Neck pain: causes, symptoms, and treatment

6 November 2020

Neck pain at varying intervals in 70% of adults. At the same time, the feeling of pain is not only of a different nature, but can be caused by a variety of diseases. Therefore, they are mainly observed not alone, but are accompanied by other symptoms that help in making accurate diagnosis and choosing the optimal treatment strategy.

Types of neck pain

Neck pain can be short-lived and is limited to mild or very severe discomfort that significantly affects everyday life. Many people often complain that they suddenly feel low back pain, then persistent pain appears. It can be painful, tingling, throbbing pain, spasm or otherwise.

Neck pain is also known as cervical pain.

Discomfort often increases with movement, such as when turning or tilting the head, while maintaining a stationary posture, which is especially uncomfortable for long periods of time, especially when working on a computer. In this regard, a person is forced, often even unconscious, to rotate his entire body in order to relax his neck as much as possible.

As such, it is obvious that neck pain can be very different. Hence, they are not only divided into acute (lasting less than 10 days) and chronic, but also into:

fibrosis of the spine - occurring against the background of pathological changes in the cervical spine, including disc damage, compression of the spinal roots and spinal cord;
non-vertebrae - due to all other causes, including infectious diseases, inflammatory muscle processes, thyroid diseases, lymph nodes, etc. v.

Spinal pain is characterized by irradiation to the occipital region, shoulder, arm, to the hands and fingers. Often, a feeling of numbness, a decrease in sensitivity and motor capacity is observed, indicating the development of neurological disorders, i. e. an invasion of one or other anatomical structures of the nerve root. or spinal cord. In addition, in such situations, dizziness, episodes of loss of consciousness and headaches may be observed, which indicates compression on the vertebral arteries, such as disc herniation.

An urgent appointment with your doctor is needed if your neck pain is acute or is accompanied by dizziness, numbness behind your head, or ringing in your ears.

What causes neck pain

Sometimes it is difficult for a patient to distinguish a sore throat from a sore throat independently, as it can be so pervasive that the sensation of being blurred and seeming to be sore throat is painful. If this is accompanied by a feeling of sweating or scratching in the throat, an increased body temperature, then this could be a sign of laryngitis, SARS, sore throat, sore throat, and other colds. In addition, this symptom is typical for:

;
Itsenko-Cushing syndrome;
foreign material that has entered the pharynx, for example, fish bones;
reduces anemia;
form benign and malignant tumors in the throat.

However, in most cases people can distinguish throat problems from real neck pain, visible both on the front side and back and front surfaces.

Locate pain is an important diagnostic feature that allows you to identify the source of the pain even at the examination stage and then thoroughly study the changes that have occurredusing the tool diagnostic methods.

Previous neck pain: causes

The appearance of a feeling of discomfort or even pain directly under the chin area or pain that radiates throughout the front of the neck may indicate:

;
inflammatory processes in muscles that affect ligaments and nerves;
cyst formation and abscesses;
affections of the lymph nodes;
angina.

That is, the list of causes can be quite broad and it is not possible to pinpoint exactly what is causing a pain in the neck. In such situations, you should contact a therapist for an examination. If necessary, the doctor will refer the patient to a narrow specialist with the desired profile.

Spinal artery syndrome and lens syndrome can also be associated with anterior neck pain. In both cases, the cause is an invasion of blood vessels or nerves due to a deformed disc, edematous tissues, displacement of the cervical vertebra or other structures. Our clinic has developed an integrated approach to solving this problem - orthopedic physicians, neurologists, rehabilitators, experienced endocrinologists will conduct the examination. and prescribing necessary treatment.

Back pain: causes

Due to the peculiarities of a modern lifestyle, people often worry when the back of the neck hurts. Working on the computer, using equipment constantly, low levels of physical activity and bad habits, all of these cause pathological changes in the structure of the spine, causing pain in yourself. in the neck. Therefore, in the case of pain, pulling, throbbing pain, low back pain in the back of the neck, it is necessary to consult a chiropractor or a chiropractor first, as in most schoolsIn combination, this is a sign of diseases of the cervical spine, namely:

osteonecrosis is a common disease accompanied by degenerative-dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs, decreased height and decreased strength;
- a complication of osteonecrosis, in which the disc protrudes (often into the spinal canal, where the spinal cord and nerve roots pass), putting a pinched on the nerve and burning artery. living;
disc herniation is the result of non-treatment of a staphylococcus aureus, in which the contents of the disc enter the spinal canal, gradually increasing and can severely compress the nerves and spinal cord, toit eventually separates and "moves" along the spinal canal, causing serious damage. and sometimes irreversible complications reach paralysis;
is a complication of osteoporosis, in which protruding parts of the bone, called a bone tumor, develop along the edges of the vertebral body, and the discs become flattened. severe, eventually leading to fusion of adjacent vertebrae and limited mobility of the neck;
myofascial syndrome - a disease in which the muscles contract, leading to acute pain during physical activity or when certain points of the neck are pressed;
of the vertebra - most commonly occurs in the elderly with osteoporosis or as a result of a whip injury, for example, in an accident and poses a serious threat to life and healthof human;
is a systemic disease that affects most of the body's joints and severely limits mobility due to the fusion of individual vertebrae, forminghard and immovable blocks.

Back and neck pain is less commonly caused by spinal tuberculosis, osteomyelitis or Reiter's syndrome.

Lateral neck pain: causes

Usually, the pain in the side surface of the neck is burning or throbbing and they can also be tingling. They tend to cause in the shoulders and ears, sometimes accompanied by the formation of a scoliosis, so the head is tilted toward the affected side. This is typical for:

vascular pathologies, including atherosclerosis;
, which may be triggered by pressure on the neck, sudden movement, or hypothermia;
forms malignant masses in the thyroid, pharynx and larynx.

Diagnose the cause of neck pain

Since in the majority of cases neck pain is due to the development of pathologies of the cervical spine, when they appear, you should contact a chiropractor, spine specialist orneurologist. The doctor will be able to determine, on the basis of complaints, neurological examination and examination data, whether neck discomfort is actually caused by a spinal disorder or other illnesses.

However, in fact, it is the deviations from the norm in the state of the spine that is one of the reasons that lead to the development of concomitant diseases in internal organs. After all, a change in the position of the vertebrae, a decrease in the height of the disc and other changes, even small, lead to a violation of the transmission of nerve impulses from the spinal cord through the nerve roots along the cord. nerves to internal organs.

Since the spinal cord is characterized by an inner segment, that is, each part of it is responsible for the correct functioning of a particular organ, in the case of a disorder in the cervical spine, the inner partof the ENT organs, the larynx, thyroid, and parathyroid glands can be affected, and also muscles in the neck, shoulders, and forearms. Therefore, their work is interrupted at first, and over time organic changes appear, i. e. the disease develops, which can cause pain of different intensity and characteristics in the neck. .

Therefore, diseases of internal organs are rarely diagnosed and changes in the spine are not detected, so it is necessary to consult an orthopedic doctor without fail. But if the patient has signs of diseases of the thyroid gland, heart, ear, nose and throat organs or others, they should also seek advice from a narrow specialist (endocrinologist, cardiologist, physician). ENT specialist, etc. ).

Thus, the diagnosis of the cause of neck pain is always complicated. It may include:

general and biochemical blood tests;
determines the level of thyroid hormone in the blood;
Ultrasound with dopplerography of neck blood vessels, thyroid, salivary glands;
x-ray of the cervical spine;
electromechanical chromatography;
CT;
MRI.

To diagnose diseases of the spine, the most informative is an MRI scan, that is, magnetic resonance imaging. This method allows you to study the condition of the disc to the smallest detail, evaluate the quality of blood flow in the vertebral arteries and detect signs of compression of the spinal cord or its roots. With its help, diseases are diagnosed at the earliest stage of development, ensuring the earliest possible start of treatment and high efficiency.

In our clinic you can also learn more about body composition and the state of the vascular system, related to the blood supply to internal organs, musculoskeletal system andBrain . . . Our experienced doctors will explain the findings in detail to you. Biological measurement calculates the ratio of fat, muscle, bone and bone mass, total body fluids, basal metabolic rate. The recommended intensity of physical activity depends on the condition of the muscle mass. Metabolic processes, in turn, affect the body's ability to recover. By means of active cell mass, one can assess the level of physical activity and nutritional balance. This simple and quick test helps us see the endocrine disturbance and take action. In addition, we also need to know the condition of the blood vessels to prevent diseases like heart attack, hypertension, heart failure, diabetes and many more. Angioscan allows you to determine important metrics such as the biological age of blood vessels, their hardness, the stress index (which speaks to heart rate), and oxygen saturation in the blood. Such screening will be helpful for men and women over the age of 30, athletes, who are undergoing long-term and difficult treatment, as well as all those following their health.

In this case, the body composition analysis informs us that the body is dominated by adipose tissue, and that the bone-muscle composition is in relative deficiency. These data will help the rehabilitation person to plan an accurate physical activity, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient.

Treatment of neck pain

For each patient, therapeutic strategies are developed separately on the basis of diagnosis, severity of pathological changes, presence of concomitant diseases, and other factors. Even patients with the same disability may be prescribed different treatments, as even age and level of physical development affect it.

However, treatment of neck pain is complex and includes both symptomatic and causative therapy. In other words, it aims to eliminate the symptoms of the disease and the cause of its appearance. The main components of therapy are usually:

drug therapy;
osteopathy;
manual therapy;
massage;
physiotherapy (electrophoresis, carboxy therapy, ozone therapy, RF current therapy);
Personal lessons with rehabilitation doctor.

When diagnosing the pathology of the cervical spine, people point out some adjustments in your lifestyle and habits. Therefore, office workers, drivers, tailors and representatives of other sedentary occupations are advised to start up as often as possible and avoid maintaining a forced position for long periods of time, especially demanding. asked for neck strain.

It is also important to eat properly so that the body gets all the nutrients it needs. This will allow not only to slow the progression of the pathology, but also contribute to a faster regeneration.

For severe pain, the orthopedic doctor may recommend the patient to buy a Chance neck brace or necklace. Wearing it will help remove the neck spine and avoid a rash, sudden movement, leading to pain syndrome fading away. At our center you can choose and buy a tape that is right for you

You can wrap a wool scarf around your neck to relieve pain before your appointment, or take anesthetic no more than 12 hours before using it.

Drug treatment

The nature of the drugs prescribed and their quantity can vary in a very wide range, this directly depends on the diagnosis and the presence of concomitant diseases. Therefore, we will only list those classes of drugs that are prescribed for the vast majority of patients:

NSAIDs are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that also differ in their analgesic properties (produced in a variety of dosage forms, including tablets, ointments, solution for injection, etc. );
is a drug with a strong anti-inflammatory effect, used only for severe inflammatory processes that the NSAID cannot eliminate;
- a drug that eliminates muscle spasm of a different origin, helps to reduce the severity of pain;
chondroprotectors - drugs that promote the recovery of cartilage tissue that make up the disc, but are only effective in the early stages of bone necrosis;
Vitamin B - used to improve the conduction of bioelectric impulses from the spinal cord to their respective organs and restore their correct function;
vitamin D - a remedy responsible for the condition of bone tissue, as well as higher brain functions, such as memory, memory, attention, speech.

In addition, the patient may be prescribed antibiotics, hormone replacement therapy, antihypertensive drugs, and others.

For particularly severe neck pain, blockade pills are used. The procedures include injecting anesthetic solutions with corticosteroids into the area where the nerves pass in the neck, allowing very rapid pain relief. However, in addition to they only have analgesic effects caused by nerve damage, they require a high degree of professionalism from medical professionals, as when performing a blockade there is a risk of nerve damage, infection and cause serious complications.

Manual therapy

Hand therapy is one of the most effective ways to deal with neck pain and its causes, but only if it's done properly. It involves a direct effect on the spine and surrounding soft tissues. Don't confuse manual therapy with therapeutic massage, which trains only the muscles of the back and neck.

Manual techniques and therapies allow real after the first session to achieve a significant improvement in health and ultimately complete remission. This is achieved through:

restores the normal axis of the spine by returning vertebrae to their anatomically correct position;
increases the distance between the vertebral bodies and frees the compressed nerves and blood vessels, eliminates the signs of lens syndrome, improves the functioning of internal organs and especiallyBrain;
eliminates spasm of the neck muscles and functional blocks, improves mobility and reduces the severity of pain;
improves blood circulation and tissue nutrition.

We do not have a general standard of treatment, a unique approach is applied to each patient. Only a highly qualified specialist should be trusted for manual therapy. Otherwise, the use of inadequate techniques can only harm the patient, aggravate the problem or provoke the development of complications.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy procedures used to improve the effectiveness of therapy. They are indicated outside the acute phase and have analgesic, anti-inflammatory effects, as well as improve microcirculation in soft tissues, and contribute to the normalization of muscle tone.

Usually, courses are specified, consisting of 8-15 procedures. This could be:

;
UHF;
ultrasound therapy;
;
pull therapy (pull the spine);
mud bath, v. v.

The number of sessions for physiotherapy procedures and their frequency of execution is individually selected by the doctor. Some processes may be combined, while others have to be implemented strictly within a specified period of time.

exercise therapy

Physiotherapy is one of the required ingredients of conservative therapy for neck pain. Since they so often occur in the context of excessive muscle tension and disc degeneration-dystrophy caused by this, it is important to pay attention to exercise and exercise therapies. daily.

For each patient, a program of physiotherapy exercises was developed exclusively by a rehabilitation physician. It can be dangerous to use the complexes presented on the Internet, as they do not take into account the individual characteristics of the patient, the patient's age, the degree of neglect of the pathological process and the physical level of the disease. multiply. Therefore, the construction of therapeutic exercise program needs the help of a specialist. Furthermore, the first sessions are necessarily performed under his control, so that the patient can understand how to perform each exercise and during independent research does not harm himself. At home, you should practice in a quiet environment, avoid sudden movement, if pain occurs, you should see your doctor.

So neck pain is widespread. They can be caused by the development of various diseases, but the most common cause of discomfort is spinal problems caused by a sedentary lifestyle. Therefore, you should not hesitate to go to the doctor. Indeed, in the early stages of the development of the disease, it can be easily handled by conservative methods. While in severe cases, neck pain and its cause can be completely eliminated with surgery.