Neck pain: causes, accompanying symptoms and treatment

The neck hurts at various intervals in 70% of adults. At the same time, painful sensations can be not only of different nature, but also be caused by different diseases. Therefore, they are observed mainly not in isolation, but are accompanied by other symptoms that help in the correct diagnosis and selection of optimal treatment tactics.

Types of neck pain

Neck pain can be short-term and limited to mild discomfort, or very severe, significantly interfering with daily life. More often people complain that they suddenly feel lumbago, after which there is constant pain. It can be pain, tingling, throbbing, contraction or other.

Neck pain is also called cervical pain.

Discomfort usually increases during movement, such as turning or tilting the head, while remaining in a static, particularly awkward position for a long time, especially during long periods of computer use. In this regard, a person is forced, often even unconsciously, to turn his whole body to spare the neck as much as possible.

Thus, it is obvious that neck pain can be very different. Therefore, they are divided not only into acute (lasting less than 10 days) and chronic, but also into:

• vertebrogenic - occurring against the background of pathological changes in the cervical spine, including lesions of the intervertebral discs, compression of the spinal roots and spinal cord;
• nonvertebral - as a result of all other causes, including infectious diseases, inflammatory processes in the muscles, diseases of the thyroid gland, lymph nodes and others.

Vertebrogenic pain is characterized by radiation to the occipital region, shoulders, arms, down to the hands and fingers. Numbness, impaired sensitivity and mobility are often observed, which indicates the development of neurological disorders, ie disruption of one or another anatomical structure of the nerve roots or spinal cord. Also, dizziness, loss of consciousness and headache may occur in such situations, indicating compression of the vertebral arteries, such as an intervertebral hernia.

You should urgently make an appointment with a doctor if your neck pain is sharp or accompanied by dizziness, tingling in the back of the head or tinnitus.

Causes of neck pain

Sometimes it is difficult for patients to distinguish an independent sore throat from neck pain, as it can be so diffuse that the sensations are blurred and the whole neck seems to hurt. If this is accompanied by a feeling of sweating or scratching in the throat, fever, then this may indicate laryngitis, SARS, sore throat, pharyngitis and other colds. Also, these symptoms are typical for:

• gastroesophageal reflux;
• Itsenko-Cushing syndrome;
• foreign bodies entering the pharynx, such as fish bones;
• hypovitaminosis;
• formation of benign and malignant tumors in the throat.

However, in most cases, people can distinguish throat problems from real neck pain, which can be seen on both the anterolateral surfaces and the back and front.

Pain localization is an important diagnostic feature that allows you to determine the source of pain at the examination stage and then thoroughly examine the changes with the help of instrumental diagnostic methods.

Front neck pain: causes

The appearance of unpleasant or even painful sensations directly in the area under the chin or diffuse pain throughout the front of the neck may indicate:

• thyroid disease;
• inflammatory processes in the muscles affecting ligaments and nerves;
• formation of cysts and abscesses;
• lymph node involvement;
• angina pectoris.

That is, the list of possible causes is quite extensive and it is impossible to determine regardless of what exactly caused the neck pain. In such situations, it is worth contacting a therapist for an examination. If necessary, the doctor will refer the patient to a narrow specialist with the desired profile.

Spinal artery syndrome and radicular syndrome may also be associated with pain in the front of the neck. In both cases, the cause is a violation of blood vessels or nerves from a deformed intervertebral disc, swollen tissues, displaced body of the cervical spine or other structure. Our clinic has developed an integrated approach to solve this problem - experienced chiropractors, neurologists, rehabilitators, endocrinologists will conduct an examination and prescribe the necessary treatment.

Back pain in the back: causes

Due to the peculiarities of the modern way of life, people often worry about pain in the back of the neck. Computer work, constant use of devices, low level of physical activity and bad habits, all this causes pathological changes in the structure of the spine, which manifest as pain in the neck. Therefore, in case of pain, pulling, sharp pain, lumbago in the back of the neck, in the first place, it is necessary to consult a chiropractor or vertebrologist, as in the vast majority of cases it indicates diseases of the cervical spine, namely:

• osteochondrosis is a widespread disease accompanied by degenerative-dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs, a decrease in their height and a decrease in strength;
• bulges - a complication of osteochondrosis in which the intervertebral disc protrudes (more often in the spinal canal, where the spinal cord and nerve roots pass), which causes a risk of pinching nerves and spinal arteries;
• intervertebral hernias - a consequence of the lack of treatment of protrusion, in which the internal contents of the intervertebral disc penetrates the spinal canal, gradually increases and can seriously compress the nerves and spinal cord, and at the last stage of development separates and "travels"along the spinal canal, causing serious and sometimes irreversible complications to paralysis;
• spondylosis is a complication of osteochondrosis in which bone protrusions, called osteophytes, grow along the edges of the vertebral bodies and the intervertebral discs are critically flattened, eventually merging adjacent vertebrae with each other and restricting neck mobility.;
• myofascial syndrome - a disease in which individual muscles spasm, leading to attacks of acute pain during physical activity or when pressing on certain points of the neck;
• compression fractures of the vertebrae - most often occur in older people with osteoporosis or are the result of a whip injury, for example in an accident, and pose a serious threat to human life and health;
• Ankylosing spondylitis is a systemic disease that affects almost all joints of the body and causes severe limitations of mobility due to the fusion of individual vertebrae with each other, forming strong and immobile conglomerates.

Much less often, back pain is caused by spinal tuberculosis, osteomyelitis or Reiter's syndrome.

Side neck pain: causes

Most often the pain in the lateral surfaces of the neck is burning or throbbing and they can also be tingling. They tend to attach to the shoulder and ear, sometimes accompanied by the formation of secondary torticollis, as a result of which the head tilts to the affected side. This is typical for:

• pathologies of blood vessels, including atherosclerosis;
• muscle spasms, which can be caused by heavy neck strain, sudden movement or hypothermia;
• formation of malignancies in the thyroid gland, pharynx and larynx.

Diagnosis of the causes of neck pain

Because in the vast majority of cases, neck pain is caused by the development of pathologies of the cervical spine, when they occur, it is worth contacting a chiropractor, vertebrologist or neurologist. Based on complaints, examination data and neurological tests, the doctor will be able to determine whether the discomfort in the neck area is really due to spinal disorders or is caused by other diseases.

Nevertheless, abnormalities in the condition of the spine are actually one of the reasons for the development of concomitant diseases of the internal organs. After all, a change in the position of the vertebrae, a decrease in the height of the intervertebral discs and other, even minor changes, lead to a violation of the transmission of nerve impulses from the spinal cord through the nerve roots along the nerves to the internal organs.

Since the spinal cord is characterized by segmental innervation, ie each part of it is responsible for the proper functioning of a particular organ, in case of disorders in the cervical spine, innervation of the ENT organs, vocal cords, The thyroid and parathyroid glands can also affect the muscles of the neck, shoulders and forearms. Therefore, initially their work is disrupted and over time organic changes occur, ie this or that disease develops, which can provoke pain of varying intensity and nature in the neck.

Therefore, diseases of the internal organs are rarely diagnosed and no changes are found in the spine and therefore consultation with a chiropractor is required. However, if the patient has signs of diseases of the thyroid gland, heart, ENT organs or others, he is additionally shown to receive advice from narrow specialists (endocrinologist, cardiologist, otolaryngologist, etc. ).

Thus, the diagnosis of the causes of neck pain is always complicated. May include:

• general and biochemical blood test;
• determination of the level of thyroid hormones in the blood;
• Ultrasound with dopplerography of the vessels of the neck, thyroid gland, salivary glands;
• X-ray of the cervical spine;
• electroneuromyography;
• CT;
• NMR.

MRI, ie magnetic resonance imaging, is the most informative for diagnosing pathologies of the spine. The method allows you to study the condition of the intervertebral discs to the smallest detail, to assess the quality of blood flow in the vertebral arteries and to detect signs of compression of the spinal cord or its roots. With its help the diseases are diagnosed at the earliest stages of development, which guarantees the earliest possible start of treatment and its high efficiency.

In our clinic you can also learn more about the composition of your body and the condition of the vascular system, which is involved in the blood supply to internal organs, musculoskeletal muscles and the brain. . Our experienced doctors will explain the findings in detail. Bioimpedancemetry calculates the ratio of fat, muscle, bone and skeletal mass, total body fluid, basal metabolic rate. The intensity of the recommended physical activity depends on the condition of the muscle mass. Metabolic processes in turn affect the body's ability to recover. According to the indicators of active cell mass, the level of physical activity and nutritional balance can be assessed. This simple and quick test helps us see endocrine disorders and take action. In addition, it is also very important for us to know the condition of blood vessels for the prevention of diseases such as heart attacks, hypertension, heart failure, diabetes and many others. Angioscan allows you to determine such important indicators as the biological age of blood vessels, their stiffness, stress index (which speaks of heart rate), blood oxygen saturation. Such screening will be useful for men and women over 30, athletes, those undergoing prolonged and difficult treatment, and anyone who monitors their health.

In this case, the analysis of body composition gives us information that adipose tissue predominates in the body, and the musculoskeletal component is in relative deficit. These data will help the rehabilitator to properly prepare a plan for physical activity, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient.

Treatment of neck pain

For each patient the tactics of therapy are developed strictly individually based on the diagnosis, the severity of the pathological changes, the presence of concomitant diseases and other factors. Even patients with the same disabilities may be prescribed different treatments, as even age and level of physical development affect it.

However, the treatment of diseases that cause neck pain is always complex and includes both symptomatic and etiotropic therapy. In other words, it is aimed at eliminating the symptoms of the disease and the causes of its occurrence. The main components of therapy are often:

• drug treatment;
• osteopathy;
• manual therapy;
• massage;
• physiotherapy (phonophoresis, carboxytherapy, ozone therapy, radiotherapy pressure therapy);
• individual lessons with a rehabilitation doctor.

When pathologies of the cervical spine are diagnosed, it is shown that some adjustments are made in your lifestyle and habits. So office workers, drivers, seamstresses and other sedentary occupations are advised to warm up as often as possible and to avoid prolonged forced body position, especially requiring neck muscle tension.

It is also important to eat properly so that the body receives all the nutrients it needs. This will not only slow down the progression of the pathology, but also contribute to a faster course of regeneration processes.

In severe pain, the chiropractor may recommend that the patient purchase a Chance brace or collar. Wearing it will help to unload the cervical spine and avoid rashes, sudden movements, which will lead to a gradual fading of the pain syndrome. In our center you can choose and buy a bandage that suits you.

You can wrap a woolen scarf around your neck to relieve the pain before your appointment, or take an anesthetic pill no later than 12 hours before taking it.

Drug therapy

The nature of the prescribed drugs and their amount can vary in a very wide range, which directly depends on the diagnosis and the presence of concomitant diseases. Therefore, we will list only those groups of drugs that are prescribed to the majority of patients:

• NSAIDs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that also differ in analgesic properties (produced in various dosage forms, including tablets, ointments, injectable solutions, etc. );
• corticosteroids are drugs with a powerful anti-inflammatory effect that are used only in severe inflammatory processes that NSAIDs cannot eliminate;
• muscle relaxants - drugs that eliminate muscle spasms of various origins, which helps reduce the severity of pain;
• chondroprotectors - drugs that promote the recovery of cartilage tissue that makes up the intervertebral discs, but are effective only in the initial stages of osteochondrosis;
• B vitamins - used to improve the conduction of bioelectric impulses from the spinal cord to the relevant organs and restore their proper functioning;
• Vitamin D - a drug responsible for the condition of bone tissue, as well as for higher brain functions, such as memory, memory, attention, speech.

Also, patients may be prescribed antibiotics, hormone replacement therapy, antihypertensive drugs and others.

Blockages are used for particularly severe neck pain. The procedures involve injecting anesthetic solutions with corticosteroids in the area where the nerves pass into the neck, which allows pain relief very quickly. But in addition to being effective only for pain caused by nerve damage, they also require a high level of professionalism from medical professionals, as there is a risk of nerve injury, infection and provoking serious complications when performing a blockade.

Manual therapy

Manual therapy is one of the most effective ways to deal with neck pain and its causes, but only if done correctly. It includes a direct effect on the spine and surrounding soft tissues. Do not confuse manual therapy with massage therapy, in which only the muscles of the back and neck are made.

The techniques and methods of manual therapy allow literally after the first session to achieve a significant improvement in well-being and ultimately complete remission. This is achieved by:

• restoration of the normal axis of the spine by returning the vertebrae to their anatomically correct position;
• increasing the distance between the vertebral bodies and the release of compressed nerves and blood vessels, which helps to eliminate the signs of radicular syndrome, to improve the functioning of internal organs and especially the brain;
• elimination of spasm of the neck muscles and functional blocks, which improves mobility and reduces the severity of pain;
• improve blood circulation and tissue nutrition.

We do not have common standards for treatment, we apply an individual approach to each patient. Only a highly qualified specialist should have the confidence to conduct manual therapy. Otherwise, the use of inappropriate techniques can only harm the patient, aggravate the problem or provoke the development of complications.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy procedures are used to improve the effectiveness of therapy. They are shown exclusively outside the acute period and have an analgesic, anti-inflammatory effect, as well as improve microcirculation in soft tissues and contribute to the normalization of muscle tone.

Courses consisting of 8-15 procedures are usually prescribed. These can be:

• electrophoresis;
UHF;
• ultrasound therapy;
• laser therapy;
• traction therapy (spinal traction);
• mud baths, etc.

The number of sessions of physiotherapy procedures and the frequency of their conduct are chosen by the doctor individually. Some procedures can be combined with each other, while others must be performed strictly at regular intervals.

exercise therapy

Physiotherapy is one of the main components of conservative therapy for neck pain. Since they often occur against the background of muscle strain and degenerative-dystrophic processes in the intervertebral discs caused by this, it is important to pay due attention to exercise and daily exercise.

A program of physiotherapy exercises is developed for each patient separately by a rehabilitation doctor. It can be dangerous to use the complexes presented on the Internet, as they do not take into account the individual characteristics of the patient, his age, the degree of neglect of the pathological process and the level of physical fitness of the patient. Therefore, in order to develop an exercise program, the help of a specialist is needed. In addition, the first few sessions must be conducted under his supervision, so that the patient can understand how to perform each exercise and in the process of self-learning not to harm himself. At home you should practice in a relaxed atmosphere, avoiding any sudden movements, and if pain occurs, you should see a doctor.

Thus, neck pain is widespread. They can be caused by the development of various diseases, but the most common cause of discomfort is spinal problems caused by a sedentary lifestyle. Therefore, you should not hesitate to see a doctor. In fact, in the early stages of the disease, it is easy to cope with conservative methods. While in advanced cases, neck pain and its causes can be eliminated exclusively through surgery.