Neck pain

There is no adult who has never felt neck pain in his life. One in four women and one in six men experience it constantly. A sedentary lifestyle and time spent in front of the computer aggravate the problem. Neck pain can also occur due to arthrosis of the shoulder joint and any other disease in this area, in the upper back and arms or in the back of the head. From this article you can learn everything about neck pain and how to get rid of it.

Causes of neck pain

The most common causes are the following diseases:

• Cervical osteochondrosis, complicated by protrusion or herniation of the intervertebral discs. The most common and important cause of neck pain. The pain is associated with pinching of the spinal nerve roots by partially or completely destroyed intervertebral discs. The pain is very strong, sudden, can be localized only in the neck (on one or both sides) or radiate to other areas: to the head, back of the head, arm, back, under the shoulder blade, etc. Treatment consists of pain relief, restoration of cartilaginous tissue of the discs and strengthening of the neck muscles. Sometimes these patients require the help of a neurosurgeon to remove the destroyed disc.
• Ankylosing spondylitis (rheumatoid spondylitis, ankylosing spondylitis) is an autoimmune inflammatory process in the joints of the cervical spine. The disease usually develops gradually imperceptibly, spreading along the spine from bottom to top. The cervical region is the last to be affected. It manifests itself as neck pain, stiffness of movements, which disappears after the start of physical activity. Over time, the pain intensifies and the spine becomes immobile. Long-term treatment with a rheumatologist will help.
• Arthrosis of the facet joints of the cervical spine (noncovertebral arthrosis). The cause of pain in the neck and back of the head in this case is degenerative-dystrophic changes in the small joints connecting the cervical vertebrae. It often has professional origins, developing when working in a stationary state with the head bowed or forcibly turned, or after suffering injuries. Symptoms: pain at the site of the lesion, radiating to the shoulder and crunching during movement, sometimes headache, dizziness, high or low blood pressure, hearing impairment. Treatment by a neurologist and rheumatologist.
• Torticollis is a change in the position of the neck that prevents the head from turning and other movements. It can be congenital (in children) and acquired (in adults) after injuries, against the background of rough skin scars, persistent spasm of the cervical and occipital muscles during degenerative-dystrophic and inflammatory processes in the spine and surrounding soft tissues. Symptoms: tilt of the head and raised shoulder on the affected side, pain in the neck and back of the head when trying to tilt the head in the opposite direction. Pain increases with physical activity and stress. Treatment can be conservative (for spasms) or surgical, carried out by a surgeon or orthopedic traumatologist.
• Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is associated with irritation of the nerve endings in muscles, leading to spasm and pain.

Clinical anatomy of the neck

In degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the spine, as well as in arthritis of the facet joints (between individual vertebrae), bony growths or swollen soft tissues can compress the vertebral artery, resulting in impaired blood supply to the brain, poor dizziness and dizziness. Pain may also be a result of compression of the spinal roots that extend from the spinal cord. Along the brachial nerve plexus this pain radiates to the arm.

First aid for neck pain: what to do

Neck pain may increase gradually, but sometimes appears acute, suddenly in the form of low back pain with irradiation to other areas. It is difficult to endure such suffering. What to do, how to get rid of it?

Tablets and ointments for neck pain

Emergency self-help algorithm:

• Take a sedative - panic only aggravates the situation; you can take: 20 drops of soothing drops or a tablet with the substance levomenthol solution in mentholysovalerate under the tongue; these drugs not only soothe, but also dilate blood vessels, which in turn helps reduce muscle spasm and associated pain; You can also take 1-2 tablets of valerian extract or any other sedative you have on hand.
• Take some painkillers (optional).
• To eliminate aching pain, you can use external painkillers: ointments, gels, plasters.

Exercises for neck pain

If the pain is not very strong, is aching in nature and is combined with stiffness, you can try to get rid of it with the help of exercises. They must be performed smoothly, without making sudden movements. An approximate set of exercises that relieve pain:

• starting position (IP) – lying on your back, head on a flat pillow; Press your head firmly into the pillow and hold until you count 5; pause and repeat; perform 5 – 7 approaches;
• IP - lying on the left side, head on a flat pillow; raise your head and hold it in this position until the count of 5; take a short break, and then at least five approaches;
• IP: lying on right side; repeat the previous exercise on the right side;
• IP - lying on his stomach, hands clasped behind his head; raise your head, resisting with your hands; each approach – 5 seconds with a short break, repeat 5 – 7 times.

It is contraindicated to relieve severe acute pain with exercises.

In these cases it is better to keep the neck still, for example using a Shants collar. But prolonged immobilization leads to weakening of the muscle corset and aggravation of the situation. Therefore, the Shants collar can be used to reduce pain before consulting a doctor. Only a specialist can determine the duration of immobilization.

Having completely or partially eliminated the pain syndrome on your own, you need to consult a doctor, otherwise it will return and it will be quite difficult to relieve it.

Exercises for neck pain

What not to do if you have neck pain

If you often suffer from neck pain, you should remember that you should not:

• being in a forced position for a long time with a tense neck - a painful muscle spasm develops;
• lifting weights, performing heavy work: microtraumas to the spine with tissues located near it occur, gradual destruction of cartilaginous and bone structures;
• they are often exposed to stress - they are accompanied by vascular spasms, which negatively affect blood circulation and the condition of the spine;
• smoking, drinking alcohol frequently – contributes to persistent vasoconstriction;
• hypothermia: the muscles located near the spine become inflamed, myositis develops;
• sleeping on a high, soft pillow means remaining in an uncomfortable static position for a long time;
• make sudden turns of the head: sudden pinching of the nerve and the appearance of severe pain are possible.

When you need to urgently consult a doctor

Don't hesitate to seek medical help if:

• neck pain occurs regularly and is not always completely relieved by painkillers;
• you experienced a painful attack for the first time or have already experienced it repeatedly, when any movement brings severe suffering;
• the pain syndrome is accompanied by general disorders: fever, chills, etc. ;
• suddenly there was a short-term acute pain in the neck on the left, radiating to the arm, shoulder blade or back of the head - a sign of an acute circulatory disorder in the heart muscle area (angina attack);
• Sudden attacks of headache and dizziness appeared, sometimes with loss of consciousness - a sign of compression of the vertebral artery.

If such symptoms appear, there is no point in treating yourself: this will only make the problem worse. No folk remedies or grandmother's advice will help.

Only a doctor can help relieve pain by developing an individual treatment plan based on examination and making an accurate diagnosis. If you have doubts about which doctor to turn to, go to an appointment with a therapist, he will understand the situation and, if necessary, will refer you to another specialist.

Types of neck pain and how to deal with it

Pain syndrome can manifest itself in different ways: only on one side of the neck or everywhere, locally or radiate to other parts of the body. Let's try to understand what the appearance of pain indicates and what to do in each specific case.

Severe neck pain due to coronavirus and ARVI

Any viral infection can be accompanied by neck pain. This is due to intoxication caused by the infectious agent. Once the person recovers, these symptoms disappear.

But in some people, a few days or weeks after the viral infection, the pain syndrome reappears, sometimes accompanied by swelling of the spine and stiffness of movements (the head has difficulty turning sideways) in the morning.

This condition requires immediate examination, as it may be associated with autoimmune processes in the facet joints (connecting vertebrae) of the spine.

Coronavirus infection has a serious impact on the immune system, causing various disruptions in its functioning. If a person has a predisposition to the autoimmune process (close relatives suffering from such diseases), it is quite possible that a viral infection serves as a starting point (trigger) for its onset. What to do: See a therapist or rheumatologist.

Severe neck pain and fever

If severe neck pain appears suddenly and is accompanied by fever, this indicates the presence of an acute inflammatory process:

• viral infection or exacerbation of some chronic inflammatory processes (bronchitis, sinusitis, etc. ) - in this case the disease is also accompanied by catarrhal symptoms - cough and runny nose; what to do: if the pain is not too strong and the temperature is not high, you can wait to see a doctor; persistence of pain after recovery should be a reason to consult a doctor;
• Bacterial purulent inflammatory processes - abscesses, phlegmons; what to do: consult a surgeon, as the symptoms can only be eliminated with surgery;
• autoimmune process in the joints of the cervical spine; the first symptoms appear a few days or weeks after the acute inflammatory process, there are no catarrhal symptoms; what to do: consult a doctor immediately; self-medication is contraindicated.

Severe pain in the neck, radiating to the head

Sometimes acute and sudden neck pain appears in the spinal region, radiating to the head (cervicocranialgia), associated with pinching of the spinal roots extending from the 1st and 2nd cervical vertebrae (C1 - C2) with transmission of pain to the trigeminal nerve, whose nuclei are located in the upper sections of the spinal cord. This is the so-called radicular pain syndrome, it can be very strong and quite long-lasting. What to do: As self-help, you can take a painkiller tablet and apply an anesthetic patch to the sore spot.

If the pain doesn't go away, call an ambulance; your doctor can temporarily relieve the pain. But after removing them, you definitely need to consult a neurologist.

Aching pain in the neck and back of the head may be the result of compression of the vertebral artery. In these cases, it is often accompanied by dizziness and fainting, as the brain suffers from a lack of oxygen.

Similar pain can occur with high blood pressure (BP). The attack is accompanied by nausea and vomiting. What to do: Pain in the neck and back of the head is dangerous, so if they appear you need to call an ambulance.

My neck and shoulders hurt

Aching neck pain may radiate to the shoulders. Typically, neck and shoulder pain is associated with spasm and muscle fatigue when the neurovascular bundle between the scalene muscles is compressed. Morning stiffness appears, due to constant aching pain, the head is in a forced position: it is slightly tilted forward and towards the affected side. If a blood vessel is also compressed, dizziness, darkening of the eyes, and fainting may occur. Radiation of pain from the neck to the shoulders is also characteristic of osteochondrosis and arthrosis of the facet joints of the 5-6 vertebrae (C5-C6). When the pathological focus is localized in C5, the pain radiates along the external anterior surface of the shoulder, so the patient is unable to move the arm to the side.

What to do: you cannot tolerate such symptoms, you cannot cure them yourself, you need to consult a neurologist.

Neck pain on the right or left side

If your neck hurts on one side:

• very strong sudden attack– a sign of violation of the spinal roots on the right or left side; A patch with lidocaine can help, but this is a temporary measure, you need to contact a neurologist;
• sudden brief but acute paroxysmal pain in the left neck– may be a symptom of angina pectoris; if these symptoms recur, you need to seek help from a therapist or cardiologist;
• aching pain on the left or right side– often develops with a prolonged tense position of the head due to spasm of the neck muscles; To relieve spasms, use pain-relieving ointments and patches; When painful muscle spasms appear, it is necessary to monitor your posture and avoid work in which the head remains in a position of static tension for a long time.

What to do: If you have constant or regularly recurring pain on the right or left side of your neck, it's best to start by seeing a therapist.

Severe pain in back and neck

Painful sensations in the back, transmitted to the neck, are usually a consequence of osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic spine. There is a gradual destruction of the shock-absorbing cartilaginous intervertebral pad - the disc. The disc becomes thinner, cracks, and may extend partially or completely beyond the spine, compressing the nerve roots, which is accompanied by severe back pain that radiates to the neck. Painful sensations are aggravated by spasms of the back and neck muscles.

When C6 is affected, neck pain radiates to the scapula, shoulder girdle, shoulder, forearm, and 1 finger. At the same time, muscle strength decreases and hand movements require additional effort. Damage to C7: Pain waves are transmitted to the scapula, back of the hand, index finger and middle finger. Symptoms of damage to C8 - possible irradiation of pain along the posterior inner surface of the hand to the little finger.

What to do: To relieve the pain you need to take an anesthetic orally and apply an anesthetic gel to the skin. After the pain subsides, consult a neurologist.

Such pain in the back of the neck can also occur with scoliosis, a lateral curvature of the spine. Scoliosis can lead to pinching and compression of the vertebrae, pinched nerves, and constant back pain. What to do: treatment is carried out by an orthopedist-traumatologist.

Severe neck pain with radiation

Sometimes neck pain spreads to other areas. These are so-called referred pains, in which painful impulses coming from the main focus spread along the nerve fibers that connect individual parts of the body and internal organs.

Painful waves can radiate:

In the ear -painful sensations have different origins; very often they are related:

1. with inflammatory diseases of the ENT organs - sore throat, chronic tonsillitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis; usually it is a sore throat and ear, accompanied by symptoms such as fever, painful sore throat, cough; in chronic inflammatory processes the disease is not so acute, without fever, the pain is moderate;
2. with degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the cervical spine (osteochondrosis) and its consequences - protrusion and herniation of the disc; cervical pain syndrome is associated with pinching of the spinal roots by a disc protruding beyond the spine or overgrown bone tissue of the vertebrae; referred pain in the ear with osteochondrosis is a sign of compression of the nerve root of the 3rd cervical vertebra (C3);
3. with arthritis (inflammation) or arthrosis (metabolic disorders) in the C3 - C4 facet joints, which connect the cervical vertebrae;

In the teeth -painful irradiation in the teeth:

1. usually associated with osteochondrosis - damage to the C3 - C4 vertebrae;
2. have a reflected character; this is due to dental problems: deep caries and periodontitis of the teeth of the lateral part of the dentition of the upper jaw; various malocclusions; the pain can radiate from the oral cavity to the neck, often there is the sensation that it is the neck that hurts, radiating to the right or left teeth; what to do: treat or remove damaged teeth, restore the bite; reflex pain syndrome may be associated with arthritis or arthrosis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) - it feels like your teeth hurt and the pain radiates to the neck;

In the eyes -if the upper cervical vertebrae are affected (osteochondrosis, arthritis or arthrosis of the facet joints), pain along the sensitive branches of the nerves in the neck may radiate to the eyes or tissues around the eyeball;

To the temple -often a sign of cervical osteochondrosis or arthrosis (arthritis) of the TMJ;

In your hand -with cervical osteochondrosis or arthritis (arthrosis) of the C6 - C8 joints, as well as with spasm of the cervical muscles;

In the scapula &ndah;damage to C6 – C7, as well as glenohumeral periarthritis;

In the collarbone -pain syndrome can develop after injury to the clavicle and be transmitted along the nerve fibers of the brachial plexus to the neck, as well as with arthritis or arthrosis of the shoulder joint.

When pain waves radiate to other organs and tissues, it is difficult for the patient himself to understand what hurts and which specialist to contact. Therefore, it is best to start with a therapist; he will understand where to direct the patient next.

Severe pain in the neck muscles

Pain in the neck muscles is usually associated with various injuries and diseases of the spine, but can also manifest itself as an independent disease - myofascial pain syndrome.

What to do: Treatment can be started by a neurologist, but a consultation with a rheumatologist may be necessary.

The back of the neck hurts a lot

Pain in the back of the head and neck is often associated with cervical osteochondrosis and pathology of the facet joints of the cervical vertebrae. This is accompanied by a painful spasm of the neck muscles.

What to do: it is better to start by consulting a neurologist, perhaps after the visit he will refer the patient to a rheumatologist.

Pain in the front of the neck in the larynx area

Painful sensations in the anterior cervical region, combined with difficulty swallowing, may appear with the growth of thyroid tissue (inflammatory process, goiter). At the same time, the external increase is not always noticeable, since the goiter can grow behind the sternum.

What to do: urgently contact an endocrinologist.

The larynx can hurt due to acute and chronic diseases of the ENT organs. Such diseases are accompanied by cough, sore throat, and sometimes increased body temperature. Especially dangerous is laryngitis, accompanied by pain, barking cough and risk of swelling of the larynx.

What to do: Contact a therapist or ENT.

Neck pain when turning or bending

Myofascial pain syndrome with reflex in the ear and eyeball area when turning

Painful turning and tilting of the head can be a consequence of:

• osteochondrosis and violation of the spinal roots; the pain syndrome is severe and sudden, it is almost impossible to turn or tilt the head; what to do: urgently consult a neurologist;
• acute neck injury or prolonged microtrauma; in the absence of bone alterations (fractures, dislocations), the painful syndrome is associated with spasm and subsequent inflammation of the neck muscles; what to do: ask a neurologist for help;
• curvature of the spine - scoliosis; the pain is aching in nature and intensifies when bending the neck; what to do: contact an orthopedic-traumatologist.

Neck pain after sleep

Typically, such pains rarely appear out of nowhere, more often they are associated with some hidden disease of the spine or cervical muscles. After sleep they appear with a prolonged incorrect position of the head, which leads to compression of blood vessels and nerves. After sleep, this is manifested by aching pain, numbness and limitation of movement. After some time this disappears.

What to do: contact a neurologist and make sure you do not have a serious pathology.

Severe pain and crunching in the neck

The causes of neck pain accompanied by a crunch can be osteochondrosis, arthrosis of the facet joints or increased mobility of the cervical vertebrae. In any case, this is a sign of a pathological process, which can only be established after examination.

What to do: See a neurologist, but you may also need help from other specialists.

Treatment of diseases that cause neck pain

There are painkillers for temporary relief from pain, but to completely relieve the patient from suffering, the doctor must conduct an examination and find out the cause of the pain. The patient cannot do it on his own, he must go to a clinic.

Diagnostics

Clinical examination of the neck: the first stage of diagnosis

During the initial visit, the doctor carries out a clinical examination of the patient and, based on its results, may prescribe the following additional studies:

• Lab test– general clinical, biochemical and immunological blood tests. The data obtained allow the identification of inflammatory, metabolic and autoimmune processes.
• Instrumental diagnostic methods:X-ray of the affected part of the spine, if necessary- shoulder joint;Soft tissue ultrasound;MRI or CT– more detailed examination of the cervical region;electroneurmyography– to evaluate the state of the spinal nerve roots.

After the examination, the doctor can make the correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

Methods for treating neck pain

Treatment of neck pain syndrome can only be individual, since it depends on the identified disorders and the final diagnosis. Concomitant diagnoses must also be taken into account - that is, the presence of various other diseases in the patient.

The combination of modern and traditional oriental techniques allows the patient to immediately relieve acute pain.

This restores hope of a normal life even for patients suffering from long-term severe pain syndrome. After the course, they regularly come to the clinic for preventive treatment, which allows them to completely eliminate pain and live a normal life. Contact the medical center, doctors will definitely help you!