Neck pain is a rather unpleasant phenomenon that can affect anyone. Let's see why neck pain occurs, what it is like, how to diagnose and treat it properly.
The neck has many functions; it is responsible for the functioning of the spine and supports the head. Neck pain occurs frequently and is usually due to heavy loads placed on this fragile but multifunctional part of the body. There are many reasons that cause neck pain. So, first things first.
Causes of neck pain
The causes of neck pain can be related to different types of diseases or injuries. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the main factors that cause pain:
- Chronic diseases (osteochondrosis, osteoarthritis) are degenerative and can appear in the neck muscles, ligaments or one of the parts of the spine.
- Injuries – pain occurs when there are injuries to intervertebral discs, ligaments, vertebrae and joints.
- Intervertebral disc herniation.
- Refers to pain from diseases of the esophagus, muscle spasms, heart, lungs.
- Tumors in the cervical spine or metastases from kidney, thyroid or breast cancer.
- Infectious bone diseases, tetanus, meningitis and others.
How is neck pain manifested?
There are different symptoms of neck pain and each person experiences them differently. Let's look at the most common of them.
- It is difficult to turn your head from side to side or make up and down movements.
- The neck hurts on the left or right side, and special pain is felt when you try to raise your head.
- When you turn your neck, painful sensations occur in the temples and shoulders.
- The pain can also appear in the back of the neck, causing a feeling of numbness.
- Sleeping in the wrong position, sedentary sedentary work - the cause of pain in the neck, shoulders and back.
Pain in the neck and head
Pain in the neck and head occurs due to injury, mechanical damage or disease. If the pain is due to injury or spasm, it will stop after 1-2 weeks. Other causes of pain:
- Damage to the base of the neck, muscles or ligaments of the spine.
- Muscle spasms.
- Keeping the head in a wrong and uncomfortable position for a long time.
- Consequences of injuries or tumors.
- Acute thyroiditis.
- Ankylosing spondylitis.
- Infections and rheumatoid arthritis.
If neck and headache pain causes discomfort, pain or interferes with your normal activities, consult your doctor immediately. The doctor will help determine the cause of the pain and eliminate it.
Headache in the neck area
Headache in the neck area can occur due to active movements of the cervical vertebrae. The cause of pain can be fatigue, lack of sleep, increased pressure and general illnesses. Headaches in the neck area also appear due to chronic diseases or old injuries. Pain may appear due to the deterioration of osteochondrosis or chronic tonsillitis. Unpleasant sensations pass through the base of the head, sometimes the pain radiates to the temples when you try to lean or turn your head.
With such symptoms, it is necessary to take treatment measures in time. If the pain is not associated with tight muscles, but with a progressive disease, then the consequences will be very unfavorable. Damage to blood vessels will negatively affect the supply of oxygen and blood to the brain, that is, it will lead to vascular insufficiency. As a result, hearing will decrease significantly, vision and memory will decrease, and concentration will decrease. To avoid this, you should consult a surgeon or neurologist.
Pain in the neck area on the right
Pain in the neck area on the right, as a rule, occurs due to cervical osteochondrosis (disease of the intervertebral discs). Most often, the elderly suffer from this disease. Pain is treated with rubs, ointments, massages, manual therapy and orthopedic exercises.
But pain in the neck area on the right can also occur for other reasons. Thus, damage to the intervertebral discs, joints, vertebrae, muscles or ligaments will cause pain on the right side of the neck. Various immune disorders, infections and diseases of the spine also cause pain. Do not forget about referred pains and localized tumors in the neck area. They significantly undermine the immune system and cause pain.
Severe pain in the neck
Severe pain in the neck can appear due to already formed diseases, injuries or rather ordinary situations. Let's look at the causes of severe neck pain.
- Increased stress on the spine and prolonged sitting in an uncomfortable or incorrect position lead to severe muscle spasms and pain.
- Chronic diseases, infections, problems with the immune system.
- Sudden movements, emotional stress.
- Muscle hypothermia impairs blood circulation, which causes neck pain.
- Excess weight is another cause of severe pain.
Pain in the left neck area
Pain in the left neck area is a signal of problems; they can be caused by injury, disease or mechanical damage. If the pain is not associated with any disease, it goes away within 1-2 weeks. But some pain is chronic and can persist for many years, causing discomfort and pain.
Pain in the left neck area occurs in patients of all ages. Pain can occur due to diseases of the spine, damage to the neck muscles or problems with the ligaments. In children, pain appears due to cervical lymphadenitis, that is, complications after sore throat and other colds. A neurologist or chiropractor can diagnose the pain and prescribe treatment.
Pain in the front of the neck
Severe pain in the front of the neck is often a symptom of neoplasia (malignancy). The tumor occurs near the spine, esophagus, thyroid gland, or larynx. Another cause of pain is angina. But pain can also occur due to inflammatory processes or styloid process syndrome. If the pain occurs due to the needle syndrome (styloid process), then the painful sensations give a sharp pain in the ear and throat. Very often, with this disease, patients have their tonsils removed, which is a mistake.
The cause of pain in the front of the neck can be accurately diagnosed using x-rays. Determining the cause yourself is difficult and even dangerous. Because wrong diagnosis will lead to wrong treatment. To prevent this from happening, seek qualified medical help.
Pain in the back of the neck
Pain in the back of the neck can be caused by muscle spasm or muscle strain (often happens when you work for a long time in a sitting position). The muscles exert pressure on the vessels that are responsible for delivering oxygen to the brain, the functioning of the nerves and cervical vertebrae. To eliminate muscle spasms, manual therapy and a complex of massage procedures are used.
If the pain in the back of the neck occurs due to chronic diseases, tumors or infections, then the first step is to diagnose the disease. Thanks to this, you can create an effective treatment plan and take all measures to eliminate painful symptoms.
Annoying pain in the neck area
Annoying pain in the neck area is usually caused by sleeping in the wrong position, muscle spasms or pinched nerves. The pain will appear if you have a cold in your neck or have recently had a cold. To accurately determine the cause of the pain, you should seek medical help. The doctor will refer you for an ultrasound and X-ray of the cervical spine.
If the annoying pain in the neck is not associated with diseases or infections, then the doctor will prescribe rubs and ointments that will relieve the pain. Do not forget about preventive exercises, which will prevent the occurrence of pain in the future. A little neck warm-up in the morning will ease the pain and be a great start to the work day.
Acute neck pain
Acute pain in the neck area occurs in both adults and children. There are many reasons for pain. Painful sensations can occur due to deformation of the spine, that is, osteochondrosis or osteoarthrosis. Injuries, damage to ligaments or muscles, also cause severe pain in the neck. Only a doctor can determine the cause of acute pain.
Regarding the treatment of painful sensations, first of all, it is necessary to minimize physical activity and pressure on the neck. It is also worth making sure that the neck is in the right position during sleep, and especially during sitting work. Do not forget about regular neck exercises, which will prevent muscle atrophy.
Who to contact?
- Vertebrologist
- Neuropathologist
Diagnosis of neck pain
The diagnosis of neck pain should be made by a specialist. The following methods are used for diagnosis: X-ray, ultrasound, MRI. The method by which the cause of the pain will be diagnosed is chosen by the doctor after the examination, studying the patient's symptoms and complaints.
Diagnosis and treatment of pain in the neck area is performed by a surgeon, orthopedist, rheumatologist and chiropractor. In some cases, the patient undergoes diagnosis and treatment by a physiotherapist, massage therapist or traumatologist. If the cause of the pain is a malignant neoplasm, then the patient undergoes a biopsy and the diagnosis is carried out by an oncologist, surgeon, ENT doctor or therapist.
Treatment of neck pain
Treatment of neck pain depends on the causes that caused it. If the pain is due to a disease, then it must be treated (only in this case the pain will go away). If the cause of the pain is injury, muscle spasm or inflammation, then the patient is prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs, a minimum of physical activity and special ointments.
In case of emergency, the patient is provided with complete immobility of the neck, neck corsets are used for this. If acute pain pierces the neck, then the first rule of treatment is to give up physical activity. This will regulate your muscles and eliminate muscle spasms. A massage will not go wrong; it will improve blood circulation and exercise stagnant muscles. For severe pain, patients are prescribed muscle relaxants. Remember that chronic neck pain is not normal. Therefore, at the first painful symptoms, seek qualified medical help.
Prevention of neck pain
Prevention of neck pain is the complete elimination of the factors that cause pain. First of all, you need to make sure that the neck and spine are in a normal position. Do not sit in one place for a long time, regularly do basic exercises for the neck and back. Neck pain can be caused by smoking. In this case, prevention consists in giving up the bad habit. Problems with excess weight are another factor that causes neck pain. A healthy lifestyle, regular exercise and healthy sleep are the main preventive measures that will protect you from cervical spine pain.
Neck pain is a problem that everyone faces sooner or later. There are many causes of pain; only a doctor can diagnose it accurately. But regular preventive measures - neck exercises, a healthy lifestyle and giving up bad habits will protect you from painful sensations.