complications of neck pain
Neck pain itself is a symptom;it may not cause complications, but it worsens a person's quality of life.But without treatment for neck pain, the cause can lead to serious consequences.If it is caused by a whiplash injury, then this is fraught with blurred vision, dizziness, post-traumatic osteoarthritis and neurosis.Cervical osteochondrosis without medical treatment leads to irreversible damage to the spine and death.
If left untreated, cervical spine pathology can cause tetraparesis.Initially, patients will experience numbness in their fingers and hands at night or after doing physical activity.Then leg paralysis will gradually begin to develop.It is characterized by numbness of the fingers and difficulty walking.
Hernias in the cervical spine can cause compression of nerve roots and disruption of blood flow in the brain.Without a well-chosen treatment regimen, deformation of the spine will occur.It is accompanied by neurological disorders, digestive system disorders and migraine attacks.
Prevent neck pain
To avoid neck pain, you should organize your workplace properly.When working inactively, it is necessary to rest periodically and do some exercises for all parts of the spine and muscle groups.It is also recommended to do gymnastics in the morning.
Many diseases of the cervical spine can occur due to excess weight.Therefore, you should control your weight, eat right, visit the swimming pool and the gym.It is advisable to sleep on a medium hard mattress and use one pillow so that your head is at the same level as your body.