Pain and stiffness in the neck appear with improper loading, as well as with some pathological conditions of the cervical spine. Painful sensations in the neck are almost always accompanied by its limited mobility - when trying to turn or tilt your head there is a stabbing or growing sensation of pain. Sometimes it is so strong that a person is forced to move the whole body instead of moving the neck. In this case, the pain can not only touch the neck, but also be given to the nearby 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 is the job of the specialist you will contact. Let's find out what can cause pain in the cervical spine.
Causes of Neck Pain
There are 2 main causes of pain and restriction in neck movement: muscle stiffness and cervical spine disorders.
Neck stiffness
Stiffness is a condition in which muscles tighten (unable to relax) and resist any attempt to move. Neck stiffness is not an independent disease - it occurs either due to a lack of physical activity or accompanies some diseases.
In connection with a sedentary lifestyle - working on the computer, driving a car, inadequate physical activity - the vertebrae of the cervical spine can shift, painful pain, cramps occur due to improper blood supply to the cervical spine.
Neck stiffness can also be a symptom of:
- Encephalitis, meningitis, cerebral haemorrhage. Other symptoms of these diseases: headache, weakness, nausea, fever, dizziness, rash.
- Parkinsonism. It is accompanied by tremors throughout the body, imbalance and automatism of movements, as well as language problems.
- Neck injuries. In such cases, the pain always precedes a serious mechanical impact on the neck (fall, blow).
Diseases of the cervical spine
Pain and restriction of movement of the cervical spine can occur due to diseases of the spine:
- Hernia. Severe pain radiates into the shoulders and arms, the palms of the hands can tingle and become numb, "neck lumbago" occurs - a stabbing pain that hinders the movement of the entire upper body.
- Cervical osteochondrosis. It is accompanied by headache, tinnitus, decreased visual acuity, blinking "flies" in front of the eyes, pain in arms and shoulders.
- Cervical osteoarthritis. Pain occurs not only in the neck, but also in the shoulder area. It is most annoying in the morning and evening.
- Spondylosis. It is accompanied by back of the headache, numbness and tingling in the neck, impaired hearing and vision, dizziness may occur.
- Asymmetry of the carotid artery. It is characterized by tinnitus, headache, darkening of the eyes, and increased blood pressure.
Which doctor should I go to if I have neck pain?
First of all, we recommend that you visit a general practitioner (therapist) who will take over the further investigation. To clarify the diagnosis and the appointment for direct treatment, doctors with a narrower focus can be called in: rheumatologist, neurologist, traumatologist, orthopedist. The patient can also be referred to a chiropractor and massage therapist.
Diagnosing the cause of neck pain
After an oral interview, the doctor examines the patient: examines the surface of the neck, checks the sensitivity of the arms and legs, the state of reflexes, determines the presence of muscle spasms and hypertension.
From the hardware technologies used:
- Roentgen;
- MRI;
- CT scan;
- Electromyography (EMG);
- Ultrasound Dopplerography (USDG) of the cervical vessels.
Blood and urine tests can be done to check for inflammatory processes in the body.
Treatments for sore throats and stiffness
Treatments for neck pain can include:
- Physiotherapy sessions (magnetotherapy, electrophoresis, ultrasound therapy, shock wave therapy).
- Prescription of pain relievers, sedatives, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants.
- Holistic medical methods (acupuncture, massage, moxibustion, hirudotherapy, stone therapy, vacuum therapy).
- Physiotherapy, proper organization of the workplace, posture control.
- Surgical intervention. Radical methods of surgical treatment are prescribed only in the event of ineffectiveness of conservative methods or a more serious diagnosis, which initially involves surgery.
Treatment of neck pain in the medical center
High professionalism and impressive work experience of doctors allows you to choose the most suitable program for the treatment of throat diseases for each patient. The medical center is equipped with modern high-tech and reliable devices for laboratory and instrument diagnostics, physiotherapy and treatment. And experienced massage therapists and chiropractors not only help relieve neck pain, but also improve the body in general.
If you are concerned about pain and reduced neck mobility, make an appointment with us without expecting the disease to get worse.