A number of vital musculoskeletal, neural, and arterial plexuses pass through the cervical regions. Various pains in the neck caused by mechanical stress or neurological damage. In addition, the neck can ache after prolonged static stress. Consider the most likely situations that cause pain in the cervical spine, determine the symptoms and signs of neurological diseases, and determine how to get rid of the pain with the most effective treatment methods, including home treatment.
Reasons - why does the neck hurt?
The cervical spine consists of seven vertebrae, the seventh of which is distinguished from the other osteoarticular segments of the spine by its greatest mobility. In addition, the fragile intervertebral neck regions are under constant strong pressure from the heavy head, so all prerequisites are given for pain in the cervical spine, shoulder girdle, and back. The anatomical structure of the neck includes not only muscles and ligaments, articular cartilage, nerve fibers, and vascular braids, but also other life-sustaining organs — the larynx, esophagus, trachea, lymph nodes, and thyroid gland. Any regional inflammation or injury causes varying degrees of pain in the neck.
So we can conditionally divide why the cervical spine hurts:
- mechanical injuries to the back and neck;
- systemic diseases of vital organs;
- defeat by infectious agents;
- degenerative transformations of the spinal region;
- symptoms of reflected pain;
- the result of a qualitative change in life or work.
The neurological pathologies that determine the causal relationship, why the back muscles hurt, and why the cervical spine hurts include:
- the deformation state of the vertebral plates;
- intervertebral hernia;
- compression of the spinal nerve;
- osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
Systemic etiology, why neck pain:
- psoriatic or rheumatoid arthritis;
- fibromyalgia;
- diabetic neuropathy;
- development of benign or malignant tumors.
If the neck is very sore due to an infectious lesion, the following clinic is prescribed:
- meningitis;
- the acute or chronic form of thyroiditis explains why the anterior neck hurts;
- tuberculosis;
- pain when swallowing and sometimes pain in the neck and ears with inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck - lymphadenitis.
Other etiological factors include:
- passive lifestyle;
- excessive overexertion of muscle regions;
- nervous exhaustion;
- improper arrangement of the bed when the neck still hurts after an orthopedic pillow.
In addition, the neck continues to ache after seemingly insignificant neck bruises, such as after an accident, fall, or collision.
The causes of neck pain can occur with alcohol syndrome. After quite drunk alcohol, there is also acute pain in the cervical vertebrae, which often radiates to the ears, head (base of the skull, and temple).
Symptoms
If the neck hurts due to osteochondrosis or its complicated neurological pathology (intervertebral hernia), the symptoms of the pain are as follows:
- the pain begins to release painfully or stretched on the sides towards the cervical vertebrae;
- back and neck pain severely, especially in the clavicle;
- tilting and / or turning the head causes acute or sharp pain in the neck regions;
- have difficulty swallowing;
- there is a strong rigidity of movement;
- there are general signs of cervicalgia in pain.
In the case of an infectious lesion of the cervical segments of the spine, the discomfort is expressed by the following symptoms:
- local temperature increase with neck cold at 37 ° and above;
- abdominal pain sometimes occurs due to metabolic disorders;
- metabolic processes affect the work of the gastrointestinal tract (the stomach can get sick, sometimes nausea and vomiting occur);
- neck damage can be expressed by tonic muscle syndrome;
- increased irritability and rapid fatigue of the body.
Painful symptoms often affect a teenager or young child with cervical lymphadenitis or mumps when the salivary glands in the ear become inflamed. A small patient begins to ache behind his ears, swallowing difficulties and pain radiating at the base of the skull, while the neck hurts not only from the side but also across the periphery. Parents should pay attention to the cleanliness of the neck contours, which change noticeably, swell, and feel a slight tightening of the skin to the touch. 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 don’t start with a self-diagnosis but see a doctor right away. Often, these pain symptoms are most pronounced in women during pregnancy. Only a trained professional will determine what to do with neck pain and how to treat this or that clinical pathology.
What to do?
Excluding all possible clinical pathologies of cervical pain, we examine methods for treating the most common neurological problem, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
A classical medical definition of a neuralgic condition is a degenerative-dystrophic lesion of the articular cartilage of the movable segment of the cervical spine. It is possible to correct the situation with home remedies, physiotherapy methods, special practices, massage and folk remedies. In case of acute exacerbation, anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs are used.
After completing the mandatory medication, the complex rehabilitation therapy can be continued at home.
Nyaktorna
The main rule when performing physiotherapy exercises on the cervical spine is leisurely, slow and smooth movements. The medical and rehabilitation complex consists of the following simple physical exercises:
- Start by tilting the head back and forth, gradually increasing the amplitude. Enough for the first session 3-5 times.
- The next exercise is circular movements of the neck and rotation to the right and left.
- The following exercise will require some effort. A gym stick is placed under the chin and should be pressed with force as much as possible. The exercise is performed 2-3 times.
Attention!In the event that neck pain radiates to the arm, shoulder girdle, or collarbone, the exercise should be stopped and reported to the treating physician.
Massage treatments are also an effective way to relieve cervical vertebrae pain. Therapeutic and prophylactic measures are aimed at restoring blood circulation and weakening muscle cramps. The massage therapist should start the treatment with light caressing movements along the neck. However, we should not get too caught up in exercising on our own necks and rubbing intensely, because after the massage the neck sometimes hurts, which is not always a sign of quality.
Pain relief according to the academic method
There is a special authoring method for treating cervical osteochondrosis pain developed by an academic. As a functional solution, a traditional pencil is used, which acts on the so-called neck region represented in the area of the thumb. This area is located between the palm fold and the wrist of the upper joint of the thumb. The distance between the segments is called the cervical space by the author. The pain is relieved by rubbing with an intense pencil until the appearance of stable heat, the projection of the cervical spine. Such a treatment and prophylactic procedure can be performed under almost any circumstances, even outside the home. Some medical experts deny the effectiveness of this method, however, many patients who use this development believe that such a procedure provides some relief.
What to do at home?
Relieving muscle tension, ensuring healthy blood flow in the cervical canals, facilitating the work of the joint elements of the spine, the following homemade recipes allow:
- A salt bath containing magnesium sulfate is an effective relaxation method for spasmodic neck areas.
- Decoction of pine buds. Take 100 ml of water for 100 grams of forest product. The whole preparation is boiled and kept in the dark for another 4-5 hours. The healing medicine is used to compress the cervix.
- A decoction made from dill seeds and / or parsley root is very useful. Making a home remedy is pretty straightforward. For 50 grams of any plant product, drink a glass of boiling water. The healing broth is infused for 1-1. 5 hours and then used for internal or external use.
- Rubbing alcohol based on iodine and camphor oil. Take 200 drops of iodine and the same amount of camphor oil for 200 ml of 96% alcohol. The medicine is mixed and used as a neck compress.
- 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 grated potatoes and honey. Hot potatoes cooked in a "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 knowthat any compress gives a therapeutic effect only after 30-40 minutes.
Examples of traditional medicine are only applicable in the early stages of osteochondrosis. In case of aggravating symptoms such as intervertebral disc herniation, the recommended prescription should be discussed with your doctor. In addition, if you are allergic to certain treatment products, they should not be used.
Prevention of pain
There is no single therapeutic and prophylactic effect for all types of cervical spine pain. It is possible to protect your body from various causal factors in the onset of symptoms, perhaps only by adhering to a healthy lifestyle (excluding alcohol, smoking, etc. ) and an annual preventive examination by a therapist or specialist.