Neck pain: causes, accompanying symptoms and treatment

6 November 2020

Neck pain at different intervals in 70% of adults. At the same time, painful feelings can not only be of different nature, but can also be caused by various diseases. Therefore, they are generally observed not in isolation, but are accompanied by other symptoms that help in the correct diagnosis and selection of optimal treatment tactics.

Types of neck pain

Neck pain can be short-lived and limited to minor discomfort or very severe, which significantly interferes with daily life. People more often complain that they suddenly feel lumbago, after which permanent pain occurs. It can be painful, tingling, throbbing, squeezing or otherwise.

Neck pain is also called cervicalgia.

Discomfort usually intensifies during movement, for example, when turning or tilting the head, maintaining a long static, particularly uncomfortable position, especially during long work at the computer. In this regard, the person is forced, often and unconsciously, to turn his whole body to spare the neck as much as possible.

So, obviously, neck pain can be very different. Therefore, they are divided not only into acute (lasting less than 10 days) and chronic, but also into:

vertebrogens - occur in the background of pathological changes in the cervical spine, including lesions of the intervertebral discs, compression of the spinal root and spinal cord;
nonvertebral - the result of all other causes, including infectious diseases, inflammatory processes in the muscles, thyroid disease, lymph nodes, etc.

Vertebrogenic pain is characterized by radiation to the occipital region, shoulders, arms, to the hands and fingers. Numbness, impaired sensitivity and mobility are often observed, which indicates the development of neurological disorders, ie violation of one or another anatomical structure of the nerve roots or spinal cord. Also, in such situations, dizziness, attacks of loss of consciousness and headache may be observed, indicating compression of the spinal arteries, for example, an 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 ringing in the ears.

Causes of neck pain

Sometimes it is difficult for patients to independently distinguish sore throat from neck pain because it can be so diffuse that the feelings are blurred and the whole neck seems to hurt. If this is accompanied by a feeling of sweating or scratching in the throat, a rise in body temperature, then this may indicate laryngitis, acute respiratory viral infections, sore throat, pharyngitis and other colds. Also, such symptoms are typical for:

gastroesophageal reflux;
foreign bodies entering the pharynx, for example, fish bones;
formation of benign and malignant tumors in the throat.

However, in most cases, people can distinguish throat problems from true neck pains, which can be noticed on the anterolateral surfaces, on the back and in the front.

Pain localization is an important diagnostic feature that allows you to determine the source of pain during the examination phase and then thoroughly study the changes that have occurred using instrumental diagnostic methods.

Front neck pain: causes

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

thyroid disease;
inflammatory processes in muscles affecting ligaments and nerves;
formation of cysts and abscesses;
lymph node involvement;
angina pectoris.

That is, the list of possible causes is quite extensive and it is impossible to determine on your own what exactly caused the neck pain. 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.

Spinal artery syndrome and radicular syndrome may also be associated with pain in the front of the neck. In both cases, the cause is a violation of blood vessels or nerves by a deformed intervertebral disc, edematous tissues, displaced cervical spine or some other structure. Our clinic has developed a comprehensive approach to solving this problem - experienced chiropractors, neurologists, rehabilitologists, endocrinologists will conduct an examination and prescribe the necessary treatment.

Back pain: causes

Due to the peculiarities of the modern way of life, people are very often worried about back pain. Working at a computer, constant use of devices, low level of physical activity and bad habits, all this causes pathological changes in the structure of the spine, which manifest as neck pain. Therefore, in the case of painful, traction, sharp pain, lumbago in the back of the head, first of all, it is necessary to consult a chiropractor or vertebrologist, because in the vast majority of cases it indicates a disease of the cervical spine, namely:

osteochondrosis is a widespread disease accompanied by degenerative-dystrophic changes on the intervertebral discs, a decrease in their height and a decrease in strength;
protrusions - 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 causes the risk of constriction of nerves and spinal arteries;
intervertebral hernias are the result of a lack of protrusion treatment, in which the internal contents of the intervertebral disc penetrate the spinal canal, gradually increase and can severely compress the nerves and spinal cord, and in the last stage of development separates and "travels" along the spinal canal, and sometimes irreversible complications to paralysis;
spondylosis is a complication of osteochondrosis, in which bony protrusions, called osteophytes, grow along the edges of the vertebral bodies and the intervertebral discs are critically aligned, eventually leading to fusion of adjacent vertebrae with each other and limiting neck mobility;
myofascial syndrome - a disease in which certain muscles spasm, which leads to an attack of acute pain during physical activity or pressure on certain points of the neck;
compression fractures of the spine - most often occur in the elderly with osteoporosis or are the result of a whip injury, for example, in an accident and pose a serious threat to human life and health;
Ankylosing spondylitis is a systemic disease that affects almost all joints of the body and causes severe limitations of mobility due to the fusion of individual vertebrae with each other, forming strong and immobile conglomerates.

Much less common back pain is caused by spinal tuberculosis, osteomyelitis or Reiter's syndrome.

Side neck pain: causes

Pain on the side surfaces of the neck usually burns or pulsates, and may be tingling. They tend to give the shoulder and ear, sometimes accompanied by the formation of secondary torticollis, as a result of which the head is tilted to the affected side. This is typical for:

vascular pathology, including atherosclerosis;
muscle cramps, which can be caused by heavy neck strain, sudden movements or hypothermia;
formation of malignant formations in the thyroid, pharynx and larynx.

Diagnosis of the cause of neck pain

Since in most cases neck pain is caused by the development of cervical spine pathologies, when they occur, it is worth contacting a chiropractor, vertebrologist or neurologist. Based on the complaints, examination data and neurological tests, the doctor will be able to determine whether the discomfort in the neck is really the result of a disorder in the spine or is caused by other diseases.

However, deviations from the norm in the condition of the spine are one of the reasons for the development of concomitant diseases of the internal organs. Finally, 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 the nerves to the internal organs.

Since the spinal cord is characterized by segmental innervation, ie. each part of it is responsible for the proper functioning of a particular organ, in case of disorders of the cervical spine, the innervation of the ENT organs, vocal cords, thyroid and parathyroid glands, as well as muscles in the neck, shoulders and forearms may suffer. Therefore, in the beginning, their work is disturbed, and over time, organic changes appear, that is, this or that disease develops, which can cause pain of different intensity and character in the neck.

Therefore, diseases of the internal organs are rarely diagnosed and changes in the spine are not detected, so consultation with a chiropractor is necessary. But if the patient has signs of thyroid disease, heart disease, ENT organs or others, he is additionally shown advice from narrow specialists (endocrinologist, cardiologist, otolaryngologist, etc. ).

Therefore, the diagnosis of the cause of neck pain is always complex. May contain:

general and biochemical blood test;
determination of thyroid hormone levels in the blood;
Ultrasound with dopplerography of blood vessels, thyroid gland, salivary glands;
X-ray of the cervical spine;
electroneuromyography;
CT;

In order to diagnose pathologies of the spine, the most informative is MRI, ie. M. R. I. The method allows you to study the condition of the intervertebral discs down to the smallest detail, assess the quality of blood flow in the spinal arteries and detect signs of compression of the spinal cord or its roots. With its help, diseases are diagnosed at the earliest stages of development, which ensures the earliest possible start of treatment and its high efficiency.

In our clinic you can also learn in more detail about the composition of your body and the condition of the vascular system that is involved in the blood supply to internal organs, musculoskeletal muscle and brain. . Our experienced doctors will explain the findings to you in detail. Bioimpedansometry calculates the ratio of fat, muscle, bone and bone mass, total body fluid and basal metabolic rate. The intensity of the recommended 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, the level of physical activity and nutritional balance can be judged. This simple and quick test helps us spot endocrine disorders and take action. In addition, it is very important for us to know the condition of 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 stiffness, stress index (which speaks of heart rate), blood oxygen saturation. Such an examination will be useful for men and women older than 30, athletes, those who are on long-term and difficult treatment, as well as anyone who monitors their health.

In this case, the analysis of body composition gives us the information that the body is dominated by adipose tissue, and the musculoskeletal component in relative deficit. This information will help the rehabilitation doctor to properly compile 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 based on the diagnosis, the severity of the pathological changes, the presence of concomitant diseases and other factors. Even patients with the same disability can be prescribed different treatments, because it is affected even by age and level of physical development.

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

drug treatment;
osteopathy;
manual therapy;
massage;
physiotherapy (phonophoresis, carboxytherapy, ozone therapy, RF currents with pressure therapy);
individual lessons from a rehabilitation doctor.

Diagnosing pathologies of the cervical spine has been shown to make some adjustments to your lifestyle and habits. Thus, office workers, drivers, seamstresses and representatives of other inactive professions are advised to warm up as often as possible and avoid long-term preservation of forced body position, especially requiring neck muscle tension.

It is also important to eat properly 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 the regeneration process.

For severe pain, a chiropractor may recommend that the patient purchase a neck or necklace. Wearing it will help relieve the cervical spine and avoid sudden movements, which will lead to a gradual weakening of the pain syndrome. In our center you can choose and buy a bandage that suits you

You can wrap a woolen scarf around your neck to relieve pain before an appointment or take an anesthetic tablet no later than 12 hours before taking it.

Drug Therapy

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

NSAIDs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that also differ in analgesic properties (produced in different dosage forms, including tablets, ointments, solution for injection, etc. );
corticosteroids are drugs with a strong anti-inflammatory effect, used only for serious inflammatory processes that NSAIDs cannot eliminate;
muscle relaxants - drugs that eliminate muscle cramps of various origins, which helps reduce the severity of pain;
chondroprotectors - drugs that stimulate the regeneration of cartilage tissue that make up the intervertebral discs, but are effective only in the initial stages of osteochondrosis;
B vitamins - are used to improve the conduction of bioelectric impulses from the spinal cord to the appropriate organs and restore their proper functioning;
vitamin D - a drug responsible for the condition of bone tissue, as well as for greater brain functions, such as memory, memory, attention, speech.

Also, patients can be prescribed antibiotics, hormone replacement therapy, antihypertensives and others.

For particularly severe neck pain, blockages are used. Procedures involve injecting anesthetic solutions with corticosteroids into the area of nerve passage in the neck, allowing pain relief very quickly. But in addition to being effective only for pain caused by nerve damage, they require a high level of professionalism from medical professionals because when performing a blockade there is a risk of nerve injury, infection and provoking serious complications.

Manual therapy

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

Techniques and methods of manual therapy enable, literally after the first session, to achieve a significant improvement in well-being and, finally, complete remission. This is accomplished via:

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

We do not have common treatment standards, an individual approach is applied for each patient. Only a highly qualified specialist should be trusted to perform manual therapy. Otherwise, the use of inappropriate techniques can only harm the patient, aggravate the problem or cause the development of complications.

Physiotherapy

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

Courses consisting of 8-15 procedures are usually prescribed. These can be:

electrophoresis;
ultrasound therapy;
laser therapy;
traction therapy (spinal traction);
mud baths, etc.

The doctor selects the number of sessions of physiotherapy procedures and the frequency of their implementation. Some procedures can be combined with each other, while others need to be performed strictly at a certain interval.

exercise therapy

Physiotherapy is one of the essential components of conservative therapy for neck pain. Since they very often occur against the background of excessive muscle tension and caused by degenerative-dystrophic processes in the intervertebral discs, it is important to pay long attention to exercise and daily exercise.

For each patient, the rehabilitation doctor develops a program of physiotherapy exercises. The use of complexes presented on the Internet can be dangerous, because 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 readiness of the patient. Therefore, the development of an exercise therapy program requires the help of experts. Moreover, the first few sessions are necessarily performed under his control, so that the patient can understand how to perform each exercise and in the process of self-study does not harm himself. At home, you should exercise in a calm environment, avoiding sudden movements, and if pain occurs, see a doctor.

Thus, neck pain is widespread. They can be caused by the development of various diseases, but the most common cause of discomfort is spine problems caused by a sedentary lifestyle. Therefore, you should not hesitate to visit a doctor. Indeed, in the early stages of the disease, it can be easily solved by conservative methods. While in advanced cases, neck pain and its causes can be eliminated only by surgery.