Neck pain is a common problem that worries many people. The symptom may be accompanied by limited mobility in the cervical vertebrae, muscle tension and headache. There are many causes of neck pain. A thorough diagnosis is necessary to choose an appropriate treatment.
In this article, we will tell you what to do if your neck hurts a lot, what might be the cause of the pain, and how to prevent it. Clinic doctors have extensive experience in the treatment of neck pain of various origins. Comprehensive therapy is selected individually, taking into account the patient's condition, the causes of pain and other factors affecting the outcome of treatment.
Types of cervical spine pain
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 can spread from the neck to the back of the head and to the fingers. Muscle weakness and numbness in one or both arms can also be a problem.
- Invertebrate- appear due to an inflammatory process in the muscles of the neck. 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 painful pain.
If the discomfort does not disappear within a few days and increases with movement, you should consult a doctor. A specialist will determine the cause of neck pain and prescribe effective treatment.
Causes of neck pain
Pain in the neck muscles can be caused by many diseases: from muscle tension 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 part of the 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 neck muscles, accompanied by severe pain, swelling and limited mobility of the head. It occurs as a result of infectious diseases, injuries and frequent uncomfortable positions of the body.
- Cervical osteochondrosis- degenerative-dystrophic diseases 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 protrusions and hernias. The pain is due to the fact that the bulging discs press on the ligaments of the spine and the roots of the spinal nerves. The pain is very strong, sudden and felt only in the neck on one or both sides. They can also radiate to other areas - to the head, back of the head, arm, back, under the scapula.
- 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 hand, reduced muscle strength and impaired sensitivity of the skin of the upper limbs.
- spondylosis- an advanced stage of osteochondrosis, in which the edges of the vertebral bodies are overgrown with bone protrusions - osteophytes. Subsequently, the vertebrae fuse with each other. In this case, the intervertebral discs are flattened and, in addition to pain, the patient experiences severe head movement limitations.
- Rheumatoid spondylitis- autoimmune inflammatory process in the joints of the cervical vertebrae. As a result of the dysfunction of the immune system, its cells begin to attack their own body. The disease develops gradually and spreads to the joints of the entire spine. The cervical region is rarely affected. The vertebrae are deformed and their mobility is impaired. Pain appears in the neck, stiffness of movements occurs, which gradually disappears after performing active movements. Over time, the pain increases and the spine becomes immobile.
- Arthrosis 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, which causes pain. It often appears after injuries or is an occupational disease, develops when working in a stationary position with a bent or forcibly turned head. It presents as pain at the site of the lesion radiating to the shoulder and a crunching sound with movement.
- torticollis– congenital or acquired deformity of the neck with tilting or turning the head to one side. The disease is associated with pathology of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, located laterally on the anterolateral surfaces of the neck on both sides. It manifests as tilting of the head and raised shoulder on the affected side, accompanied by pain in the neck and occiput when attempting to tilt the head in the opposite direction. The 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 distribution of the load and pinching of the nerves by the surrounding structures. In this case, the patient experiences pain in the muscles at rest, which is aggravated by physical activity, pressing on certain points in the muscles that feel like quite hard seals. The pain from these points can spread to other parts of the body.
- Compression fractureis an injury to the spine that results in compression of the vertebral body and damage to the spinal canal. It occurs when practicing traumatic sports, as well as in elderly people due to the fragility of bone tissue. It can occur as a result of 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. It most often occurs due to infection and the functioning of the immune system.
- Spinal tuberculosis- a serious disease caused by the Koch bacilli and affecting different parts of the spine, most often affecting the thoracic region. Its first symptoms may appear several years after infection.
If the discomfort and soreness of the neck is accompanied by a sore throat, fever and weakness, this may signal the development of a viral infection, laryngitis and other colds.
Neck pain can also be a manifestation of:
- benign and malignant tumors of the cervical organs;
- gastrointestinal diseases;
- foreign bodies in the throat;
- diseases of the thyroid gland;
- angina pectoris, called angina pectoris;
- soft tissue abscesses of the neck;
- diseases of the lymph nodes.
If the neck muscles hurt on the sides, the cause may be not only a spasm or an injury, but also many other diseases. Clinics adhere to an evidence-based approach to diagnosis. This allows you to accurately determine the origin of the symptom and prescribe effective treatment.
Diagnosis
In most cases, neck pain is non-specific, that is, caused by muscle and ligament pathology. Also, the pain syndrome often develops as a result of degenerative changes in the cervical vertebrae - osteochondrosis. Therefore, first of all, you should contact a neurologist or vertebrologist.
In order to make a correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment, the doctor questions the patient in detail about his symptoms, their severity, localization and conditions of occurrence. The presence of chronic, hereditary diseases, injuries and medications taken is also clarified. The specialist then performs a thorough visual examination, palpation of the neck and assessment of neurological status, including determination of muscle strength and sensation of the extremities. To confirm the diagnosis and exclude diseases not related to the spine, the patient is recommended to 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 vertebrae;
- Ultrasound with examination of the state of blood vessels;
- electroneuromyography;
- MRI, CT.
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 appointment at the clinic, the doctor will tell in detail about modern diagnostic methods, interpret the results of the examination and prescribe appropriate treatment.
Treatment of pain in the cervical vertebrae
The doctor determines how to treat acute neck pain 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 treatment because they have a different medical history: chronic diseases, level of physical development, intensity of pain, age.
Complex treatment is used to relieve severe neck pain associated with diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Therapy may include: medication, physical therapy, massage, exercise therapy.
Medication treatment- taking drugs containing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, in some cases corticosteroids are used. The main goal of drug treatment is to reduce inflammation and relieve pain by eliminating further tissue destruction.
Physiotherapy- a set of treatment methods based on the impact of natural and artificially created factors on the body - light, water, electric current, magnetic field, mechanical and temperature effects. These techniques start and accelerate the body's natural recovery processes.
Physiotherapy methods that help treat the cervical spine include:
- Laser therapy is a painless procedure, helps to get rid of pain, relieve inflammation and local edema, improve tissue regeneration.
- Magnetic therapy helps relieve pain and inflammation.
- Shock wave therapy improves the mobility of the spine, relaxes the muscles, and also accelerates tissue recovery.
- Acupuncture is a technique of traditional Chinese medicine that can effectively and quickly relieve pain and muscle tension.
Manual therapy- treatment of a disease with the hands, in which the doctor makes certain, gentle, sharp movements. Thanks to this method, the mobility of the joints and the spine is restored, the muscles relax, and the pain decreases. 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 the massage, you can relieve the pain in the neck during sudden movement, relieve tension and restore the mobility of the joints of the spine. Massage relaxes muscle spasms, strengthens them and reduces pain. It is also used for the prevention of diseases of the cervical spine.
Therapeutic fitness— is prescribed individually, taking into account the type of disease and its stage. The class consists of certain techniques and special exercises that help improve the mobility of the joints, relieve swelling, muscle tension and then strengthen the muscle corset to prevent the progression of the disease.
Prevention
A sedentary lifestyle, prolonged computer work and many other factors lead to problems with the musculoskeletal system - this causes neck pain. Simple recommendations for prevention will help to avoid the development of serious diseases of the cervical vertebrae and their complications:
- Do a short warm-up every 30-40 minutes during breaks from computer work.
- Sleep on an orthopedic mattress and orthopedic pillow.
- Pay close attention to the ergonomics of the workplace: the chair should be comfortable with a special neck pillow, the computer should be placed at eye level or slightly higher.
- Don't talk on the phone with your cheek next to your shoulder.
- Distribute the load evenly on both hands if you are carrying something heavy.
- Eat a balanced, varied diet, include a large amount of vegetables and fruits in your menu.
- Move more, provide your body with enough activity.
Regular yoga and swimming in the pool help with neck pain. It is recommended that the exercises be performed with an instructor who will draw up an appropriate training program and monitor its correctness.