Numerous vital musculoskeletal, nervous and arterial plexuses cross the cervical regions. Various types of neck pain, caused by mechanical stress or neurological damage. In addition, the neck can hurt after prolonged static stress. Let's consider the most likely situations that cause pain in the cervical spine, establish the symptoms and signs of neurological diseases, and also determine how to get rid of pain with the most effective treatment methods, including at home.
Reasons - why does the neck hurt?
The cervical column is made up of seven vertebrae, the seventh of which is distinguished by its greater mobility from other osteoarticular segments of the spine. In addition, the fragile intervertebral cervical regions are constantly subjected to strong pressure from the heavy head, and therefore all the prerequisites are created for pain in the cervical spine, shoulder girdle and back. The anatomical cervical structure includes not only muscles and ligaments, articular cartilage, nerve fibers and vascular plexuses, but also other vital organs - the larynx, esophagus, trachea, lymph nodes and thyroid gland. Any regional inflammation or injury causes varying degrees of pain in the neck.
So, it is possible to conditionally divide why the cervical spine hurts:
- mechanical injuries of the back and neck;
- systemic diseases of vital organs;
- defeat by infectious agents;
- degenerative transformations of the vertebral region;
- reflective pain symptoms;
- the result of a qualitative change 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:
- state of deformation of the vertebral discs;
- intervertebral hernia;
- compression of the spinal nerve;
- osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
Systemic etiology, why the neck can hurt:
- psoriatic or rheumatoid arthritis;
- fibromyalgia;
- neuropathy of a diabetic nature;
- the formation of tumors of a benign or malignant nature.
If the neck hurts badly due to an infectious lesion, the following clinic is determined:
- meningitis;
- an acute or chronic form of thyroiditis explains why the front of the neck hurts;
- tuberculosis;
- it hurts to swallow, and sometimes the neck and ear hurt with inflammation of the cervical lymph nodes - lymphadenitis.
Other etiological factors include:
- passive lifestyle;
- excessive straining of muscle regions;
- nervous exhaustion;
- poor arrangement of a sleeping place, when the neck hurts even after an orthopedic pillow.
In addition, the neck constantly hurts after seemingly insignificant cervical bruises, for example, after an accident, after a fall or a collision.
The causes of neck pain can occur with alcohol syndrome. After drinking enough alcohol, there is also sharp pain in the cervical vertebrae, which often radiates to the ear, head (at the base of the skull and temples).
Symptoms
If the neck hurts due to osteochondrosis or its complicated neurological pathology (intervertebral hernia), the symptoms of pain are expressed as follows:
- the pain begins to come off in a aching or pulling way on the sides of the cervical vertebrae;
- the back and the neck hurt violently, especially at the level of the collarbone;
- tilting and / or rotating the head causes sharp or sharp pain in the cervical regions;
- have difficulty swallowing
- there is a strong stiffness of movements;
- with pain, there are general signs of neck pain.
With an infectious lesion of the cervical segments of the spine, discomfort is expressed by the following symptoms:
- there is a local increase in temperature with a neck cold, a temperature of 37 ° and above;
- due to metabolic disorders, abdominal pain sometimes occurs;
- metabolic processes affect the work of the gastrointestinal tract (the stomach can get sick, sometimes nausea and vomiting appear);
- neck damage can be expressed by tonic muscle syndrome;
- there is increased irritability and rapid fatigability of the body.
Often painful symptoms affect an adolescent or small child, in the case of cervical lymphadenitis or parotitis, when the salivary glands in the ear become inflamed. A small patient begins to have pain behind the ear, difficulty in swallowing and radiating pain to the base of the skull, while the neck hurts not only on the side, but also on the entire periphery. Parents should pay attention to the clarity of the cervical contours, which are noticeably changed, they swell, and on palpation a slight compaction of the skin is felt. It is not difficult to draw a conclusion.
The listed symptoms of possible complications caused by painful neck attacks seem too frightening to an uninformed person. So you should not self-diagnose yourself, but you should see a doctor immediately. Often, these pain symptoms are most actively manifested during pregnancy in women. Only a qualified specialist will determine what to do in case of neck pain and how to treat this or that clinical pathology.
What to do?
Excluding all possible clinical pathologies of neck pain, we will consider methods of treating the most common neurological problem - osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
The classic medical definition of a neuralgic condition is degenerative-dystrophic lesion of the articular cartilage of the movable cervical segment of the spine. It is possible to correct the situation with drugs, physiotherapy methods, special exercises, massage and treatment with folk remedies at home. In case of sudden exacerbation, pharmacological anti-inflammatory and analgesic treatments are used.
After completing the compulsory course of treatment with drugs, complex rehabilitation therapy can be continued at home.
Neck gymnastics
The main rule when performing physiotherapy exercises for the cervical spine is unhurried, slow and fluid movements. The medical and rehabilitation complex consists of the following simple physical exercises:
- You should begin by tilting your head forward and backward, with a gradual increase in amplitude. Enough for the first session 3-5 times.
- The next exercise consists of circular movements and turns of the neck to the right and left.
- The next exercise will require some effort. A gymnastic stick is applied under the chin, and with force you need to press on it as hard as possible. The exercise is performed 2-3 times.
Warning! In the event that the pain in the neck radiates to the arm, shoulder girdle, or collarbone, the exercise should be stopped and the attending physician should be reported.
Massages are also an effective way to relieve pain in the cervical vertebrae. The aim of the therapeutic and prophylactic measure is to restore blood circulation and weaken muscle spasms. The massage therapist should begin the treatment with light strokes along the neck. However, you should not get carried away too much, exercise on your own neck and rub it intensely, as sometimes the neck hurts after the massage, which is not always a sign of quality.
Pain Relief The Academician's Way
There is a special author's method of treating pain in cervical osteochondrosis, developed by an academician. As a functional solution, a conventional pencil is used, which acts on the so-called cervical region, shown in the thumb area. This area is located between the palmar crease and the upper joint crease of the thumb. The distance between these segments, the author calls the cervical space. The pain is relieved by intensive rubbing with a pencil, until the appearance of stable heat, the projection of the cervical spine. Such treatment and prophylactic procedure can be carried out under almost any conditions, even outside the home. Some medical experts reject the effectiveness of this method, however, many patients, using this development, believe that such a procedure brings some relief.
What to do at home
To relieve muscle tension, ensure good blood circulation in the cervical canals, facilitate the work of the articular elements of the spine, the following homemade recipes will allow:
- Salt baths containing magnesium sulfate are an effective means of relaxation for cramped areas of the neck.
- A decoction of pine buds. For 100 grams of forest product, 200 ml of water are taken. The whole composition is brought to a boil and kept for another 4-5 hours in a dark place. The healing drug is used as a cervical compress.
- Decoctions of dill seeds and / or parsley root are very useful. Making homemade medicine is quite easy. For 50 grams of any of the herbal products you need to take a glass of boiling water. The healing broth is infused for 1 to 1. 5 hours, after which it is used for internal or external use.
- Rubbing alcohol based on iodine and camphor oil. For 200 ml of 96% alcohol, 10 drops of iodine and the same amount of camphor oil are taken. The drug is mixed and used as a compress for the neck.
- An equally effective way to eliminate pain is a mixture of 150 ml of vodka and 100 ml of natural honey.
- You can make a homemade healing recipe from grated potatoes and honey. Hot potatoes boiled in "uniform" are crushed with the addition of a tablespoon of honey. This lozenge should be applied to the inflamed area of the neck.
It is important to know,that the compresses give a therapeutic effect only after 30-40 minutes.
The given examples of traditional medicine are only suitable for the initial stage of osteochondrosis. In case of worsening of symptoms, for example, cervical intervertebral disc herniation, the proposed recipes should be agreed with the attending physician. In addition, if there is an allergic dependence on certain treatment products, they should not be used.
Pain prevention
There is no single therapeutic and prophylactic action for all types of cervical spine pain. It is possible to protect one's organism from various causal factors of the appearance of symptomatic manifestations, perhaps only if a healthy lifestyle is observed (excluding alcohol, tobacco, etc. ) and an annual preventive examination by atherapist or specialist.