Almost everyone has experienced neck pain. They can occur not only in adults but also in children. To get rid of uncomfortable feelings, you must first discover the reason why the neck hurts and, based on this, solve the problem. Since this can be a symptom of a more serious illness, rather than simple pain, it is important to see a doctor in time.
Causes of neck pain
Neck discomfort is one of the most common complaints of patients. There are many reasons why cervical back pain can be recorded, 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, overload, repetition of the same type of movements, hypothermia, excess weight, stress. They can also appear after a night's sleep in the wrong position or on an uncomfortable mattress or pillow. Such pains can be quite harmless.
- Damage to vertebrae, intervertebral discs, joints, ligaments. Neck pain can be the result of degenerative-dystrophic diseases. 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 aggravated by any impact on the neck. Inflammation of the salivary gland, caries, tonsils, damage to the larynx and trachea can also cause neck pain.
- Tumors. Neoplasms can be a provocateur of severe neck pain. They are quite long. If the discomfort does not stop, you should consult a doctor immediately.
- Injury and other mechanical damage. Another reason that back pain in the neck is an injury. Even a small blow can cause damage to the back of the cervix. When struck, the beads can move. If they are not placed in time, the patient will complain that the neck hurts forward, to the right or to the left for no apparent reason.
- Inflammatory processes. Pain can occur due to arthritis, lupus, spondyloarthritis and Sharp syndrome. Sometimes inflammation occurs with pain due to ankylosing spondylitis.
- Pathologies of muscle corsets. Causes, small lumps in the neck, appear when the muscles in the shoulders and neck are spasmodic.
- Infectious diseases. These pathologies usually include tuberculosis, meningitis, herpes, and osteomyelitis.
- Consequences of the operation.
Symptoms of conditions that cause pain in the shoulders and neck may not appear for years or be present all the time. Therefore, it is important to undergo regular examinations in medical institutions.
There are causes of neck pain that only affect children. If a child's neck hurts, then these are usually very serious diseases. These include torticollis, tetanus, mumps, polio, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
diagnostic
To find out the cause of concern, if the cervical spine hurts, it is important to consult a specialist as soon as the first symptoms appear. The therapist or pediatrician will refer you to a closer specialist after an initial examination and depending on the nature of the pain.
Most often, they refer to a neurologist or chiropractor. If neck pain is the cause of mechanical damage, then a referral to a traumatologist is made. For neck or torticollis in children, they may be referred to an orthopedist. They are sent to a cardiologist if they are concerned about pain in the left neck, but there are no problems with the functioning of the arms and legs. An otolaryngologist should seek help when a traction pain appears in the neck and it is suspected that the cause may be a sore throat or inflammation of the lymph nodes.
To determine the origin of neck pain in the front, back, right or left, the doctor first palpates. Based on the results of this examination, the specialist decides what diagnosis to make and prescribes treatment.
When pain appears when you shake your head, leaning forward and backward, this indicates damage to the first vertebra. If the discomfort occurs when you bend to the sides or turn your neck, then most likely the problem is in the second vertebra.
If the patient is concerned about severe back pain in the cervix, an experienced specialist can easily determine the cause. Since the focus of pain may be far from the site of occurrence, including when the pulsating pain in the left neck is disturbing, a more detailed diagnosis is made.
Based on the results of the initial examination, the doctor may refer you for additional diagnostic procedures. These include appointment for blood and urine tests, ultrasound examination, MRI, radiography, tomogram, cardiogram, electroneurogram. The results of these procedures 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 undergoes all diagnostic procedures, can show you how to get rid of neck pain. You should not self-medicate, as the pain may have different etiologies, and treatment approaches will also vary.
A neurologist or physical therapist prescribes treatment for the cervical spine. These specialists can refer you to a chiropractor if necessary. It is usually recommended to take a course of treatment, physiotherapy and massage. If the neck hurts a lot and medication, physiotherapy and massage do not help, surgery is performed.
Non-surgical treatment
To quickly and effectively relieve cervical back pain, treatment should be comprehensive. Usually, the patient is prescribed the following non-surgical treatment for cervical spine pain:
- drug therapy;
- orthopedic methods;
- reflexology;
- ultrasound therapy;
- laser therapy;
- therapeutic massage, osteopathy;
- physiotherapy.
Medication therapy is a treatment with ointments, tablets, injections. It aims to eliminate the pain and unpleasant symptoms associated with it.
If a sharp pain in the neck is caused by osteochondrosis, then in addition to pain relievers, muscle relaxants are prescribed. In severe conditions, when it comes to acute neck pain, corticosteroids may be prescribed.
In the case of severe neck pain, blockages are used to relieve the symptom.
Orthopedic methods involve wearing a collar. Its fixation can be soft or firm. Most often, such treatment is prescribed when the neck is constantly aching or injuries have been received.
If, at the end of the course of treatment, preventive measures do not continue, then neck pain, in both adults and children, may reappear.
Reflexology is an electric shock to the pain in the back of the cervix. Allocate common acupuncture and electroacupuncture.
The effect of ultrasound has an antispasmodic effect if the neck muscles are injured, and during phonophoresis, the effect of the drug is increased several times.
Laser therapy has a calming effect on the inflamed skin area. If the neck hurts, then a qualified specialist will explain how to treat this method.
Also, if the neck hurts on the side, left or right, a massage will be helpful. Therapeutic massage is recommended at least 2 times a year. This procedure relieves stress and eliminates some of the causes of the unpleasant symptom.
Exercises of physiotherapy (exercise therapy) aim at the correct distribution of the load during the pain in the back of the cervix. In addition, there is increased stretching and mobility of certain muscle groups.
In addition to formal medicine to relieve cervical symptoms, informal medicine can also be used to heal the back of the head and the rest of the cervical region.
Treatment with surgery
There are times when it is impossible to do without surgery. How is neck pain treated in this case? Operational situations include hernias, spinal cord or spinal cord compression, and mechanical damage.
The operation is based on the fact that the vertebral areas that interfere with the normal functioning and work of the spinal cord are simply removed. In some cases, it is possible to perform an operation using a laser.
Surgery can lead to complications or accidents, so doctors initially try different treatments.
Importers it is important to know that the doctor will offer an operative way to solve the problem only when he sees that other methods will not bring a positive result. Therefore, treatment can not be postponed for a long time, especially if the disease is detected at an early stage.
Prophylaxis
To rule out such a cause of neck pain as inactivity and being in an uncomfortable position, it is recommended to do self-massage. How to treat neck pain with this method will be advised by a masseur or other specialist who has been contacted for neck pain.
Light exercise during your work hours will be helpful. You need to take regular breaks to get your neck muscles working. With a long incorrect position or tension, back pain of the cervix can occur.
A sleeping pillow and a mattress should be orthopedic. They will relieve stress on the back throughout the day.
Massage twice a year will reduce the likelihood of going to the doctor for neck pain. A professional massage therapist can remove the cause of chronic neck pain on the right, front and left during the course.
To rule out serious diseases, you need to determine for what reason the neck can be damaged. Importers it is important to keep the neck warm, you need to protect it from drafts. Adherence to proper posture will not be superfluous, especially for children.