Many vital musculoskeletal, nerve, and arterial plexuses pass through the cervical region. Various types of neck pain caused by mechanical stress or neurological injury. In addition, the neck may ache after prolonged static stress. Let's take a look at the most likely conditions that cause pain in the cervical spine, determine the symptoms and signs of neurological diseases, as well as determine how to get rid of pain with the most effective treatments, including at home.
Causes - why does the neck hurt?
The cervical spine consists of seven vertebrae, the seventh of which is distinguished by the greatest mobility from other osteoarticular segments of the spine. In addition, the fragile intervertebral cervical regions are constantly under strong pressure from the heavy head, and therefore all the initial conditions for pain in the neck, back, shoulder girdle and back have been created. The anatomical cervical structure includes not only muscles and ligaments, articular cartilage, nerve fibers and vascular plexuses, but also other vital support organs - the larynx, esophagus, trachea, lymph nodes and thyroid gland. Any regional inflammation or injury causes varying degrees of pain in the neck.
Thus, why the cervical spine hurts can be divided into:
- mechanical injuries of the back and neck;
- systemic diseases of vital organs;
- defeat by infectious agents;
- degenerative changes in the spinal region;
- reflecting pain symptoms;
- the result of a change in quality in life or work.
Neurological pathologies that determine the cause-and-effect relationship, why the back muscles hurt, and why the spine in the neck hurts include:
- deformation condition of vertebral discs;
- intervertebral hernia;
- compression of the spinal nerve;
- cervical lumbar osteochondrosis.
Systemic etiology, why the neck may hurt:
- psoriatic or rheumatoid arthritis;
- fibromyalgia;
- neuropathy of diabetic nature;
- formation of tumors of a benign or malignant nature.
If the neck is very sore due to an infectious lesion, the following clinic is prescribed:
- meningitis;
- acute or chronic form of thyroiditis explains why the anterior neck hurts;
- tuberculosis;
- It hurts to swallow, sometimes it hurts with inflammation of the cervical lymph nodes in the neck and ears - lymphadenitis.
Other etiological factors include:
- passive lifestyle;
- overloading of muscle areas;
- nerve exhaustion;
- pain in the neck after an orthopedic pillow, improper sleep.
In addition, the neck is constantly sore after minor cervical hernias, such as after an accident, a fall, or a collision.
Causes of neck pain can occur with alcohol syndrome. After enough alcohol, there is also severe pain in the cervical vertebrae, which often spreads to the ears, head (at the base of the skull and temples).
Symptoms
If the neck is painful due to osteochondrosis or its aggravating neurological pathology (intervertebral hernia), the symptoms of pain are expressed as follows:
- pain begins to appear in the form of pain or tingling in the sides of the cervical vertebra;
- severe pain in the back and neck, especially in the clavicle;
- bending and / or turning of the head provides sharp or sharp pain in the cervical regions;
- has difficulty swallowing;
- there is a strong rigidity of movements;
- With pain, there are common symptoms of cervicitis.
Anxiety with an infectious lesion of the cervical segments of the spine is expressed by the following symptoms:
- there is a local temperature increase with a neck cold, a temperature of 37 ° and above;
- sometimes abdominal pain due to metabolic disorders;
- metabolic processes affect the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract (stomach may become ill, sometimes nausea and vomiting appear);
- neck injury can be expressed by tonic muscle syndrome;
- There is increased irritability and rapid fatigue of the body.
Often, painful symptoms in an adolescent or young child, in the case of cervical lymphadenitis or mumps, cause inflammation of the salivary glands of the ear. A small patient begins to have pain behind the ear, difficulty swallowing, and radiation pains at the base of the skull, pain in the neck not only on the side, but also along the entire periphery. Parents should pay attention to the clarity of the cervical contours, which are significantly altered, swollen, and the skin feels slightly compressed during palpation. It is not difficult to draw conclusions.
The listed symptoms of possible complications caused by painful cervical attacks seem very frightening to an uninformed person, so you should not diagnose yourself, but see a doctor immediately. Often, these pain symptoms are most active in women during pregnancy. Only a qualified specialist will determine what to do with neck pain and how to treat this or that clinical pathology.
What to do?
With the exception of all possible clinical pathologies of neck pain, we will consider the treatment of the most common neurological problem - cervical lumbar osteochondrosis.
The classic medical definition of neuralgia is degenerative-dystrophic damage to the articular cartilage of the cervical spine. It is possible to correct the situation with medication, physiotherapy, special exercises, massage and treatment with folk remedies at home. In case of an acute exacerbation, anti-inflammatory and analgesic pharmacological treatment is used.
After completing a mandatory course of medication, complex rehabilitation therapy can be continued at home.
Neck gymnastics
The main rule when doing physiotherapy exercises for the cervical spine is to hurry, slow and smooth movements. The treatment-rehabilitation complex consists of the following simple physical exercises:
- You should start with a gradual increase in amplitude, tilting your head back and forth. 3-5 times is enough for the first session.
- The next exercise is a circular motion and the rotation of the neck to the right and left.
- The next exercise will take a little effort. A gymnastic stick is applied under the chin and you should squeeze it as hard as possible. The exercise is performed 2-3 times.
Attention!If the pain in the neck spreads to the arm, shoulder girdle or clavicle, the exercise should be stopped and the attending physician informed.
Massage treatments are also an effective way to relieve pain in the cervical spine. The purpose of therapeutic and prophylactic measures is to restore blood circulation and reduce muscle spasms. The massage therapist should begin treatment with light strokes along the neck. However, by training your neck, you should not overload and rub it intensively, because sometimes the neck hurts after a massage, which is not always a sign of quality.
Painkiller by the method of the academician
There is a special author's method for combating pain in cervical osteochondrosis, developed by the academician. As a functional solution, a conventional pen is used, which affects the cervical region, which is represented in the region of the thumb. This area is located between the palmar fold and the upper articular layer of the thumb. The distance between these segments is called the cervical cavity by the author. The pain is relieved by intensive rubbing with a pen until a constant heat is seen, up to the projection of the cervical spine. Such a treatment and prophylactic procedure can be performed in almost any situation, even outside the home. Some medical experts deny the effectiveness of this method, but many patients believe that using this development, such a procedure brings some relief.
What to do at home?
The following home-made recipes will help to relieve muscle tension, ensure healthy blood flow in the cervical canals, and facilitate the work of the articular elements of the spine:
- Salt baths containing magnesium sulfate are an effective method of relaxation for compressed areas of the neck.
- Decoction of pine buds. 200 ml of water is taken for 100 grams of forest products. The whole composition is brought to a boil and kept in a dark place for another 4-5 hours. Therapeutic drugs are used as a cervical compress.
- Decoctions made from fennel seeds and / or parsley root are very useful. Homemade medicine is quite easy to prepare. You should take a glass of boiling water for 50 grams of any vegetable product. Healing broth is infused for 1-1, 5 hours, after which it is used for internal or external use.
- Friction alcohol based on iodine and camphor oil. 10 drops of iodine and the same amount of camphor oil are obtained for 200 ml of 96% alcohol. The drug is mixed and used as a compress for the neck.
- An equally effective way to relieve pain is a mixture of 150 ml of vodka and 100 ml of natural honey.
- You can make a homemade healing recipe from fried potatoes and honey. Boiled hot potatoes in "uniform" are ground by adding a tablespoon of honey. This lozenge should be applied to the inflamed area of the neck.
It is important to know,that any compresses have a therapeutic effect only after 30-40 minutes.
The given examples of traditional medicine are suitable only in the early stages of osteochondrosis. In case of aggravating symptoms, such as a herniated intervertebral cervical disc, the proposed prescriptions should be agreed with the attending physician. In addition, if you are allergic to certain treatment products, then it should not be used.
Pain prevention
There is no single therapeutic and prophylactic action against all types of pain in the cervical spine. It is possible to protect your body from various causative factors of the onset of symptomatic manifestations, perhaps only if you follow a healthy lifestyle (excluding alcohol, smoking, etc. ) and an annual preventive examination by a therapist or a specialist.