Neck pain is a common problem that worries many people. The symptom may be accompanied by limited mobility in the cervical spine, muscle tension and headache. There are many causes of neck pain. A thorough diagnosis is necessary to select the appropriate treatment.
In this article we tell you what to do if your neck hurts a lot, what may be causing the pain and how to prevent it. Clinicians have extensive experience in treating neck pain of various origins. Comprehensive therapy is selected individually, taking into account the patient's condition, the causes of pain and other factors that influence the outcome of treatment.
Types of pain in the cervical spine.
There are two types of neck pain:
- Vertebrogenic— occur with damage to the intervertebral discs, compression of the spinal cord and spinal roots. The pain may extend from the neck to the back of the head and down to the fingers. Muscle weakness and numbness in one or both arms may also be a cause for concern.
- Non-vertebrogenic- appear due to an inflammatory process in the neck muscles. This also includes pain due to diseases of the thyroid gland and nearby lymph nodes. In this case, the inflammatory process may be accompanied by an increase in body temperature and pain.
If the discomfort does not disappear after several days and intensifies with movement, it is advisable to consult a doctor. A specialist will determine the cause of the neck pain and prescribe effective treatment.
Causes of neck pain
Pain in the neck muscles can be caused by many diseases: from muscle strains to serious pathologies of the spine and internal organs. Sometimes it is very difficult for the patient to independently determine the affected area - in the throat or in the upper spine, since the pain can be felt on all sides of the neck.
The most common causes of acute pain:
- myositis- inflammation of one or more muscles of the neck, accompanied by severe pain, swelling and limited mobility of the head. It occurs as a result of infectious diseases, injuries and frequent uncomfortable body positions.
- Cervical osteochondrosis- degenerative-dystrophic disease of the spine. The cervical spine, along with the lumbar spine, is very mobile. As a result of constant stress, the nutrition of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs is disturbed. Bone tissue grows, intervertebral discs are damaged and protrude in the form of bulges and hernias. The pain is due to the fact that the bulging discs compress the ligaments of the spine and the roots of the spinal nerves. The pain is very strong, sudden and can only be felt in the neck, on one or both sides. They can also radiate to other areas: to the head, the back of the head, the arm, the back, and under the shoulder blade.
- intervertebral hernia- an advanced form of osteochondrosis, when compression of the nerve roots occurs. This disease is characterized by pronounced neurological manifestations: pain in the arm, decreased muscle strength and impaired sensitivity of the skin of the upper extremities.
- spondylosis- an advanced stage of osteochondrosis, in which the edges of the vertebral bodies are covered with bone protrusions - osteophytes. Later, the vertebrae fuse together. In this case, the intervertebral discs flatten and, in addition to pain, the patient experiences severe restrictions when moving his head.
- Rheumatoid spondylitis- autoimmune inflammatory process in the joints of the cervical spine. As a result of a dysfunction of the immune system, its cells begin to attack their own body. The disease develops gradually and spreads through the joints of the entire spine. The cervical region is rarely affected. The vertebrae are deformed and their mobility is affected. Pain appears in the neck, stiffness of movements occurs, which gradually disappears after performing active movements. Over time, the pain intensifies and the spine becomes immobile.
- Osteoarthritis of the facet joints of the cervical spine.- destruction of small joints located between the arches of the cervical vertebrae. In this case, the cartilaginous surfaces of two adjacent bones are destroyed. The distance between individual vertebrae decreases, one bone begins to rub against another, causing pain. It often occurs after an injury or is an occupational disease, it develops when working in a stationary state with the head tilted or forcibly turned. It manifests itself as pain at the site of injury, which radiates to the shoulder and creaks when moving.
- stiff neck– congenital or acquired deformity of the neck with tilting or turning of the head to one side. The disease is associated with pathology of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, located laterally along the anterolateral surfaces of the neck on both sides. It manifests as a tilt of the head and a raised shoulder on the affected side, accompanied by pain in the neck and nape of the neck when trying to tilt the head in the opposite direction. Pain increases with physical activity and stress.
- Myofascial pain syndromeis a pain syndrome associated with the formation of local painful areas in the muscle, which are called "trigger points. "It occurs due to prolonged muscle tension, uneven load distribution, and pinching of nerves by surrounding structures. In this case, the patient experiences pain in the muscles at rest, which intensifies with physical activity, pressing certain points of the muscles, which feel like quite hard compactions. Pain from these points can spread to other areas of the body.
- Compression fractureIt is a spinal injury in which compression of the vertebral body and damage to the spinal canal occurs. It occurs when playing traumatic sports, as well as in older people due to the fragility of bone tissue. It can result from a whiplash injury in an accident and can be seriously life-threatening.
Rare causes of cervical spine pain include:
- Osteomyelitis- purulent inflammation that affects the bone marrow, periosteum and the bone itself. Most often it occurs due to infection and the functioning of the immune system.
- Spinal tuberculosis- a serious disease caused by Koch bacilli and affecting various parts of the spine, most frequently affecting the thoracic region. Its first symptoms may appear several years after infection.
If discomfort and pain in the neck is accompanied by a sore throat, fever and weakness, this may indicate the development of a viral infection, laryngitis and other colds.
Neck pain can also be a manifestation of:
- benign and malignant tumors of the neck organs;
- gastrointestinal diseases;
- foreign bodies in the throat;
- thyroid diseases;
- angina pectoris, called angina pectoris;
- soft tissue abscesses of the neck;
- diseases of the lymph nodes.
If your neck muscles hurt on the sides, the cause may be not only a spasm or injury, but also many other diseases. The clinics adhere to an evidence-based diagnostic approach. This allows you to accurately determine the origin of the symptom and prescribe effective treatment.
Diagnosis
In most cases, neck pain is nonspecific, that is, caused by pathology of the muscles and ligaments. In addition, pain syndrome often develops as a result of degenerative changes in the cervical spine - osteochondrosis. Therefore, first of all it is necessary to contact a neurologist or vertebrologist.
To make a correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment, the doctor interviews the patient in detail about their symptoms, their severity, location, and conditions of onset. It also clarifies the presence of chronic, hereditary diseases, injuries and medications taken. The specialist then performs a thorough visual examination, palpation of the neck and evaluation of the neurological status, including determination of muscle strength and sensitivity of the extremities. To confirm the diagnosis and exclude diseases not related to the spine, it is recommended that the patient undergo a comprehensive diagnosis. This may include:
- complete blood count, blood test for markers of inflammation levels, thyroid hormone levels;
- X-ray of the cervical spine;
- Ultrasound with examination of the state of blood vessels;
- electroneuromyography;
- MRI, CT scan.
The most informative method is MRI. With its help, pathological diseases of the spine are identified in the early stages and signs of compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots are detected.
At the clinical appointment, the doctor will talk in detail about modern diagnostic methods, interpret the results of the study and prescribe appropriate treatment.
Treatment of pain in the cervical spine.
How to treat acute neck pain is determined by the doctor individually for each patient, taking into account all the characteristics of the body and the course of the disease.
People with the same diagnosis may be prescribed different treatments because they have different medical histories: chronic diseases, level of physical development, pain intensity, age.
To relieve severe neck pain associated with diseases of the musculoskeletal system, complex treatment is used. Therapy may include: medication, physical therapy, massage, exercise therapy.
Pharmacotherapy- taking medications containing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, and in some cases, corticosteroids are used. The main goal of drug treatment is to reduce inflammation and relieve pain, eliminating further tissue destruction.
Physiotherapy- a set of treatment methods based on the influence of natural and artificially created factors on the body: light, water, electric current, magnetic field, mechanical and temperature effects. These techniques launch and accelerate the body's natural recovery processes.
Physiotherapeutic methods that help in the treatment of the cervical spine include:
- Laser therapy is a painless procedure, it helps eliminate pain, relieve local inflammation and swelling, and improve tissue regeneration.
- Magnetic therapy helps relieve pain and inflammation.
- Shock wave therapy improves spinal mobility, relaxes muscles, and also accelerates tissue recovery.
- Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that can effectively and quickly relieve muscle pain and tension.
Manual therapy- treatment of a disease with the hands, in which the doctor performs certain gentle, jerky movements. Thanks to this method, the mobility of the joints and spine is restored, the muscles relax and pain is reduced. Manual therapy is based on oriental techniques for the treatment of the spine.
Massage- one of the most famous and popular methods of treating osteochondrosis and other diseases of the spine. With the help of massage, you can relieve neck pain during sudden movements, relieve tension and restore mobility to the joints of the spine. Massage relaxes spasmed muscles, strengthens them and reduces pain. It is also used to prevent diseases of the cervical spine.
Healing Fitness— is prescribed individually, taking into account the type of disease and its stage. The class consists of certain special techniques and exercises that help improve joint mobility, relieve swelling, muscle tension and then strengthen the muscle corset to prevent the progression of the disease.
Prevention
A sedentary lifestyle, prolonged work at the computer and many other factors lead to problems in the musculoskeletal system, resulting in neck pain. Simple prevention recommendations will help avoid the development of serious diseases of the cervical spine and its complications:
- Do a short warm-up every 30 to 40 minutes during breaks from computer work.
- Sleep on an orthopedic mattress and an orthopedic pillow.
- Pay close attention to the ergonomics of the workplace: the chair should be comfortable with a special neck cushion, the computer should be placed at eye level or slightly higher.
- Don't talk on the phone with your cheek resting on your shoulder.
- Distribute the load evenly in both hands if you are carrying something heavy.
- Eat a balanced and varied diet, include a large amount of vegetables and fruits in your diet.
- Move more, give your body enough activity.
Regular yoga classes and swimming in the pool help with neck pain. It is recommended to perform the exercises with an instructor, who will draw up an appropriate training program and monitor the correctness of its implementation.