Almost everyone has experienced neck pain. They can appear not only in adults, but also in children. To get rid of unpleasant sensations, you first need to find out the reason why the neck hurts, and based on it, solve the problem. As it can be a symptom of a more serious illness and not just pain, it is important to see a doctor in time.
Causes of neck pain
Neck discomfort is one of the most common complaints of patients. There are many reasons why pain in the cervical spine can be recorded, but they are all divided into several groups:
- Non-specific factors. The reason for the appearance of pain in the neck and back of the head can be a long stay in one position, overwork, 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 pain 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, spondylarthrosis, spondylolisthesis, stenosis and hernia.
- Pathology of internal organs. The previous pain is often due to thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland). This pain is aggravated by any impact on the neck. Inflammation of the salivary gland, cavities, tonsillitis, lesions of the larynx and trachea can also cause neck pain.
- Tumors. Neoplasms can cause severe neck pain. They are quite long. If the discomfort does not stop, you should immediately consult a doctor.
- Injury and other mechanical damage. Another reason that the spine in the neck hurts is injury. Even a minor blow can damage the cervical spine. When struck, the vertebrae can be displaced. If they are not put in place in time, the patient will complain of pain in the neck in front, on the right or on the left for no apparent reason.
- Inflammatory processes. Pain can appear due to arthritis, lupus, spondylitis, and Sharp's syndrome. Sometimes inflammation occurs along with pain due to ankylosing spondylitis.
- Pathologies of muscle corsets. Trigger points, small bumps in the neck, appear when the muscles in the shoulders and neck are spasmodic.
- Infectious diseases. These conditions generally include tuberculosis, meningitis, shingles and osteomelitis.
- Consequences of the operation.
Symptoms of conditions that cause shoulder and neck pain may not appear for years or be present all of the time. Therefore, it is important to undergo regular examinations in medical institutions.
There are causes of neck pain that only affect children. If a child's neck hurts, it is usually a very serious illness. These include torticollis, tetanus, mumps, polio, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
Diagnostic
To find out the cause of the 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 smaller specialist after a first examination and depending on the nature of the pain.
Most often, they are referred to a neurologist or chiropractor. If aching neck pain is the cause of mechanical damage, then a referral is made to a traumatologist. For neck pain or stiff necks in children, they may 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 functioning of the arms and legs. Seek help from an otolaryngologist when neck pain occurs and a sore throat or lymph node inflammation is 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 on the diagnosis to be made and prescribes treatment.
When the pain occurs when nodding, leaning back and forth, it indicates damage to the first vertebra. If discomfort occurs when you lean to the sides or turn your neck, the problem is most likely with the second vertebra.
If the patient is worried about severe pain in the cervical spine, an experienced specialist can easily determine the cause. Since the focus of pain can be far from the site of manifestation, including when the throbbing pain in the left neck is disturbing, the most detailed diagnosis is made.
Based on the results of the initial examination, the doctor may refer you for additional diagnostic procedures. These include the appointment for blood and urine tests, ultrasound, 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 has undergone all the diagnostic procedures, can tell how to get rid of neck pain. You should not self-medicate, as the pain can have different etiologies and the treatment approaches will also be different.
A neurologist or physiotherapist prescribes treatment for the cervical spine. These specialists can refer you to a chiropractor if necessary. It is generally recommended to follow a course of medication, physiotherapy and massage. If the neck hurts badly, and drug therapy, physiotherapy and massage do not help, then an operation is performed.
Non-surgical treatment
To relieve pain in the cervical spine quickly and effectively, treatment must be comprehensive. Usually, the patient is prescribed the following non-surgical treatment for pain in the cervical spine:
- drug therapy;
- orthopedic methods;
- reflexology;
- ultrasound therapy;
- laser therapy;
- therapeutic massage, osteopathy;
- physiotherapy.
Drug therapy is treatment with ointments, tablets, injections. It aims to eliminate the pain and unpleasant symptoms associated with it.
If acute neck pain is caused by osteochondrosis, in addition to pain relievers, muscle relaxers are prescribed. In severe conditions, when it comes to acute neck pain, corticosteroids may be prescribed.
In severe neck pain, blockages are used to relieve the symptom.
Orthopedic methods involve wearing a collar. Its fixation can be soft or hard. Most often, such treatment is prescribed when the neck constantly hurts or injuries have been sustained.
If, at the end of treatment, preventive measures are not continued, neck pain, both in adults and in children, may recur.
Reflexology is an electric shock for pain in the cervical spine. Allocate ordinary acupuncture and electroacupuncture.
The effect of ultrasound has an antispasmodic effect if the muscles of the neck hurt, and during phonophoresis the effect of the drug increases several times.
Laser therapy has a calming effect on the inflamed skin area. If the neck hurts, a qualified specialist will tell you how to treat this method.
In addition, if the neck hurts on the side, left or right, a massage will be useful. Therapeutic massage is recommended at least twice a year. This procedure relieves stress and eliminates some of the causes of the unpleasant symptom.
Physiotherapy exercises (exercise therapy) are aimed at distributing the load correctly during pain in the cervical spine. In addition, there is stretching and increased mobility of certain muscle groups.
In addition to formal medications to relieve symptoms in the neck area, informal medicine can also be used to treat 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 surgery. How is neck pain treated in this case? Operable situations include hernias, compression of the spinal cord or spinal roots, and mechanical injuries.
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 an operation using a laser.
The operation can cause complications or accidents, so doctors try different treatments first.
It is important to know that the doctor will offer an operational way to solve the problem only when he sees that other methods do 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 an uncomfortable posture, it is recommended to perform self-massage. How to treat neck pain with this method will be advised by a masseur or other specialist who has been contacted for neck pain.
Light exercise during your working hours will help. You need to take regular breaks to get your neck muscles back to working order. With incorrect long posture or tension, pain in the cervical spine may occur.
A sleeping pillow and a mattress should be orthopedic. They will relieve stress on the spine throughout the day.
Massaging twice a year will reduce the likelihood of going to the doctor for neck pain. A professional massage therapist can eliminate the cause of chronic neck pain on the right, front and left during the course.
To exclude serious diseases, you need to find out for what reason the neck can hurt. It is important to keep the neck warm, you need to protect it from drafts. Respect for a correct posture will not be superfluous, especially for children.