Neck pain is a rather unpleasant phenomenon that can happen to anyone. Let's take a look at why neck pain occurs, what it is like, how to diagnose and treat it properly.
The neck has many functions, being responsible for the functioning of the spine and supporting the head. Neck pain occurs frequently and is often due to heavy loads placed on this delicate but multifunctional part of the body. There are many causes of neck pain. So, first things first.
Causes of neck pain
The cause of neck pain can be related to many different types of diseases or injuries. We invite you to get acquainted with the main factors that cause pain:
- Chronic diseases (osteoarthritis, osteoarthritis) are degenerative in nature and can appear in the neck muscles, ligaments or one of the parts of the spine.
- Trauma – pain occurs when there is injury to the discs, ligaments, vertebrae and joints.
- Disc herniation.
- Pain due to diseases of the esophagus, muscle spasms, heart, and lungs.
- Tumors in the cervical spine or metastases from kidney, thyroid or breast cancer.
- Infectious bone diseases, tetanus, meningitis and others.
How does neck pain manifest?
There are many different symptoms of neck pain and each person will experience them differently. Let's look at the most popular of them.
- It is difficult to turn your head from side to side or make up and down movements.
- Neck pain on the left or right side, especially pain when trying to raise your head.
- When turning the neck, pain appears in the temples and shoulders.
- Pain can also occur in the back of the neck, causing a feeling of numbness.
- Sleeping in the wrong position, working sedentary - causes neck, shoulder, and back pain.
Pain in the neck and head
Pain in the neck and head occurs due to trauma, mechanical damage or disease. If the pain is due to injury or spasm, it will go away in 1-2 weeks. Other causes of pain:
- Damage to the neck, muscles or spinal ligaments.
- Muscle spasms.
- Holding the head in an incorrect and uncomfortable position for long periods of time.
- Consequences of trauma or tumor.
- Acute thyroiditis.
- Ankylosing spondylitis.
- Infections and rheumatoid arthritis.
If neck and head pain causes discomfort, pain, or interferes with normal activities, consult your doctor immediately. The doctor will help determine the cause of the pain and eliminate it.
Headache in the neck area
Headaches in the cervical region can occur due to active movements of the cervical vertebrae. The cause of pain can be fatigue, lack of sleep, increased pressure and general diseases. Headaches in the neck area also occur due to chronic diseases or old injuries. Pain may occur due to exacerbation of osteonecrosis or chronic tonsillitis. The feeling of discomfort spreads throughout the nape of the neck, sometimes the pain spreads to the temples when trying to tilt or turn the head.
With such symptoms, timely treatment is needed. If the pain is not related to the compressed muscle and the disease is progressing, the consequences will be very adverse. Infringement of blood vessels will negatively affect the supply of oxygen and blood to the brain, that is, it will lead to vascular insufficiency. As a result, hearing will decrease significantly, vision and memory will decrease, and the ability to concentrate will also decrease. To avoid this, you need to consult a surgeon or neurologist.
Pain in the right neck area
As a rule, pain in the right neck region occurs due to cervical spondylosis (disc disease). Usually, elderly people suffer from this disease. Pain is treated with massage, ointments, kneading, manual therapy and orthopedic exercises.
But pain in the right neck area can also occur for other reasons. Thus, damage to the disc, joints, vertebrae, muscles or ligaments will cause pain in the right neck area. Various immune disorders, infections and diseases of the spine also cause pain. Don't forget about referred pain and localized tumors in the neck area. They significantly weaken the immune system and cause pain.
Severe pain in the neck
Severe pain in the neck can occur due to established diseases, injuries or quite ordinary situations. Let's look at the causes of severe pain in the neck.
- Increased stress on the spine and staying in an uncomfortable or incorrect position for long periods of time will lead to severe muscle spasms and pain.
- Chronic diseases, infections, problems with the immune system.
- Sudden movements, emotional stress.
- Hypothermia in the muscles impairs blood circulation, causing neck pain.
- Excess weight is another cause of severe pain.
Pain in the left neck area
Pain in the left neck area is a signal of a problem, they can be caused by injury, disease or mechanical damage. If the pain is not related to illness, it will disappear within 1-2 weeks. But some pain is chronic and can last for years, causing inconvenience and pain.
Left neck pain occurs in patients of all ages. Pain can occur due to spinal diseases, neck muscle damage or ligament problems. In children, pain occurs due to cervical lymphadenitis, that is, complications after sore throat and other colds. A neurologist or chiropractor can diagnose pain and prescribe treatment.
Pain in the front of the neck
Severe pain in the front of the neck is often a symptom of melanoma. The tumor appears near the spine, esophagus, thyroid gland, or larynx. Another cause of pain is angina. But pain can also occur due to an inflammatory process or styloid process syndrome. If the pain appears due to needle syndrome (styloid process), the pain will cause a sharp pain in the ears and throat. Very often, with this disease, patients have to have their tonsils removed, which is a mistake.
The cause of pain in the front of the neck can be accurately diagnosed with an X-ray. Determining the cause yourself is a difficult, even dangerous task. Because wrong diagnosis will lead to wrong treatment. To prevent this from happening, seek qualified medical help.
Pain in the back of the neck
Pain in the back of the neck can be caused by muscle spasms or muscle tension (usually occurs when working for long periods in a sitting position). Muscles put pressure on the vessels responsible for supplying oxygen to the brain, nerve activity and cervical vertebrae. To eliminate muscle spasms, manual therapy and a variety of massage procedures are used.
If pain in the back of the neck is caused by chronic diseases, tumors or infections, the first step is to diagnose the disease. Thanks to this, you can plan effective treatment and take all measures to eliminate painful symptoms.
Persistent pain in the neck area
Persistent pain in the neck area is often caused by sleeping in the wrong position, muscle spasms or pinched nerves. The pain will appear if you have a cold in your neck or have just had a cold. To accurately determine the cause of your pain, you need to seek medical help. Your doctor will refer you for an ultrasound and X-ray of the cervical spine.
If persistent pain in the neck is not related to illness or infection, your doctor will prescribe massage medications and ointments to relieve the pain. Don't forget about preventive exercises that will prevent pain from appearing in the future. A little neck warm-up in the morning will reduce pain and is a great start to the work day.
Acute pain in the neck
Acute pain in the neck occurs in both adults and children. There are many reasons for pain. Pain can occur due to spinal deformity, i. e. osteoarthritis or osteoarthritis. Trauma, ligament or muscle damage also causes severe pain in the neck. Only a doctor can diagnose the cause of acute pain.
For the treatment of pain, it is necessary to first minimize physical activity and pressure on the neck. It is also important to ensure that the neck is in the correct position when sleeping and especially during sedentary work. Don't forget that regular neck exercises will help prevent muscle atrophy.
Contact who?
- Zoological researcher
- Neurologist
Diagnosis of neck pain
The diagnosis of neck pain should be made by a specialist. The following methods are used for diagnosis: X-ray, ultrasound, MRI. The method of diagnosing the cause of pain is chosen by the doctor after examining and studying the patient's symptoms and complaints.
Diagnosis and treatment of pain in the neck area is performed by surgeons, orthopedists, rheumatologists and orthopedists. In some cases, patients are diagnosed and treated by a physical therapist, massage therapist, or traumatologist. If the cause of the pain is a malignant tumor, the patient will have a biopsy and the diagnosis is made by an oncologist, surgeon, otolaryngologist or therapist.
Treat neck pain
Treatment for neck pain depends on what causes it. If the pain is caused by an illness, it must be treated (only in this case will the pain go away). If the cause of pain is injury, muscle spasm or inflammation, then the patient will be prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs, limit physical activity and use special ointments.
In case of emergency, the patient's neck is guaranteed to be completely immobilized; for this purpose, a neck corset is used. If acute pain passes through the neck, then the first principle of treatment is to abandon physical activity. This will tone your muscles and eliminate muscle spasms. Massage will not go wrong, it will improve blood circulation and train stagnant muscles. For severe pain, patients are prescribed muscle relaxants. Don't forget that chronic neck pain is not normal. So, at the first symptom of pain, seek professional medical help.
Prevent neck pain
Preventing neck pain is completely eliminating the factors that cause pain. First of all, you need to make sure that the neck and spine are in a normal position. Don't sit in one place for too long, regularly practice basic exercises for your neck and back. Neck pain can be caused by smoking. In this case, prevention includes giving up bad habits. The problem of excess weight is another factor that causes neck pain. A healthy lifestyle, regular exercise and good sleep are key preventative measures that help protect you from pain in the cervical spine.
Neck pain is a problem that everyone faces sooner or later. There are many causes of pain, only a doctor can accurately diagnose. But regular preventive measures - neck exercises, a healthy lifestyle and giving up bad habits will protect you from painful sensations.