Neck pain is a common problem that worries many people. This symptom may be accompanied by limited mobility in the cervical spine, muscle tension and headaches. There are many causes of neck pain. A thorough diagnosis is required to choose the appropriate treatment.
In this article we will tell you what to do if your neck hurts severely, what causes the pain and how to prevent it. The clinic's doctors have extensive experience in treating neck pain due to many different causes. Comprehensive therapy is selected individually, taking into account the patient's condition, the cause of pain and other factors affecting the results of treatment.
Types of pain in the cervical spine
There are two types of neck pain:
- vertebrate- occurs due to damage to the intervertebral disc, compression of the spinal cord and spinal roots. The pain may 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.
- Does not cause bone disease- appears due to the inflammatory process in the neck muscles. This also includes pain from 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 pain.
If the discomfort does not go away within a few days and intensifies with movement, you should consult your doctor. A specialist will determine the cause of neck pain and prescribe effective treatment.
Causes of neck pain
Neck muscle pain can be caused by many diseases: from muscle strains to serious diseases of the spine and internal organs. Sometimes it is difficult for patients to independently determine the affected area - in the throat or upper spine, since pain can be felt on all sides of the neck.
Most common causes of acute pain:
- Myositis- inflammation of one or more neck muscles, accompanied by severe pain, swelling and limited head movement. Occurs due to infectious diseases, trauma and frequent uncomfortable body positions.
- Cervical bone degeneration- Degenerative disease-spinal dystrophy. The cervical spine along with the lumbar spine are very mobile. Due to constant stress, the nutrition of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs is disrupted. Bone tissue grows, the intervertebral discs are damaged and protrude in the form of bulges and herniations. The pain is caused by a bulging disc pressing on 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 spread to other areas - to the head, back of the head, arms, back, under the shoulder blades.
- Intervertebral hernia- a progressive form of osteochondrosis, when nerve root compression occurs. This disease is characterized by pronounced neurological manifestations: pain in the arms, decreased muscle strength and impaired skin sensitivity of the upper limbs.
- Degenerative spine- a progressive stage of osteonecrosis, in which the edges of the vertebral bodies are overgrown with bony protrusions - osteophytes. Then, the vertebrae fuse together. In this case, the intervertebral discs collapse, and in addition to feeling pain, the patient also has severe limitations in moving his head.
- Rheumatoid spondylitis- autoimmune inflammatory process in the joints of the cervical spine. Due to dysfunction of the immune system, its cells begin to attack their own body. The disease develops gradually and spreads throughout the joints of the entire spine. The cervical region is rarely affected. The vertebrae are deformed and their ability to move is impaired. Pain in the neck appears, movements stiffen, gradually disappearing after performing active movements. Over time, the pain increases and the spine becomes immobile.
- Arthritis of the facet joints of the cervical spine- destruction of small joints located between the cervical vertebrae arches. In this case, the cartilage surfaces of two adjacent bones are destroyed. The distance between individual vertebrae decreases, and one bone begins to rub against another, causing pain. It often occurs after injury or as an occupational disease, developing when working in a stationary position, with the head bowed or forced to turn. Symptoms include pain at the damaged site, spreading to the shoulder and a crunching sound when moving.
- Twisted neck- Congenital or acquired deformity of the neck accompanied by tilting or turning the head to one side. The disease is associated with pathology of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, located bilaterally along the anterolateral surface of the neck on both sides. It is manifested by tilting the head and raising the shoulder 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. The pain increases with physical activity and stress.
- Myofascial pain syndromeis a pain syndrome associated with the formation of localized areas of pain in muscles, called "trigger points". It occurs due to prolonged muscle tension, uneven load distribution and nerve compression by surrounding structures. In this case, the patient feels pain in the muscles at rest, this pain increases with physical activity, pressing on certain points on the muscle, it feels like a rather hard compression. Pain from these points can spread to other areas of the body.
- Compression fractureis a spinal injury in which compression of the vertebral body occurs and damage to the spinal canal. Occurs when participating in traumatic sports, as well as in older people due to brittle bone tissue. It can be caused by whiplash injuries in an accident and can be seriously life-threatening.
Rare causes of pain in the cervical spine include:
- Osteomyelitis- suppurative inflammation affects the bone marrow, periosteum and the bone itself. Usually it occurs due to infection and immune system activity.
- Spinal tuberculosis- a serious disease caused by Koch's bacillus and affects various parts of the spine, most commonly affecting the chest area. Its first symptoms may appear several years after infection.
If discomfort and pain in the neck are accompanied by sore throat, fever and weakness, this may signal the development of viral infections, laryngitis and other colds.
Neck pain can also be a sign of:
- Benign and malignant tumors of neck organs;
- gastrointestinal diseases;
- foreign body in the throat;
- thyroid disease;
- chest pain, called angina pectoris;
- soft tissue abscess in the neck;
- disease of the lymph nodes.
If the neck muscles on both sides are painful, the cause may be not only spasm or injury but also many other diseases. The clinics adhere to an evidence-based approach to diagnosis. This allows you to accurately determine the source of symptoms and prescribe effective treatment.
Diagnose
In most cases, neck pain is nonspecific, that is, caused by pathology of the muscles and ligaments. In addition, pain syndrome often develops due to degenerative changes in the cervical spine - osteoarthritis. So, first of all, you need to contact a neurologist or spine specialist.
To accurately diagnose and prescribe treatment, the doctor will interview the patient in detail about the symptoms, severity, location, and conditions of occurrence. It also clarifies the presence of chronic diseases, genetics, injuries and used medications. The specialist will then conduct a thorough visual examination, palpate the neck, and evaluate neurological status, including determining muscle strength and sensitivity in the limbs. To confirm the diagnosis and rule out non-spinal diseases, the patient should undergo a comprehensive diagnosis. This may include:
- complete blood count, blood tests to mark inflammation levels, thyroid hormone levels;
- X-ray of the cervical spine;
- Ultrasound to check the condition of blood vessels;
- electromyography;
- MRI, CT.
The most informative method is MRI. With its help, spinal pathologies are identified at an early stage and signs of compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots are detected.
At the appointment, the doctor will talk in detail about modern diagnostic methods, explain research results and prescribe appropriate treatment.
Treatment of pain in the cervical spine
The doctor determines the treatment of 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 prescribed different treatments because they have different medical histories: chronic diseases, level of physical development, pain intensity, age.
To relieve severe neck pain associated with diseases of the musculoskeletal system, complex treatment methods are used. Therapy may include: medication, physical therapy, massage, and exercise therapy.
Treatment medicine- Using medications containing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, and in some cases corticosteroids. The main goal of drug treatment is to reduce inflammation and pain, eliminating further tissue destruction.
Physical therapy- a set of treatment methods based on the influence of natural and artificial factors on the body - light, water, electric current, magnetic field, mechanical impact and temperature. These techniques kickstart and accelerate the body's natural recovery process.
Physical therapy methods that help treat the cervical spine include:
- Laser therapy is a painless procedure, it eliminates pain, reduces local inflammation and swelling, and improves tissue regeneration.
- Magnetic therapy helps reduce pain and inflammation.
- Shock wave therapy improves spinal mobility, relaxes muscles, and also speeds up tissue recovery.
- Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that can effectively and quickly relieve pain and muscle tension.
Manual therapy- manual therapy, in which the doctor performs light, gentle jerking movements. Thanks to this method, the mobility of joints and spine is restored, muscles are relaxed, and pain is reduced. Manual therapy is based on Eastern techniques to treat the spine.
Massage- one of the most famous and popular methods for treating osteoarthritis and other diseases of the spine. With the help of massage, you can relieve neck pain during sudden movements, reduce stress and restore mobility of the joints of the spine. Massage relaxes cramped muscles, increases strength and reduces pain. It is also used to prevent diseases of the cervical spine.
Exercise therapy- prescribed individually, taking into account the type of disease and its stage. The class includes a number of special techniques and exercises that help improve joint mobility, reduce swelling and muscle tension, and then strengthen the muscles to prevent disease progression.
Prevent
Sedentary lifestyle, long 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 their 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 special 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.
- Don't talk on the phone with your cheek against your shoulder.
- Distribute the load evenly across both hands if you are carrying a heavy object.
- Eat a balanced, varied diet, including large amounts of vegetables and fruit in your diet.
- Move more, give your body enough activity.
Regular yoga classes and swimming in the pool help relieve neck pain. It is recommended to perform exercises with an instructor who will develop a suitable training program and monitor the correctness of its implementation.