Neck pain

There is no adult who has never felt neck pain in his life. Every fourth woman and every sixth man constantly experience it. Sedentary lifestyles and time spent in front of the computer aggravate the problem. Neck pain can also occur due to arthrosis of the shoulder joint and other diseases in this area, the upper back and arms or 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. The treatment consists of pain-relieving therapy, restoration of the cartilage tissue of the discs and strengthening of the neck muscles. Sometimes such patients need 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 vertebrae. The disease usually develops gradually imperceptibly, spreading along the spine from the bottom up. The cervical region is affected last. It manifests itself as pain in the neck, stiffness of movements, which disappears after starting physical activity. Over time, the pain increases and the spine becomes immobile. Long-term treatment with a rheumatologist will help.
• Arthrosis of the facet joints of the cervical spine (uncovertebral 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 an occupational origin, develops when working in a stationary state with a bent or forcibly turned head or after injuries. Symptoms: pain at the site of the lesion, radiating to the shoulder and crunching when moving, sometimes headache, dizziness, high or low blood pressure, hearing impairment. Treatment by a neurologist and a rheumatologist.
• Torticollis is a change in the position of the neck that prevents turning the head and other movements. It can be congenital (in children) and acquired (in adults) after injuries, against the background of rough skin scars, constant spasm of the cervical and occipital muscles during degenerative-dystrophic and inflammatory processes in the spine and surrounding soft tissues. Symptoms: tilting the head and raising the shoulder on the affected side, pain in the neck and back of the head when trying to tilt the head in the opposite direction. The 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 the muscles, leading to muscle spasm and pain.

Clinical anatomy of the neck

In degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the spine, as well as arthritis of the facet joints (between the individual vertebrae), bony growths or swollen soft tissues can press the vertebral artery, which leads to impaired blood supply to the brain, headache and dizziness. . The pain can also be a result of compression of the spinal roots coming out of the spinal cord. Along the length of the brachial nerve plexus, such pain radiates to the arm.

First aid for neck pain - what to do

Neck pain can increase gradually, but sometimes it appears acutely, suddenly in the form of lumbago with irradiation in other areas. Such suffering is hard to bear. What to do, how to get rid of them?

Tablets and ointments for neck pain

Emergency self-help algorithm:

• Take a sedative - panic only worsens the situation; you can take: 20 drops of soothing drops or a tablet with a solution of the substance levomenthol in menthyl isovalerate under the tongue; these drugs not only relax, but also dilate blood vessels, which in turn helps to 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 pain medication (optional).
• To get rid of the pain, you can use external pain relievers: ointments, gels, patches.

Exercises for neck pain

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

• initial position (IP) - lying on your back, head on a flat pillow; Press your head firmly against the pillow and hold for a count of 5; take a break and repeat; do 5-7 approaches;
• IP - lying on your left side, head on a flat pillow; raise your head and hold it in this position until you count to 5; take a short break and then at least five approaches;
• IP - lying on your right side; repeat the previous exercise on the right side;
• IP - lying on the stomach, hands clasped behind the back of the head; lift your head up, resisting with your hands; each approach - 5 seconds with a short rest, repeat 5 - 7 times.

Relieving severe acute pain with exercise is contraindicated.

In such cases, it is better to keep the neck still by using, for example, a Shants collar. But prolonged immobilization leads to weakening of the muscle corset and worsening 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.

After you completely or partially eliminate the pain syndrome, you need to see 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 have neck pain, you should remember that you should not:

• for a long time in a forced position with a tense neck - a painful muscle spasm develops;
• lifting weights, performing heavy work - microtrauma occurs to the spine with the tissues located near it, gradual destruction of cartilaginous and bone structures;
• they are often exposed to stress - they are accompanied by vascular spasms, which negatively affects blood circulation and the condition of the spine;
• smoking, frequent drinking of alcohol - contributes to permanent vasoconstriction;
• hypothermia - the muscles located near the spine become inflamed, myositis develops;
• sleeping on a high soft pillow means staying 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 see a doctor urgently

Don't hesitate to seek medical help if:

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

If such symptoms appear, there is no point in self-medicating: it will only worsen the problem. No folk remedies or grandmother's advice will help.

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

Types of neck pain and how to deal with them

The pain syndrome can manifest itself in different ways: only on one side of the neck or everywhere, locally or radiating 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

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

But in some people, after a few days or weeks after a viral infection, the pain syndrome appears again, sometimes it is accompanied by swelling of the spine and stiffness of movement (the head is difficult to turn to the side) in the morning.

This condition requires immediate investigation as it may be related to autoimmune processes in the facet (connecting the vertebrae) joints of the spine.

The coronavirus infection has a serious impact on the immune system, causing various disturbances in its functioning. If a person has a predisposition to an autoimmune process (close relatives suffering from such diseases), then it is quite possible that a viral infection can serve as a starting point (trigger) for its appearance. What to do: see a therapist or rheumatologist.

Severe neck pain and fever

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

• viral infection or exacerbation of some chronic inflammatory process (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 very strong and the temperature is not high, you can wait to see a doctor; the continuation 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 by surgery;
• autoimmune process in the joints of the cervical vertebrae; 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 there is a sharp, sudden pain in the neck in the region of the spine, radiating to the head (cervicocranialgia), associated with pinching of the spinal roots extending from the 1st and 2nd cervical vertebrae (C1 - C2) withtransmission of pain to the trigeminal nerve, whose nuclei are located in the upper parts 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 pain-relieving tablet and put an anesthetic patch on the sore spot.

If the pain does not go away, then call an ambulance, the doctor can temporarily remove the pain. But after removing them, you should definitely consult a neurologist.

Pain in the neck and back of the head can result from compression of the vertebral artery. In such 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 should call an ambulance.

Neck and shoulders hurt

Neck pain can radiate to the shoulders. Typically, neck and shoulder pain is associated with spasm and muscle tension when the neurovascular bundle between the scalene muscles is compressed. Morning stiffness appears, due to constant pain, the head is in a forced position: it is slightly tilted forward and to the affected side. If a blood vessel is also compressed, dizziness, black eyes and fainting may occur. Irradiation of pain from the neck to the shoulders is also characteristic of osteochondrosis and arthrosis of the facet joints of 5-6 vertebrae (C5-C6). When the pathological focus is localized in C5, the pain radiates along the anterior outer surface of the shoulder, so that the patient cannot move the arm to the side.

What to do: you cannot tolerate such symptoms, you cannot cure them yourself, you must 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 damage to the spinal roots on the right or left side; A patch with lidocaine can help, but this is a temporary measure, it is necessary to contact a neurologist;
• sudden paroxysmal short but sharp pain in left neck– may be a symptom of angina pectoris; if similar symptoms appear again, you should seek help from a therapist or cardiologist;
• aching pain on the left or right side- often develops with prolonged tense position of the head due to spasm of the neck muscles; To relieve spasms, use pain-relieving ointments and plasters; When painful muscle spasms occur, you should watch your posture and avoid work where your head is in a static tense position for a long time.

What to do: if you have constant or regularly recurring pain on the right or left side of the neck, it is better to start with a consultation with a therapist.

Severe back and neck pain

Painful sensations in the back transmitted to the neck are usually a consequence of osteochondrosis of the cervico-thoracic spine. A gradual destruction of the cartilaginous intervertebral shock-absorbing pad - the disc - is observed. The disc thins, cracks and can partially or completely protrude from the spine, pressing on the nerve roots, which is accompanied by severe back pain radiating to the neck. Painful sensations are aggravated by back and neck muscle spasms.

When C6 is involved, 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 shoulder blade, back of the hand, index and middle finger. Symptoms of damage to C8 - possible radiation of pain along the back inner surface of the hand to the little finger.

What to do: to relieve pain, you need to take an anesthetic by mouth and apply an anesthetic gel to the skin. After reducing the pain, consult a neurologist.

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

Severe neck pain with radiation

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

Pain waves can radiate:

in the ear -painful sensations have different origins; most often they are related:

1. with inflammatory diseases of ENT organs - sore throat, chronic tonsillitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis; usually it is a sore throat and ear, accompanied by symptoms such as fever, 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 disc herniation; cervical pain syndrome is associated with pinching of the spinal roots by a disc protruding from the spine or overgrown bone tissue of the vertebrae; the mentioned 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 facet joints C3 - C4 connecting the cervical vertebrae;

In the teeth -painful radiation in the teeth:

1. usually associated with osteochondrosis - damage to the C3 – C4 vertebrae;
2. have a reflective character; this is due to problems with the teeth: 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 down to the neck, there is often a feeling that the neck hurts, radiating to the teeth on the right or left; what to do: treat or remove damaged teeth, restore the bite; referred pain syndrome can be associated with arthritis or arthrosis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) - it seems that 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), the pain along the sensitive branches of the nerves in the neck may radiate to the eyes or tissues around the eyeball;

In 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 -the pain syndrome can develop after an 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 the 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 know where to direct the patient further.

Severe pain in the neck muscles

Pain in the neck muscles is usually associated with various injuries and diseases of the spine, but it can also appear 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 most 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 with a consultation with a neurologist, maybe after the examination he will refer the patient to a rheumatologist.

Pain in the front of the neck in the region of the larynx

Painful sensations in the cervical region in front, combined with impaired swallowing, may occur with the growth of thyroid tissue (inflammatory process, goiter). At the same time, the external increase is not always noticeable, since the goitre 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 an increase in body temperature. Laryngitis is particularly dangerous, accompanied by pain, a barking cough and the risk of swelling of the larynx.

What to do: contact a therapist or otolaryngologist.

Neck pain when turning or bending

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

Painful bends and tilts of the head can be a consequence of:

• osteochondrosis and damage to spinal roots; the pain syndrome is strong and sudden, it is almost impossible to turn or tilt the head; what to do: see a neurologist urgently;
• acute neck trauma or prolonged microtrauma; in the absence of bone changes (fractures, dislocations), the pain syndrome is associated with spasm and subsequent inflammation of the neck muscles; what to do: seek help from a neurologist;
• curvature of the spine - scoliosis; the pain is painful in nature and intensifies when bending the neck; what to do: contact an orthopedic traumatologist.

Neck pain after sleep

Usually, 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 prolonged incorrect position of the head, which leads to compression of blood vessels and nerves. After sleep, this manifests as aching pain, numbness and limitation of movement. After a while this goes away.

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

Severe pain and grinding in the neck

The causes of pain in the neck accompanied by creaking 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 that can be established only after an examination.

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

Treatment of diseases causing neck pain

There are painkillers for temporary pain relief, but in order to completely free the patient from suffering, the doctor must conduct an examination and determine the cause of the pain. The patient cannot do this on his own, he must go to a clinic.

Diagnosis

Clinical examination of the neck - the first stage of diagnosis

During the initial appointment, the doctor conducts a clinical examination of the patient and, based on the results, may prescribe the following additional tests:

• Laboratory researches– general clinical, biochemical and immunological blood tests. The obtained data allow to identify inflammatory, metabolic and autoimmune processes.
• Instrumental diagnostic methods:X-ray of the affected part of the spine, if necessary- shoulder joint;Ultrasound of soft tissues;MRI or CT– a more detailed examination of the cervical region;electroneurmyography– to assess the condition of the spinal nerve roots.

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

Methods of treating neck pain

Treatment of cervical pain syndrome can only be individual, as it depends on the identified disorders and the final diagnosis. Concomitant diagnoses should also be taken into account - 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 gives hope for a normal life even to patients with long-lasting severe pain syndrome. After the course, they regularly come to the clinic for preventive treatment, which allows them to completely get rid of pain and live a normal life. Contact the medical center, the doctors will definitely help you!