Almost everyone has experienced neck pain. They can appear not only in adults, but also in children. To get rid of unpleasant sensations, you must first find out the reason why the neck hurts, and based on this, solve the problem. Since this can be a symptom of a more serious illness and not just pain, it is important to consult a doctor in time.
Causes of neck pain
Neck discomfort is one of the most common complaints from patients. There are many reasons why cervical spine pain can be recorded, but they all fall into several groups:
- Nonspecific factors. The reason for the appearance of pain in the neck and back of the head can be a long stay in one position, overexertion, repetition of the same type of movements, hypothermia, excess weight, stress. They can also appear after a night's sleep in the wrong position or on an uncomfortable mattress or pillow. Such pains can be quite harmless.
- Damage to vertebrae, intervertebral discs, joints, ligaments. Neck pain can be the result of degenerative-dystrophic diseases. The most common pathologies in this group are osteochondrosis, spondyloarthrosis, spondylolisthesis, stenosis and hernia.
- Pathology of internal organs. The above pain often occurs due to thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland). This pain is aggravated by any impact to the neck. Inflammation of the salivary gland, tooth decay, tonsillitis, damage to the larynx and trachea can also cause neck pain.
- TumorsNeoplasms can cause severe neck pain. They are long enough. If the discomfort does not stop, you should immediately consult a doctor.
- Injuries and other mechanical damage. Another reason the spine hurts in the neck is an injury. Even a minor blow can damage the cervical spine. When struck, the vertebrae can shift. If they are not placed in a timely manner, the patient will complain that their neck hurts in front, to the right, or to the left for no apparent reason.
- Inflammatory processes. Pain can appear due to arthritis, lupus, spondyloarthritis, and Sharp syndrome. Sometimes inflammation occurs with pain due to ankylosing spondylitis.
- Pathologies of the muscular corset. Trigger points, small bumps in the neck, appear when the muscles of the shoulders and neck are spasmodic.
- Infectious diseases. These pathologies usually include tuberculosis, meningitis, herpes, and osteomyelitis.
- Consequences of the operation.
Symptoms of conditions that cause shoulder and neck pain may not appear for years or be present all the time. Therefore, it is important to undergo periodic examinations in medical institutions.
There are causes of neck pain that only affect children. If a child's neck hurts, they are usually very serious illnesses. These include torticollis, tetanus, mumps, polio, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
Diagnostics
To find out the cause of discomfort, if the cervical spine hurts, it is important to consult a specialist as soon as the first symptoms appear. The therapist or pediatrician will refer you to a more specific specialist after an initial examination and depending on the nature of the pain.
Most of the time, they are referred to a neurologist or chiropractor. If neck pain is the cause of mechanical damage, a referral is made to an orthopedic surgeon. For neck pain or torticollis in children, they can be referred to an orthopedist. They are sent to a cardiologist if they are concerned about pain in the neck on the left, but there are no problems with the function of the arms and legs. An otolaryngologist should be asked for help when a pulling pain occurs in the neck and a sore throat or swollen lymph nodes are suspected to be the cause.
To determine the origin of neck pain in the front, back, right, or left, the doctor first palpates. Based on the results of this examination, the specialist decides what diagnosis to make and prescribes treatment.
When pain occurs when nodding the head, bending back and forth, this indicates damage to the first vertebra. If there is any discomfort when leaning sideways or turning the neck, the problem is most likely in the second vertebra.
If the patient is concerned about severe pain in the cervical spine, an experienced specialist can easily determine the cause. Since the focus of pain may be far from the site of manifestation, even when the throbbing pain in the left neck is disturbing, more detailed diagnosis is carried out.
Based on the results of the initial exam, your doctor may refer you for additional diagnostic procedures. These include the appointment for blood and urine tests, ultrasound examination, MRI, x-ray, tomography, cardiogram, electroneurogram. The results of these procedures are important in answering the question of how to treat pain in the neck and neck area.
Treatment of neck pain
A specialist, after the patient undergoes all the diagnostic procedures, can tell you how to get rid of neck pain. You should not self-medicate, as pain can have different etiologies and treatment approaches will also be different.
A neurologist or physical therapist prescribes a treatment for the cervical spine. These specialists can refer you to a chiropractor if necessary. Usually it is recommended to take a course of medication, physical therapy and massage. If the neck hurts a lot and treatment with drugs, physical therapy and massage does not help, an operation is performed.
Non-surgical treatment
To quickly and effectively relieve pain in the cervical spine, treatment must be comprehensive. Usually the patient is prescribed the following non-surgical treatment of cervical spine pain:
- drug therapy;
- orthopedic methods;
- reflexology;
- ultrasound therapy;
- laser therapy;
- therapeutic massage, osteopathy;
- physiotherapy.
Pharmacotherapy is a treatment with ointments, tablets, injections. It aims to eliminate pain and associated unpleasant symptoms.
If a sharp pain in the neck is caused by osteochondrosis, in addition to painkillers, muscle relaxants are prescribed. In severe conditions, when it comes to acute neck pain, corticosteroids may be prescribed.
If it is severe neck pain, blocks are used to relieve the symptom.
Orthopedic methods involve the use of a collar. Its fixation can be soft or hard. Most often, such treatment is prescribed when the neck constantly hurts or injuries have been received.
If, at the end of the course of treatment, preventive measures do not continue, then neck pain, in both adults and children, can manifest itself again.
Reflexology is an electric shock for pain in the cervical spine. Assign ordinary acupuncture and electroacupuncture.
The effect of ultrasound has an antispasmodic effect if the neck muscles hurt, and during phonophoresis the effect of the drug increases several times.
Laser therapy has a soothing effect on the inflamed skin area. If your neck hurts, a qualified specialist will explain how to treat this method.
Also, if the neck hurts from the side, to the left, or to the right, a massage will be helpful. Therapeutic massage is recommended at least 2 times a year. This procedure relieves stress and eliminates some of the causes of the unpleasant symptom.
Physiotherapy exercises (exercise therapy) are aimed at the correct distribution of the load during pain in the cervical spine. In addition, there is stretching and greater mobility of certain muscle groups.
In addition to official medications to relieve neck symptoms, informal medicine can also be used to heal the back of the head and the rest of the cervical region.
Treatment with surgery
There are times when it is impossible to do without surgical intervention. How is neck pain treated in this case? Operable situations include hernias, compression of the spinal cord or spinal roots, and mechanical injury.
The operation comes down to the fact that the areas of the vertebrae that interfere with the normal functioning and work of the spinal cord are simply removed. In some cases, it is possible to perform a laser operation.
The operation can lead to complications or accidents, so doctors initially try different treatments.
It is important to know that the doctor will offer an operational way to solve the problem only when he sees that other methods will not bring a positive result. For this reason, treatment cannot be postponed for a long time, especially if the disease is detected at an early stage.
Prophylaxis
To exclude a cause of neck pain such as inactivity and being in an uncomfortable position, it is recommended to perform a self-massage. A massage therapist or other specialist who has been contacted for neck pain will advise you on how to treat neck pain with this method.
Light exercise during your work hours will help. You need to take regular breaks to get your neck muscles working properly again. With incorrect position or tension for a long time, pain in the cervical spine can occur.
A sleeping pillow and mattress must be orthopedic. They will relieve stress on the spine throughout the day.
Massage twice a year will reduce the chance of going to the doctor for neck pain. A professional masseur can eliminate the cause of chronic neck pain on the right, front and left during the course.
To exclude serious diseases, you need to determine for what reason the neck can hurt. It is important to keep the neck warm, it must be protected from drafts. Observance of a correct posture will not be superfluous, especially for children.