Neck pain is a common problem that worries many people. These symptoms may be accompanied by limited movement of the cervical spine, muscle tension, and headaches. There are many causes of neck pain. A comprehensive diagnosis is necessary to choose the appropriate treatment.
In this article we will tell you what to do if your neck hurts badly, what can cause pain and how to prevent it. Clinic doctors have extensive experience in treating neck pain of various origins. Comprehensive therapy is selected individually, taking into account the patient's condition, the cause of pain and other factors that affect the outcome of treatment.
Types of pain in the cervical spine
There are two types of neck pain:
- Vertebrogenic— occurs with damage to the intervertebral disc, 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 concern.
- Not vertebrogenic- appear as a result of the 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 painful pain.
If the discomfort does not go away within a few days and increases with movement, you should see a doctor. Specialists 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 spine, because 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 head movement. Occurs as a result of infectious diseases, injuries and often uncomfortable body positions.
- Cervical osteochondrosis- degenerative-dystrophic disease of the spine. The cervical spine, along with the lumbar spine, is highly mobile. As a result of constant pressure, nutrition of the vertebrae and intervertebral disc is disturbed. Bone tissue grows, intervertebral discs are damaged and stand out in the form of protrusions and hernias. The pain is caused by the fact that the bulging disc compresses the spinal ligaments and spinal nerve roots. 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, back of the head, arms, back, under the shoulder blades.
- Intervertebral hernia- advanced form of osteochondrosis, when nerve root compression occurs. The disease is characterized by obvious neurological manifestations: pain in the arms, decreased muscle strength and impaired sensitivity of the upper skin.
- Spondylosis- advanced stage of osteochondrosis, where the edges of the vertebral bodies are overgrown with bony protrusions - osteophytes. After that, the vertebrae join each other. In this case, the intervertebral disc is flattened, and in addition to the pain, the patient experiences severe restrictions when moving his head.
- Rheumatoid spondylitis- autoimmune inflammatory process in the cervical spine joint. As a result of the dysfunction of the immune system, the cells begin to attack their own body. The disease develops gradually and spreads to all the joints of the entire spine. The cervical region is rarely affected. The spine is deformed and the movement is affected. Pain in the neck appears, stiffness of movement occurs, which gradually disappears after performing active movements. Over time, the pain worsens and the spine becomes immobile.
- Cervical spine facet joint arthrosis- destruction of the 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 occurs after an injury or is an occupational disease; it develops when working in a stationary state by bending down or having to turn your head. It manifests itself as pain at the site of the lesion, radiating to the shoulder and throbbing when moving.
- Torticollis– congenital or acquired deformity of the neck by tilting or turning the head to one side. This disease is associated with pathology of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, located laterally along the anterolateral surface of the neck on both sides. It manifests itself as a tilt of the head and raised shoulders on the affected side, accompanied by pain in the neck and back of the head 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 muscles, called "trigger points. " It occurs due to prolonged muscle tension, uneven load distribution, and pinching of the nerves by the surrounding structures. In this case, the patient experiences pain in the muscles at rest, which increases with physical activity, pressing on a certain point in the muscles, which feels like a rather hard compaction. Pain from this point can spread to other parts of the body.
- Compression fractureis a spinal injury in which compression of the vertebral body occurs and damage to the spinal canal. Occurs when engaging in traumatic sports, as well as in older people due to the fragility of bone tissue. Can be caused by whiplash injuries in accidents and can be seriously life threatening.
Rare causes of pain in the cervical spine include:
- Osteomyelitis- purulent inflammation that affects the bone marrow, periosteum, and the bone itself. Often it occurs due to infection and immune system dysfunction.
- Tuberculosis of the spine- a serious disease caused by Koch's bacilli and affecting various parts of the spine, most often affecting the thoracic region. The first symptoms may appear several years after infection.
If the discomfort and pain in the neck is accompanied by a sore throat, fever and weakness, this may indicate the development of viral infections, laryngitis and other colds.
Neck pain can also be a manifestation of:
- benign and malignant tumors of the neck organs;
- gastrointestinal disease;
- foreign body in the throat;
- thyroid disease;
- angina pectoris, called angina pectoris;
- neck soft tissue abscess;
- lymph node disease.
If the neck muscles on the side hurt, the cause may not only be spasms or injuries, but also many other diseases. The clinic adheres to an evidence-based approach to diagnosis. This allows you to accurately determine the origin of symptoms and prescribe effective treatment.
Diagnostics
In most cases, neck pain is non-specific, that is, caused by muscle and ligament pathology. Also, pain syndrome often develops due to degenerative changes in the cervical spine - osteochondrosis. Therefore, first of all, you need to contact a neurologist or a vertebrologist.
To make a correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment, the doctor interviews the patient in detail about the symptoms, severity, location, and circumstances of the incident. It also explains the presence of chronic diseases, heredity, injuries, and medications taken. The specialist then conducts a thorough visual examination, palpation of the neck, and assessment of neurological status, including determination of muscle strength and sensitivity in the extremities. To confirm the diagnosis and exclude diseases unrelated to the spine, patients are recommended to undergo a comprehensive diagnosis. This may include:
- complete blood count, blood tests for markers of inflammation levels, thyroid hormone levels;
- X-ray of the cervical spine;
- Ultrasound with examination of the condition of blood vessels;
- electroneuromyography;
- MRI, CT.
The most informative method is MRI. With its help, pathological diseases of the spine are identified at an early stage and signs of compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots are detected.
At the clinic appointment, the doctor will talk in detail about modern diagnostic methods, interpret the results of the study and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Treatment of pain in the cervical spine
Doctors determine 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 given different treatment because they have different medical history: chronic disease, level of physical development, intensity of pain, 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.
Drug 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, eliminating further tissue destruction.
Physiotherapy- a set of treatment methods based on the influence of natural and artificial factors on the body - light, water, electric current, magnetic field, mechanical and temperature effects. These techniques launch and accelerate the body's natural recovery process.
Physiotherapy methods that help in the treatment of cervical spine include:
- Laser therapy is a painless procedure; it helps relieve pain, relieve local inflammation and swelling, and promote 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 effectively and quickly relieves pain and muscle tension.
Manual therapy- treatment of diseases with hands, where the doctor makes certain, gentle, jerking movements. Thanks to this method, joint and spine mobility is restored, muscles are relaxed, and pain is reduced. Manual therapy is based on oriental techniques to treat the spine.
massage- one of the most famous and popular methods for 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 of the spinal joints. Massage relieves muscle spasms, strengthens them and reduces pain. It is also used to prevent cervical spine disease.
Healing Fitness- prescribed individually, taking into account the type of disease and its stage. This class consists of specific techniques and special exercises that help improve joint mobility, relieve swelling, muscle tension, and then strengthen the muscle corset to prevent disease progression.
Prevention
A sedentary lifestyle, prolonged work at the computer and many other factors lead to problems with the musculoskeletal system - this causes neck pain. Simple recommendations for prevention will help avoid the development of serious diseases of the cervical spine and its complications:
- Do a short warm-up every 30-40 minutes during breaks from working in front of the computer.
- Sleep on an orthopedic mattress and orthopedic pillow.
- Pay great attention to the ergonomics of the workplace: the chair should be comfortable with a special cushion for the neck, the computer should be placed at eye level or slightly higher.
- Do not talk on the phone with your cheek to your shoulder.
- Distribute the load evenly on 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 do training with an instructor, who will design a suitable training program and monitor the accuracy of its implementation.