Almost everyone has neck pain. They can appear not only in adults, but also in children. To get rid of the unpleasant sensation, you first need to find out the reason why the neck hurts, and, based on this, solve the problem. Since this may be a symptom of a more serious illness, and not a mild 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 pain in the cervical spine can be noted, 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, excessive excitement, repetition of the same type of movement, hypothermia, overweight, stress. They can also appear after a night's sleep in the wrong position or on an uncomfortable mattress or pillow. Such pain is not dangerous enough.
- Damage to the vertebrae, intervertebral discs, joints, ligaments. Neck pain can be the result of degenerative-dystrophic disease. The most common pathologies in this group are osteochondrosis, spondyloarthrosis, spondylolisthesis, stenosis and hernia.
- Pathology of internal organs. Anterior pain often occurs due to thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland). This pain is exacerbated by any impact on the neck. Inflammation of the salivary glands, caries, tonsillitis, damage to the larynx and trachea can also cause neck pain.
- Growth. Neoplasms can be provocateurs of severe neck pain. They are quite long. If the discomfort does not stop, you should see a doctor immediately.
- Injuries and other mechanical damage. Another cause of the spine in the neck is injury. Even a small blow can cause damage to the cervical spine. When hit, the vertebrae can be moved. If they are not installed on time, the patient will complain that his neck is sore in front, on the right or on the left for no apparent reason.
- The inflammatory process. Pain can appear due to arthritis, lupus, spondyloarthritis, and Sharp syndrome. Sometimes inflammation occurs with pain due to ankylosing spondylitis.
- Muscular corset pathology. The trigger point, a small bump in the neck, appears when the muscles in the shoulder and neck are spasmodic.
- Contagious disease. These pathologies usually include tuberculosis, meningitis, herpes zoster, and osteomyelitis.
- As a result of the operation.
Symptoms of conditions that cause pain in the shoulders and neck may not appear for years or always be present. Therefore, it is very important to undergo regular checkups in medical institutions.
There are causes of neck pain that only affect children. If a child's neck is sore, usually the disease is very serious. These include torticollis, tetanus, mumps, polio, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
Diagnostics
To find out the cause of discomfort, if the cervical spine is painful, it is important to see a specialist as soon as the first symptoms appear. A therapist or pediatrician will refer you to a narrower specialist after an initial examination and depending on the nature of the pain.
Often, they are referred to a neurologist or chiropractor. If a sore neck is the cause of mechanical damage, then a referral is made to a traumatologist. For pain in the neck or torticollis in children, they can be referred to an orthopedic specialist. They were sent to a cardiologist if they were worried about pain in the neck on the left side, but there were no problems with arm and leg function. An otolaryngologist should seek help when neck pain is interesting, and it is suspected a sore throat or inflammation of the lymph nodes may be the cause.
To determine the origin of neck pain in the front, back, right or left, the doctor first pounding. Based on the results of this examination, the specialist decides the diagnosis to be made and prescribes treatment.
When pain occurs when nodding the head, bending back and forth, this indicates damage to the first vertebra. If discomfort occurs when bending to the side or twisting the neck, then most likely the problem is on 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 may be far from the location of manifestation, including when throbbing pain in the left neck is interfering, 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 appointments for blood and urine tests, ultrasound examinations, MRIs, radiographs, tomograms, cardiograms, electroneurograms. The results of this procedure are important to answer the question of how to treat pain in the neck and neck area.
Treatment of cervical pain
A specialist, after the patient has undergone all the diagnostic procedures, can tell how to get rid of neck pain. You cannot cure it yourself, because pain can have different etiologies, and treatment approaches will also be different.
A neurologist or physical therapist prescribes treatment for the cervical spine. This specialist can refer you to a chiropractor if needed. It is usually recommended to take medication, physiotherapy and massage. If the neck hurts a lot and treatment with medication, physiotherapy and massage does not help, surgery is performed.
Non -surgical treatment
To relieve pain in the cervical spine quickly and effectively, treatment must be done thoroughly. Typically, patients are given the following non -surgical pain treatments on 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 relieve pain and unpleasant symptoms.
If sharp pain in the neck is caused by osteochondrosis, then in addition to painkillers, muscle relaxants are prescribed. In severe cases, when neck pain is acute, corticosteroids may be prescribed.
If the neck pain is severe, a blockage is used to relieve the symptoms.
Orthopedic methods involve wearing a collar. The installation can be soft or hard. More often, such treatment is prescribed when the neck is always sore or an injury has been received.
If, at the end of treatment, preventive measures are not continued, then neck pain, in adults and children, can manifest itself again.
Reflexology is an electric shock for pain in the cervical spine. Provide regular acupuncture and electro acupuncture.
The effect of ultrasound has an antispasmodic effect if the neck muscles are sore, and during phonophoresis, the effect of the drug increases several times.
Laser therapy has a calming effect on inflamed skin areas. If the neck is sore, then a qualified specialist will explain how to treat this method.
If the neck hurts from the side, to the left or to the right, a massage will be very helpful. Therapeutic massage is recommended at least 2 times a year. This procedure relieves stress and eliminates some of the causes of unpleasant symptoms.
Physiotherapy training (exercise therapy) aims for proper load distribution during pain in the cervical spine. In addition, there are stretching movements and an increase in certain muscle groups.
In addition to formal medicine to relieve symptoms in the neck, informal medicine can also be used to heal the back of the head and the entire cervical area.
Treatment with surgery
Sometimes it is impossible to do without surgical intervention. How is neck pain treated in this case? Manageable situations include hernias, compression of the spinal cord or spinal roots, and mechanical injuries.
This operation is due to the fact that areas of the vertebrae that interfere with normal function and work of the spinal cord are removed. In some cases, it is possible to perform the operation using a laser.
Surgery can cause complications or accidents, so doctors initially try different treatments.
It is important to know that the doctor will offer a manageable method to solve the problem only when he or she sees that other methods will not bring positive results. For this reason, treatment cannot be delayed for a long time, especially if the disease is detected at an early stage.
Prophylaxis
To exclude the cause of neck pain such as being inactive and being in an uncomfortable position, it is recommended to do a self -massage. How to treat neck pain with this method will be told by a masseur or other specialist who has been contacted for neck pain.
Light exercise during your work hours will be very helpful. You need to rest regularly for your neck muscles to return to function. With prolonged positioning or tension, pain in the cervical spine may occur.
Pillows for sleeping and mattresses must be orthopedic. They will relieve stress on the spine throughout the day.
Massaging twice a year will reduce the chances of going to the doctor for neck pain. A professional massage therapist can eliminate the causes of chronic neck pain on the right, front and left sides during the course.
To exclude serious illness, you need to determine the cause of what the neck may be sore. It is important to keep the neck warm, you need to protect it from drafts. Observing the correct body posture will not be superfluous, especially for children.