Neck pain is a symptom that modern people very often experience, regardless of age and gender. The most common reason is long-term work at the computer. And in general, a sedentary lifestyle greatly aggravates this problem. But this disease cannot be put on hold, because the neck is an important part of the body. It consists of seven vertebrae and contains many arteries, muscles, nerves, organs and glands.
Pain can occur due to a seasonal cold or a more serious illness, injury or sprain. There are other factors that can affect whether you have neck and head pain. We will analyze them in more detail in our review, and we will also consider methods of treatment and prevention of congestion in the cervical and neck area.
Nature of pain
Sometimes the neck hurts so much that it is difficult to understand in which direction the lesion is located. However, analyze your condition and try to determine the nature and location of the pain. This will help you decide what to do next. There are different types of neck pain:
- Acute - indicates malfunctions in the functioning of the organism.
- Chronic – continues for a long time, subsides and grows again.
- Visceral – the cause is damage to an internal organ.
- Superficial – these are usually smaller lesions on the skin.
- It is a deep tissue inflammation.
- Central - related to problems in the nervous system.
- Neuropathic – disorder of peripheral nerves, but pain points are not affected.
It's a dull ache
Often, oppressive aching pain is the body's reaction to unusually strenuous physical activity. You can feel it the next day after training. Under stress, lactic acid accumulates in the muscles. It gives signals to nerve receptors, this process causes the sensation of painful pain. When you strain your upper body, not only does your neck hurt, your back and shoulders hurt too. But there are other reasons as well:
- rachiocampsis;
- myalgia;
- inflammatory process in the muscles.
Acute pain
Attacks of sharp painful shots significantly complicate any movement. Living with these symptoms is very difficult, so get tested and treated right away. It can be:
- osteochondrosis;
- movement of the vertebrae;
- neuralgia;
- intervertebral hernia.
Why and what does it hurt?
Pay attention to which side of the neck hurts, if there is discomfort when turning, maybe lumbago radiates to the head or back. Every detail is important before starting the treatment.
Only on one side
If the pain is localized only on one side, then there may be several factors:
- Hypothermia - a draft or walking without a scarf in the cold season can cause discomfort.
- Muscle Cramps – Working hard in training or carrying heavy loads can cause muscle strain. Remember if you have been carrying heavy bags in the following days - this may be the reason.
- Uncomfortable bed - over time the mattress can sag and the pillow can become uneven. And simply unnatural posture during sleep can lead to increased pain in the neck area. Maybe you need to change something in the bedroom.
- Cervical radiculitis is a consequence of the development of osteochondrosis. With this disease, the activity of the spinal nerves is disturbed. The result is a sharp pain on one side of the neck.
- Tendonitis is an acute process that occurs in the shoulder joints and can cause pain on the right or left side.
- Retropharyngeal abscess is a complication that can occur in advanced sore throat. Purulent processes spread to nearby tissues, which results in the formation of an abscess.
All these cases are not uncommon, and the pain disappears in a few days. It is not necessary to see a doctor. But there are also more serious situations when the neck hurts on one side - it is an injury caused by a strong turn of the head. This condition is also often observed in the pathogenesis if the patient has a severe infectious disease, for example, tuberculosis.
Behind
The neck part is made up of vertebrae and is the most mobile and also the most vulnerable part of the spine. Therefore, if the back of the neck hurts, there may be several factors of a different nature.
- Osteochondrosis - in this case, the neck hurts mainly in the back. Spinal discs become fragile and deformed. Hence: the appearance of cervicalgia - a disease in the field of neurology. In this case, the patient feels piercing pain and throbbing. Arms and back of head go numb.
- Spinal stenosis is a disease of the spine that is often localized in the upper part of the spine, so it can be the reason why the neck hurts. The disease progresses due to the narrowing of the spinal canal and may be accompanied by numbness of the limbs.
In the back of the head
The neck and back of the head are in close proximity, so often these two parts of the body share complaints with each other. Back pain can be caused by:
- Sprains. The neck muscles are next to the back of the head, so any damage will cause a headache in the back. This area of the body will react particularly strongly during high-amplitude movements, such as jumping or fast walking.
- Back problems. As we have already stated, the neck consists of vertebrae, and the nape of the neck is the closest to the first. Therefore, often when there is a violation in the reef
headache in the back of the head.
It causes a headache
The cause of headaches caused by pathology in the neck can be stagnation of blood flow in the ridge.
- Sedentary lifestyle - at work you sit motionless at the computer for several hours, and when you get home you do the same in a relaxed atmosphere. Many people live like this now. Therefore, neck pain radiating to the head is not uncommon. At the same time, there is a feeling of weakness and apathy. At risk: drivers, office workers, programmers, operators.
- Sudden movements - strong turning of the neck leads to pinching of the nerve, which penetrates and can radiate to the head.
- Stress. A psychogenic factor also plays a role in the development of the disease. Constant nervousness and emotional overload cause tension in the neck muscles and neuralgia.
Growing bump
Tissue proliferation, accompanied by high body temperature, indicates that inflammatory processes are taking place in the body. The bumps hurt a lot, you can't touch them, and the body is weakened. A swollen lump on the neck is a sign of a serious illness.
- Infectious diseases - the flu or a sore throat can cause a lump to appear. Pain is a sign of purulent inflammation. One of the main symptoms: the patient hurts when swallowing.
- Oncology - neoplasmic processes in the lymphatic system lead to physically noticeable growths.
- A weakened body - the immune system gives alarm signals.
Pain in the neck and shoulders
Pain in the neck and shoulder girdle, combined with the growth of the lump, is the eternal companion of people who are constantly engaged in heavy physical work. The main problem here, as in the previous case, is the growing lump. Just without the high temperature. The formation causes pain when touched, but not so sharp. However, this factor negatively affects the neck and shoulders. You can get rid of unpleasant sensations by changing the type of activity to something easier for the body. A lump can be a sign of:
- Fibrolipomas, lipomas or atheroma - the formation can grow from the size of a large wen to a noticeable hump. The growth process is reflected in the neighboring parts of the body.
- Tumor - for an accurate analysis, you need to consult an oncologist.
what to do?
If the pain does not subside within a few days, you must go to the hospital. Doctors will perform an examination, and for a complete picture, you may need to undergo additional examinations:
- Tomogram.
- Cardiogram.
- Ultrasonography.
- Blood analysis.
- x-ray.
After a series of examinations, the doctor will make a conclusion and prescribe the necessary procedures. In the treatment of the cervical and neck area, it helps:
- Therapeutic gymnastics - a health complex will help normalize the processes taking place in the cervical region, as well as in the body as a whole.
- Massage - performed only by specialists in manual therapy, self-massage can only be done after training with a masseur.
- Drug treatment - antibiotics and painkillers will help eliminate pain as a symptom and deal with the cause of the disease if it is infectious in nature. In other cases, tablets are selected strictly individually.
- Course of injections - active substances in injections have better bioavailability, which means that relief will come much sooner than after taking pills.
- Acupuncture is an oriental type of therapy in which the body's condition can be significantly improved by influencing certain points of the body. It is better to do it in combination with a classic massage.
- Electrical stimulation is the use of pulsed current that helps dilate blood vessels and tones the body.
- Treatment of leeches - these worms are able to saturate a person's blood with useful components. Among them, hirudin is an anticoagulant - a substance that helps improve blood circulation and hematopoiesis.
Gymnastics for every day
Therapeutic exercises will become an effective preventive measure. Just 10 minutes of exercise in the morning and your neck muscles will become stronger and your back more flexible. Perform all exercises 5-10 times.
- Sit up straight in your chair. Slowly and clearly turn your face to the right and then to the left.
- Lower your chin and reach the top of your head towards the ceiling. Tilt your head back and feel the front of your neck stretch.
- The back remains straight, tilt the head parallel to the floor. Grab your chin with your right hand, turn your face to the right, feeling the side of your neck stretch. Do the same with your left hand to the left.
- In a standing position, straighten up, raise your shoulders and leave your arms by your body. Freeze for 10 seconds, relax.
Folk remedies in the fight for neck health
Taking grandma's medicine to maintain health will only improve the results of the treatment. Especially in combination with other methods. Pay attention to the recipes:
- Chicory infusion. Pour a glass of boiling water over a spoonful of herbs and leave for two hours. Strain and drink in small sips throughout the day.
- Mint compress. Pour a glass of water over the mint leaves and leave for a few hours. Soak a cloth in the mixture and apply to the painful area.
- Mumiyo ointment. Mix honey, red pepper and mummy and simmer in a water bath for 30 minutes. Cool and apply as an ointment.
- Echinacea. Take the medicine three times a day to strengthen your immune system.
- Add 100 g of honey and the same amount of chopped pork fat to a glass of warm milk. Take a tablespoon with meals.
The methods described here will help only with mild forms of the disease. And prevention will protect you from them in the future. If the disease causes acute discomfort, do not self-medicate, but consult a doctor as soon as possible.