Pain and stiffness in the neck occur with improper loading, as well as some pathological conditions of the cervical spine. Painful sensations in the neck are almost always accompanied by its limited mobility: when trying to turn or tilt the head, there is a sensation of sharp or increasing pain. Sometimes it is so strong that a person is forced to move the whole body instead of moving the neck. In this case, the pain can touch not only the neck, but also the nearby areas: chest, arms, head, shoulders; accompanied by tinnitus, numbness of hands and fingers, dizziness.
To prescribe competent treatment, you need to determine the causes of neck pain; This will be the task of the specialist you contact. Let's find out what can cause cervical spine pain.
Causes of neck pain
There are 2 main causes of neck pain and limitation of movement: muscle stiffness and cervical spine diseases.
Neck stiffness
Stiffness is a condition in which the muscles become more toned (unable to relax) and resist any attempt to move. Neck muscle stiffness is not an independent disease; It occurs due to lack of physical activity or accompanies some diseases.
In connection with a sedentary lifestyle (working at a computer, driving, lack of sports activity), the vertebrae of the cervical spine may change, aching pains appear, spasms caused by inadequate circulation of the cervical region.
Neck stiffness can also be a symptom of:
- encephalitis, meningitis, cerebral hemorrhage. Other symptoms of these diseases: headache, weakness, nausea, fever, dizziness, skin rash.
- parkinsonism. It is accompanied by tremors throughout the body, imbalance and automatic movement and speech problems.
- neck injuries. In such cases, the pain always precedes some serious mechanical effect on the neck (fall, blow).
Diseases of the cervical spine.
Pain and limitation of movement in the cervical spine can occur due to pathologies of the spine:
- Hernia. Severe pain radiates to the shoulders and arms, the palms may feel tingling and numb, there is a "lumbago in the neck", a sharp pain that prevents movement of the entire upper body.
- Cervical osteochondrosis. It is accompanied by headache, tinnitus, decreased visual acuity, blinking "flies" in front of the eyes, pain in the arms and shoulders.
- Cervical osteoarthritis. Pain occurs not only in the neck, but also in the shoulder region. She is most disturbing in the mornings and afternoons.
- SpondylosisIt is accompanied by occipital pain, numbness and tingling in the neck, hearing and vision problems, dizziness may occur.
- Asymmetry of the cervical artery. It is characterized by tinnitus, headache, darkening of the eyes, and increased blood pressure.
What doctor should I see if I have neck pain?
First of all, we suggest that you consult a GP (therapist), who will form the further direction of the examination. To clarify the diagnosis and the appointment of direct treatment, doctors of a narrower focus may participate: rheumatologist, neurologist, traumatologist, orthopedist. The patient can also be referred to a chiropractor and massage therapist.
Diagnose the cause of neck pain.
After an oral interrogation, the doctor examines the patient: probes the surface of the neck, checks the sensitivity of the arms and legs, the state of reflexes, discovers the presence of muscle spasms and hypertonicity.
Of the hardware techniques used:
- bone scan;
- Magnetic resonance;
- Computed tomography;
- electromyography (EMG);
- Ultrasound Dopplerography (USDG) of the vessels of the neck.
Blood and urine tests can be done to detect inflammatory processes in the body.
Treatments for neck pain and stiffness
Neck pain treatments may include:
- Physiotherapy sessions (magnetotherapy, electrophoresis, ultrasound therapy, shock wave therapy).
- Prescription of analgesics, sedatives, anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants.
- Holistic medicine methods (acupuncture, massage, moxibustion, hirudotherapy, stone therapy, vacuum therapy).
- Physiotherapy, correct organization of the workplace, postural control.
- Surgical intervention. Radical methods of surgical treatment are prescribed only in case of ineffectiveness of conservative methods or with a more serious diagnosis, which initially involves surgery.
Treatment of neck pain in the medical center.
The high professionalism and impressive work experience of doctors allows you to choose the right program for the treatment of neck diseases for each patient. The medical center is equipped with modern high-tech and reliable devices for instrumental and laboratory diagnosis, physiotherapy and treatment. And experienced massage therapists and chiropractors will help not only relieve pain in the neck, but also improve the body as a whole.
If you are concerned about neck pain and limited mobility, make an appointment with us without waiting for an exacerbation of the condition.