Pain and stiffness in the neck occurs 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 you try to turn or tilt your head, you experience sharp or increasing pain. Sometimes it is so strong that a person is forced to move their whole body instead of moving their neck. In this case, the pain can affect not only the neck, but also neighboring areas - chest, arms, head, shoulders; accompanied by tinnitus, numbness of the hands and fingers, dizziness.
In order to prescribe competent treatment, you need to determine the causes of neck pain - this will be the task of the specialist who you contact. Let's see what can cause pain in the cervical spine.
Causes of neck pain
There are 2 main causes of pain and limitation of neck movement: muscle stiffness and cervical spine disease.
Neck stiffness
Stiffness is a condition where the muscles become more toned (unable to relax) and resist any attempt at movement. Stiffness of the muscles of the neck is not an independent disease - it is caused either by a lack of physical activity, or by certain diseases.
As part of a sedentary lifestyle - computer work, driving, lack of sports activity - the vertebrae of the cervical spine may shift, aching pain, spasms caused by poor circulation in the cervical region appear.
Neck stiffness can also be a symptom of:
- encephalitis, meningitis, cerebral hemorrhage. Other symptoms of these diseases: headache, weakness, nausea, fever, dizziness, rash.
- parkinsonism. It is accompanied by tremors throughout the body, imbalance and automatic movement, and speech disturbances.
- neck injuries. In such cases, pain always precedes a serious mechanical effect on the neck (fall, blow).
Diseases of the cervical spine
Pain and limitation of movement of the cervical spine can occur due to pathologies of the spine:
- Hernia. Severe pain radiates to the shoulders and arms, the palms may tingle and numb, there is "neck lumbago" - a sharp pain that hinders movement of the entire upper body.
- Cervical osteochondrosis. It is accompanied by headaches, tinnitus, reduced visual acuity, flashing "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 area. It is most disturbing in the morning and in the evening.
- Spondylosis. It is accompanied by occipital pain, numbness and tingling of 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.
Which doctor should I see for neck pain?
First of all, we suggest that you consult a general practitioner (therapist), who will form the further direction of the examination. To clarify the diagnosis and the appointment of direct treatment, doctors of a narrower field may be involved: rheumatologist, neurologist, traumatologist, orthopedist. The patient may also be referred to a chiropractor and a massage therapist.
Diagnose the cause of neck pain
After an oral examination, the doctor examines the patient: probes the surface of the neck, checks the sensitivity of the arms and legs, the state of reflexes, notes the presence of muscle spasms and hypertonia.
Among the material techniques used:
- radiography;
- MRI;
- computed tomography;
- electromyography (EMG);
- Ultrasound dopplerography (USDG) of the neck vessels.
Blood and urine tests can be done to detect inflammatory processes in the body.
Treatment of cervical pain and stiffness
Treatments for neck pain may include:
- Physiotherapy sessions (magnetotherapy, electrophoresis, ultrasound therapy, shock wave therapy).
- Prescription of analgesics, sedatives, anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants.
- Methods of holistic medicine (acupuncture, massage, moxibustion, hirudotherapy, stone therapy, vacuum therapy).
- Physiotherapy, correct organization of the workstation, posture control.
- Surgical intervention. Radical methods of surgical treatment are prescribed only in case of ineffectiveness of conservative methods or with a more serious diagnosis, initially involving surgical intervention.
Treatment of neck pain in the medical center
The high professionalism and impressive professional experience of doctors allow you to choose the appropriate program for the treatment of diseases of the neck for each patient. The medical center is equipped with modern, high-tech and reliable devices for laboratory and instrumental diagnostics, physiotherapy and treatment. And experienced masseurs and chiropractors will not only help relieve neck pain, but also generally improve the body.
If you are concerned about pain and limited neck mobility, make an appointment with us without expecting an exacerbation of the disease.