Neck pain is a common symptom characterized by pain in the cervical spine.The cause is mechanical damage or systemic disease.A person complains that his neck hurts when he bends down or turns his head suddenly.Acute pain may last 10 days and then disappear.If this condition persists and does not improve, you need to urgently seek help from specialists.You can be treated for neck pain and the diseases and injuries that cause it at a specialist clinic.
Causes of neck pain
Neck pain occurs due to the following reasons:
- acute torticollis - pain syndrome caused by injury to the neck muscles, lifting heavy objects or being in an uncomfortable position for a long time, usually goes away after 1-2 days;
- wear and tear of the spine – deformity of the joints and bones of the spine;
- Whiplash – a sudden movement of the head that injures tendons and ligaments in the neck;
- pinched nerve – cervical radiculopathy, which occurs due to damage to the intervertebral disc;
- Cervical spondylosis is a disease of the spine that causes degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs and is accompanied by severe pain in the neck, radiating down the arms;
- hernia in the cervical spine - a disease that leads to compression of 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 trigger neck pain include:
- febrile condition;
- sudden weight loss;
- impaired ability to coordinate movements;
- physical fatigue;
- cervical trauma;
- vitamin B deficiency;
- bad 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 noted when infected.Intracranial hemorrhage, tumors, and abscesses can also cause painful syndromes.
Types of neck pain
Depending on the location of pain, neck pain is divided into the following types:
Cervical pain
The pain is only in the neck area.If it spreads to the arms, this syndrome is called neck-arm pain.When it spreads to the head, it causes cranial neck pain.
Cervical or cervical lumbar pain
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.Attack time can reach 10 days.In rare cases, pain continues for 2-3 months.
Diagnostic method
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 appearance.To confirm the diagnosis, the clinic conducts laboratory tests and recommends that patients have 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 pain may be cervical spondylosis.Electromyography will be ordered to test nervous system activity.
In clinics, the cause of neck pain is determined using the following methods:
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
- Ultrasound (ultrasound examination)
- Double-sided scanning
- Computed tomography
- Computer EEG
- Comprehensive body check (check-up)
Treat neck pain
The treatment strategy is chosen taking into account the pathology or injury causing neck pain.Conservative and surgical treatment is often performed using modern technology.If the underlying disease can be cured, the patient will be prescribed pain relievers, glucocorticoids, local anesthetics, antioxidants, and muscle relaxants.If necessary, antidepressants and anticonvulsants may be used.Analgesics are the basis of drug treatment aimed at reducing pain, swelling and inflammation.
Physical therapy procedures - chiropractic, physical therapy, neck massage, manual therapy - will also help relieve pain.Ultrasound therapy is recommended to reduce spasms and improve blood circulation.The duration of treatment depends on the severity of the pathological process.
If a patient is diagnosed with disc herniation and spinal cord injury, the patient will be referred for surgery.
In specialized clinics, the following methods are used to treat neck pain:
- Manual therapy
- Kinesio recording
- Physical therapy
- Massage therapy
- acupressure
- Ozone therapy
- Plasma therapy
- SVF therapy
- Therapeutic exercises
- Shock wave therapy
- Interstitial electrical stimulation
Complications of neck pain
Neck pain is a symptom in itself;it cannot cause complications but it does worsen a person's quality of life.But if neck pain is not treated, its cause can lead to serious consequences.If the cause is whiplash injury, it will lead to blurred vision, dizziness, post-traumatic osteoarthritis and neurological disorders.Cervical osteonecrosis without medical attention will lead to irreversible spinal damage and death.
If left untreated, cervical spine pathology can cause quadriplegia.Initially, patients will feel numbness in their fingers and hands at night or after physical activity.Then paralysis in the legs will gradually begin to develop.It is characterized by numbness of the fingers and impaired gait.
Herniation in the cervical spine can lead to nerve root compression and disruption of blood flow in the brain.Without a well-chosen treatment regimen, spinal deformity will occur.It is accompanied by nervous disorders, digestive system disorders and migraine attacks.
Prevent neck pain
To prevent neck pain, you should organize your workplace properly.When working sedentarily, it is necessary to periodically take breaks and perform some exercises for all parts of the spine and muscle groups.Exercising in the morning is also recommended.
Many diseases of the cervical spine can occur due to being overweight.Therefore, you should control your weight, eat properly, go to the swimming pool and gym.You should sleep on a mattress of moderate firmness and use a pillow so that your head is level with your body.