Neck pain: causes, symptoms and associated treatment

6 November 2020

The neck hurts at different intervals in 70% of adults. At the same time, painful sensations can not only be of a different nature, but also be caused by a variety of diseases. Therefore, they are mainly observed not in isolation, but are accompanied by other symptoms that help to correctly diagnose and choose the optimal treatment tactics.

Types of neck pain

Neck pain can be either short-lived and limited to minor discomfort, or very severe, significantly interfering with daily life. Most often, people complain that they suddenly experience lumbago, after which persistent pain occurs. It can be painful, tingling, throbbing, constricting, or the like.

Neck pain is also called neck pain.

The discomfort usually intensifies during movement, for example when rotating or tilting the head, while maintaining a static position, which is particularly uncomfortable for a long time, especially during a longcomputer work. In this regard, a person is forced, often even unconsciously, to turn his whole body in order to spare the neck as much as possible.

So it is obvious that neck pain can be quite different. Therefore, they are divided not only into acute (duration less than 10 days) and chronic, but also into:

vertebrogenic - occurring against the background of pathological changes in the cervical spine, including with damage to the intervertebral discs, compression of the vertebral roots and spinal cord;
non-vertebral - resulting from all other causes, including infectious diseases, inflammatory processes in muscles, diseases of the thyroid gland, lymph nodes, etc.

Vertebrogenic pain is characterized by radiation to the occipital region, shoulders, arms, to the hands and fingers. Numbness, feeling and impaired mobility are often observed, which indicates the development of neurological disorders, that is, a violation of one or another anatomical structure of the nerve roots or the spinal cord. Also, in such situations, dizziness, attacks of unconsciousness and headaches may be observed, which indicates compression of the vertebral arteries, for example, intervertebral hernia.

It is urgent to make an appointment with a doctor if the neck pain is acute or accompanied by dizziness, numbness in the back of the head or tinnitus.

Causes of neck pain

Sometimes it is difficult for patients to independently differentiate a sore throat from a pain in the neck because it can be so diffuse that the sensations are blurry and it seems that the whole neck hurts. If it is accompanied by a feeling of sweating or itching in the throat, an increase in body temperature, it may indicate laryngitis, SARS, sore throat, pharyngitis and other colds. In addition, this symptomatology is typical for:

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Itsenko-Cushing syndrome;
foreign bodies entering the pharynx, for example fish bones;
hypovitaminosis;
formation of benign and malignant tumors in the throat.

Yet in most cases, people can differentiate throat problems from true neck pain, which can be seen both on the anterolateral surfaces and in the back and front.

Localization of pain is an important diagnostic function that allows you to determine the source of pain at the stage of the examination, and then to thoroughly study the changes that have occurred using diagnostic methodsinstrumental.

Front neck pain: causes

The appearance of unpleasant or even painful sensations directly in the area under the chin or diffuse pain all over the front of the neck may indicate:

thyroid disease;
inflammation of muscles affecting ligaments and nerves;
formation of cysts and abscesses;
disease of the lymph nodes;
angina pectoris.

That is, the list of possible causes is quite long, and it is impossible to independently determine what exactly caused the pain in the neck. In such situations, it is worth contacting a therapist for an examination. If necessary, the doctor will refer the patient to a narrow specialist of the desired profile.

Vertebral artery syndrome and radicular syndrome may also be associated with previous neck pain. In both cases, the cause is damage to the blood vessels or nerves by a deformed intervertebral disc, edematous tissue, displaced cervical vertebral body, or other structure. Our clinic has developed an integrated approach to solve this problem - experienced chiropractors, neurologists, rehabilitators, endocrinologists will perform an examination and prescribe the necessary treatment.

Back neck pain: causes

Due to the peculiarities of modern lifestyle, people very often worry about neck pain. Working in front of a computer, constant use of gadgets, low level of physical activity and bad habits, all this causes pathological changes in the structure of the spine, which is manifested by pain in the neck. Therefore, in case of pain, tightness, sharp pain, lumbago in the neck, first of all, consultation with a chiropractor or vertebrologist is necessary, since in the overwhelming majority of cases this indicates diseasescervical spine, namely:

is a widespread disease accompanied by degenerative-dystrophic changes of the intervertebral discs, a decrease in their height and a decrease in strength;
protrusion - a complication of osteochondrosis, in which the intervertebral disc protrudes (more often into the spinal canal, where the spinal cord and nerve roots pass), which comes with the risk of pinching the nerves and arteriesvertebral;
are a consequence of untreated protrusion, in which the internal contents of the intervertebral disc enter the spinal canal, gradually increase and can seriously compress the nerves and spinal cord, and in the last stageof development, it separates and "travels" along the spinal canal, causing serious, and sometimes irreversible complications up to paralysis;
is a complication of osteochondrosis, in which bony prominences, called osteophytes, develop along the edges of the vertebral bodies and the intervertebral discs are critically flattened, which ultimately leads to fusion of the vertebrae. adjacent to each other and limits neck mobility;
- a disease in which individual muscle spasms, which leads to acute pain attacks during physical activity or when pressing on certain points of the neck;
compression fractures of the vertebrae - most often occur in older people with osteoporosis or are the result of whiplash, for example, in an accident, and pose a serious threat to lifeand human health;
is a systemic disease that affects almost all joints in the body and results in severe mobility restrictions due to the fusion of individual vertebrae with each other, forming strong, immobile conglomerates.

Back pain is much less often caused by spinal tuberculosis, osteomyelitis or Reiter's syndrome.

Lateral cervical pain: causes

Most often the pain in the side surfaces of the neck is burning or throbbing, and they may also be tingling. They tend to give in to the shoulder and the ear, sometimes accompanied by the formation of a secondary torticollis, as a result of which the head tilts to the affected side. This is typical of:

pathologies of blood vessels, including atherosclerosis;
muscle spasms, which may be triggered by a heavy load on the neck, sudden movements or hypothermia;
formation of malignant formations in the thyroid gland, pharynx and larynx.

Diagnosing the causes of neck pain

Since in the overwhelming majority of cases neck pain is caused by the development of pathologies of the cervical spine, when it appears, it is worth contacting a chiropractor, vertebrologist or neurologist. The doctor will be able to determine, on the basis of complaints, examination data and neurological tests, whether the discomfort in the neck is really due to disorders of the spine or if it is caused by other diseases.

Nevertheless, it is the deviations from the norm in the condition of the spine that, in fact, is one of the reasons for the development of concomitant diseases of internal organs. After all, a change in the position of the vertebrae, a decrease in the height of the intervertebral discs and other, even minor changes, lead to a violation of the transmission of nerve impulses from the spinal cord through the nerve roots along thenerves to internal organs.

The spinal cord is characterized by segmental innervation, that is to say that each part of it is responsible for the proper functioning of a particular organ, in the event of disorders of the cervical spine, the innervationENT organs, vocal cords, thyroid and parathyroid glands may suffer, and also the muscles of the neck, shoulders and forearms. Therefore, at first their work is disturbed, and over time organic changes appear, that is, this or that disease develops, which can cause pain of varying intensity and character inthe neck.

Therefore, diseases of internal organs are rarely diagnosed and changes in the spine go undetected, and therefore consultation with a chiropractor is absolutely necessary. But if the patient shows signs of diseases of the thyroid gland, heart, ENT or other organs, it is also shown that he receives the advice of close specialists (endocrinologist, cardiologist, otolaryngologist, etc. ).

Thus, the diagnosis of the causes of neck pain is always complex. It can include:

general and biochemical blood test;
determining the level of thyroid hormones in the blood;
Ultrasound with Doppler ultrasound of the vessels of the neck, thyroid gland, salivary glands;
cervical spine x-ray;
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CT;
MRI.

In order to diagnose pathologies of the spine, the most informative is MRI, that is to say magnetic resonance imaging. The method allows you to study the condition of the intervertebral discs in great detail, assess the quality of blood flow in the vertebral arteries, and detect signs of compression of the spinal cord or its roots. With its help, diseases are diagnosed in the early stages of development, which guarantees the start of treatment as early as possible and its high effectiveness.

In our clinic you can also learn more about your body composition and the state of the vascular system, which is involved in the blood supply to internal organs, musculoskeletal muscles and the brain. Our experienced doctors will explain the results to you in detail. Bioimpedansometry calculates the ratio of fat, muscle, bone and skeletal mass, total body fluid, basal metabolic rate. The recommended intensity of physical activity depends on the condition of the muscle mass. Metabolic processes, in turn, affect the body's ability to recover. According to the indicators of active cell mass, one can judge the level of physical activity and nutritional balance. This quick and easy test helps us see endocrine disruption and take action. In addition, it is also very important for us to know the condition of the blood vessels for the prevention of diseases such as heart attacks, hypertension, heart failure, diabetes mellitus and much more. Angioscan allows you to determine such important indicators as the biological age of blood vessels, their rigidity, the stress index (which speaks of heart rate), oxygen saturation of the blood. Such screening will be useful for men and women after 30 years, athletes, those who undergo a long and difficult treatment, as well as all those who monitor their health.

In this case, analyzing the body composition tells us that the body is dominated by fatty tissue and the bone-muscle component is in relative deficit. These data will help the rehabilitation doctor to correctly establish a physical activity plan, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient.

Treatment of neck pain

For each patient, the tactics of therapy are developed strictly individually on the basis of the diagnosis, the severity of pathological changes, the presence of concomitant diseases and other factors. Even patients with the same disabilities can be prescribed different treatments, as even age and level of physical development affect them.

Nevertheless, the treatment of diseases that cause neck pain is always complex and includes both symptomatic and etiotropic treatment. In other words, it is aimed at eliminating the symptoms of the disease and the causes of its occurrence. The main components of therapy are often:

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manual therapy;
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physiotherapy (phonophoresis, carboxytherapy, ozone therapy, current RF pressotherapy);
private lessons with a rehabilitation doctor.

When diagnosing pathologies of the cervical spine, it is shown to make some adjustments to your lifestyle and habits. Thus, office workers, drivers, seamstresses and representatives of other sedentary professions are advised to warm up as often as possible and to avoid prolonged maintenance of a forced body position, requiring in particular tension of the muscles of the body. neck.

Eating well is also important so that the body gets all the nutrients it needs. This will not only slow down the progression of the pathology, but also contribute to a faster course of regeneration processes.

In severe pain, the chiropractor may recommend that the patient purchase a Chance neck brace or collar. Wearing it will help to unload the cervical spine and prevent rash, sudden movements, which will lead to a gradual alleviation of the pain syndrome. In our center, you can choose and buy a plaster that suits you.

You can wrap a woolen scarf around your neck for pain relief before your appointment, or take an anesthetic pill no later than 12 hours before you take it.

Drug treatment

The nature of the drugs prescribed and their quantity can vary over a very wide range, which directly depends on the diagnosis and the presence of concomitant diseases. Therefore, we will only list the groups of drugs prescribed to the vast majority of patients:

NSAIDs - nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that also differ in analgesic properties (products in various dosage forms, including tablets, ointments, solutions for injections, etc. );
are drugs with a strong anti-inflammatory effect, which are only used for severe inflammatory processes that NSAIDs cannot eliminate;
muscle relaxants - drugs that eliminate muscle spasms of various origins, which helps reduce the severity of pain;
chondroprotectors - drugs that promote the restoration of the cartilage tissue that makes up the intervertebral discs, but are effective only in the early stages of osteochondrosis;
B vitamins - used to improve the conduction of bioelectric impulses from the spinal cord to the corresponding organs and restore their proper functioning;
vitamin D - a remedy responsible for the condition of bone tissue, as well as higher brain functions, such as memory, memory, attention, speech.

In addition, patients may be prescribed antibiotics, hormone replacement therapy, antihypertensives and others.

For particularly severe neck pain, blockages are used. The procedures involve the injection of anesthetic solutions with corticosteroids into the area where the nerves pass through the neck, which provides very fast pain relief. But, in addition to the fact that they are effective only for pain caused by nerve damage, they also require a high level of professionalism from medical personnel, since when carrying out a blockade there isrisk of nerve injury, infection and serious complications.

Manual therapy

Manual therapy is one of the most effective ways to treat neck pain and its causes, but only if done correctly. It involves a direct effect on the spine and the surrounding soft tissues. Do not confuse manual therapy with therapeutic massage, in which only the back and neck muscles are worked.

The techniques and methods of manual therapy literally allow after the first session to achieve a significant improvement in well-being, and, ultimately, complete remission. This is done thanks to:

restoration of the normal axis of the spine by returning the vertebrae to their anatomically correct position;
increasing the distance between the vertebral bodies and the release of compressed nerves and blood vessels, which helps to eliminate the signs of radicular syndrome, improve the functioning of internal organs and especially the brain;
elimination of neck muscle spasms and functional blocks, which improves mobility and reduces the severity of pain;
improves blood circulation and tissue nutrition.

We do not have common treatment standards, we apply an individual approach to each patient. Only a highly qualified specialist should trust manual therapy. Otherwise, the use of improper techniques can only harm the patient, aggravate the problem or provoke the development of complications.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy procedures are used to improve the effectiveness of therapy. They are presented exclusively outside the acute period and have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect, improve microcirculation in soft tissues and contribute to the normalization of muscle tone.

Usually courses are prescribed, consisting of 8-15 procedures. These can be:

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UHF;
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(spinal traction);
mud baths, etc.

The number of sessions of physiotherapeutic procedures and the frequency of their implementation are selected individually by the doctor. Some procedures can be combined with each other, while others should be carried out strictly at a certain interval.

exercise therapy

Physiotherapy is one of the mandatory components of conservative treatment of neck pain. Since very often they occur against the background of muscle overload and degenerative-dystrophic processes in the intervertebral discs caused by this, it is important to pay due attention to exercise therapy and thedaily exercise.

For each patient, a physiotherapy exercise program is developed separately by a rehabilitation physician. It can be dangerous to use the complexes presented on the Internet, since they do not take into account the individual characteristics of the patient, his age, the degree of neglect of the pathological process and the level of physical fitness of the patient. Therefore, developing an exercise therapy program requires the help of a specialist. In addition, the first sessions are necessarily carried out under his control, so that the patient can understand how to perform each exercise and in the process of independent studies does not hurt. At home, you should practice in a calm environment, avoiding any sudden movements, and in case of pain, you should consult a doctor.

So neck pain is very common. They can be caused by the development of various diseases, but most often discomfort is the basis of spinal problems caused by a sedentary lifestyle. Therefore, do not hesitate to consult a doctor. Indeed, in the early stages of the development of the disease, it can be easily treated with conservative methods. While in advanced cases, neck pain and its causes can be eliminated exclusively by surgery.