Almost everyone is familiar with neck pain. They can occur not only in adults, but also in children. To get rid of unpleasant sensations, the first thing to do is to find out the reason for the pain in the neck and solve the problem based on it. Since this can be a symptom of a more serious condition, rather than just a simple pain, it is important to see a doctor in a timely manner.
Causes of Neck Pain
Neck discomfort is one of the most common patient complaints. There are many reasons why cervical spine pain can be recorded, but they are all divided into several groups:
- Nonspecific factors. The reason for the appearance of pain in the neck and back of the head can be a long stay in one position, overexertion, repetition of the same type of movements, hypothermia, excess weight, stress. They can also appear in the wrong position or on an uncomfortable mattress or pillow after a night out. Such pain can be harmless enough.
- 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, spondyloarthrosis, spondylolisthesis, stenosis and hernia.
- Internal organs pathology. Front pain is often due to thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland). This pain is exacerbated by each impact on the neck. Inflammation of the salivary gland, tooth decay, tonsillitis, damage to the larynx and windpipe can also cause neck pain.
- Tumors. Neoplasms can be a provocateur of severe neck pain. They are long enough. If the discomfort does not stop, you should immediately consult a doctor.
- Injuries and other mechanical damage. Another reason the spine hurts in the neck is because of an injury. Even a small blow can damage the cervical spine. The vertebrae can be displaced in the event of a blow. If they are not put on in a timely manner, the patient will complain that the neck is sore in the front, right, or left for no apparent reason.
- Inflammatory processes. Pain can occur due to arthritis, lupus, spondyloarthritis, and Sharp syndrome. Sometimes inflammation with pain occurs due to ankylosing spondylitis.
- Muscle corset pathologies. Trigger points, small lumps in the neck, occur when the muscles in the shoulders and neck are spasmodic.
- Infectious diseases. These pathologies usually 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 have yourself checked in medical facilities on a regular basis.
There are causes of neck pain that only affect children. When a child's neck hurts, the illness is usually very serious. These include torticollis, tetanus, mumps, polio, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
diagnosis
In order to find out the cause of the discomfort, it is important to consult a specialist in the case of painful cervical spine as soon as the first symptoms appear. After an initial examination and depending on the type of pain, the therapist or pediatrician will refer you to a closer specialist.
Most often they will be referred to a neurologist or chiropractor. If aching neck pain is the cause of mechanical damage, a referral to a traumatologist will be made. If there is pain in the neck or torticollis in children, they can be referred to an orthopedic surgeon. You will be sent to a cardiologist if you have left neck pain but there are no problems with the function of your arms and legs. If pulling neck pain occurs and there is suspicion that the cause may be a sore throat or inflammation of the lymph nodes, help should be sought from an ENT doctor.
In order to determine the origin of neck pain in the front, back, right or left, the doctor first feels it. Based on the results of this examination, the specialist will decide on the diagnosis to be made and prescribe the treatment.
If there is pain when nodding the head and bending back and forth, this indicates damage to the first vertebra. If you experience discomfort when bending to the side or rotating your neck, the problem is most likely in the second vertebra.
If the patient is concerned 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 place of manifestation, even if the throbbing pain in the left neck is bothersome, the most accurate diagnosis is carried out.
Based on the results of the initial examination, the doctor can refer you for further diagnostic procedures. This includes the appointment for blood and urine tests, ultrasound examination, MRI, X-ray, tomogram, cardiogram, electroneurogram. The results of these procedures are important in answering the question of how to treat neck pain.
Treating a sore throat
A specialist, after the patient goes through all the diagnostic procedures, can tell how to get rid of neck pain. You shouldn't self-medicate because pain can have different causes and treatment approaches differ.
A neurologist or physical therapist will prescribe treatment for the cervical spine. These specialists can refer you to a chiropractor if necessary. Medication, physical therapy, and massage are usually recommended. If the neck is very painful and treatment with medication, physiotherapy, and massage does not help, an operation is performed.
Non-surgical treatment
To quickly and effectively relieve pain in the cervical spine, 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;
- physical therapy.
Drug therapy is treatment with ointments, tablets, injections. It aims to eliminate pain and the unpleasant symptoms that come with it.
If severe neck pain is caused by osteochondrosis, muscle relaxants are prescribed in addition to pain relievers. Corticosteroids can be prescribed for severe illnesses, for acute neck pain.
If the neck pain is severe, blockages are used to relieve the symptom.
Orthopedic methods involve wearing a collar. Its fixation can be soft or hard. More often, such treatment is prescribed when the neck is constantly aching or injuries have been sustained.
If at the end of treatment, preventive measures are not continued, then neck pain may manifest itself again in both adults and children.
Reflexology is an electric shock to relieve pain in the cervical spine. Assign ordinary acupuncture and electro acupuncture.
The effect of ultrasound has an antispasmodic effect when the muscles of the neck hurt, and during phonophoresis, the effect of the drug increases many times.
Laser therapy has a calming effect on the inflamed area of the skin. If the neck hurts, a qualified specialist will explain the treatment of this method to you.
A massage is also helpful if the neck hurts on the side, left or right. Therapeutic massage is recommended at least 2 times a year. This procedure relieves stress and eliminates some of the causes of the uncomfortable symptom.
Physiotherapeutic exercises (movement therapy) aim at the correct distribution of the load in the case of pain in the cervical spine. In addition, there is stretching and increased mobility of certain muscle groups.
In addition to official drugs to relieve symptoms in the neck, informal medicine can also be used to heal the back of the head and the rest of the neck area.
Treatment with surgery
There are times when surgical intervention is indispensable. How is neck pain treated in this case? Surgical situations include hernias, compression of the spinal cord or spinal roots, and mechanical injuries.
The operation boils down to simply removing the areas of the vertebrae that interfere with the normal function and work of the spinal cord. In some cases it is possible to have surgery with a laser.
The surgery can lead to complications or accidents, so doctors try different treatments first.
It is important to know that the doctor will only offer a workable way of solving the problem if he sees that other methods will not give a positive result. Because of this, treatment cannot be postponed for long, especially if the disease is detected at an early stage.
prophylaxis
To exclude such a cause of neck pain as inactivity and an uncomfortable position, it is recommended to self-massage. How to treat neck pain using this method will be advised by a massage therapist or other specialist who has been contacted about neck pain.
Slight movement during working hours is helpful. You need to take regular breaks to get your neck muscles going again. Pain in the cervical spine can occur if the posture is poor for a long time or if there is tension.
A pillow for sleeping and a mattress must be orthopedic. They relieve the spine during the day.
Massaging twice a year will reduce the chances of seeing a doctor for neck pain. A professional masseur can eliminate the cause of chronic neck pain on the right, front and left during the course.
To exclude serious diseases, it is necessary to determine the cause of the sore throat. It is important to keep your neck warm, you need to protect it from drafts. Maintaining the correct posture is not superfluous, especially for children.