Many vital musculoskeletal, nervous, and arterial plexuses pass through the cervical regions. Various types of neck pain caused by mechanical stress or neurological damage. Also, the neck may ache after prolonged static stress. We will consider the situations most likely to cause pain in the cervical spine, establish the symptoms and signs of neurological disorders, 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 spine consists of seven vertebrae, the seventh of which is distinguished by its greater mobility from other osteoarticular segments of the spine. Furthermore, the fragile cervical intervertebral regions are constantly under heavy pressure from the heavy head and therefore all prerequisites are created for pain in the cervical spine, shoulder girdle and back. The cervical anatomical structure is not just muscles and ligaments, articular cartilage, nerve fibers and vascular plexuses, but also other life-supporting organs - the larynx, esophagus, trachea, lymph nodes and thyroid gland. Any inflammation or regional damage causes varying degrees of pain in the neck.
Thus, it is possible to 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;
- reflex pain symptoms;
- the result of a qualitative change in life or work.
The neurological pathologies that determine the cause-and-effect relationship, why the back muscles hurt, and why the neck spine hurts include:
- state of deformation of the vertebral discs;
- intervertebral hernia;
- spinal nerve compression;
- 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 a lot due to an infectious injury, 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 ache with inflammation of the cervical lymph nodes - lymphadenitis.
Other etiological factors include:
- passive lifestyle;
- excessive overtension of muscle regions;
- nervous exhaustion;
- improper arrangement of a sleeping place when the neck hurts even after an orthopedic pillow.
Also, the neck constantly hurts after seemingly insignificant cervical bruises, for example, after an accident in an accident, after a fall or collision.
The causes of sore throat can occur with alcohol syndrome. After drinking a lot of alcohol, there is also sharp pain in the cervical vertebrae, which usually radiates to the ear, head (base of the skull and temples).
Symptoms
If the neck hurts due to osteochondrosis or its complicating neurological pathology (intervertebral hernia), the pain symptoms are expressed as follows:
- pain begins to give painfully or pulling on the sides of the cervical vertebrae;
- the back and neck hurt violently, especially in the collarbone area;
- tilting and/or turning the head causes sharp or sharp pain in the cervical regions;
- has difficulty swallowing;
- there is a strong rigidity of movement;
- 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 rise in temperature with a cold, a temperature of 37° and above;
- due to metabolic disturbances, abdominal pain sometimes occurs;
- metabolic processes affect the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract (the stomach can get sick, nausea and vomiting sometimes appear);
- neck damage may be expressed by tonic muscle syndrome;
- there is increased irritability and rapid fatigue in the body.
Painful symptoms often affect an adolescent or young child, in the case of cervical lymphadenitis or mumps, when the salivary glands in the ear become inflamed. A small patient begins to ache behind the ear, with difficulty swallowing and radiating pain into the base of the skull, while the neck hurts not only on the side but also along the entire periphery. Parents should pay attention to the clarity of the cervical contours, which are visibly modified, swell and, upon palpation, a slight skin compaction is noted. It is not difficult to draw a conclusion.
The listed symptoms of possible complications from painful neck attacks seem very frightening to an uninformed person, so you should not self-diagnose, but should see a doctor right away. These pain symptoms often manifest themselves most actively during pregnancy in women. Only a qualified specialist will determine what to do with neck pain and how to treat this or that clinical condition.
What to do?
Excluding all possible clinical pathologies of cervical pain, we will consider methods of treating the most common neurological problem - osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
The classic medical definition of a neuralgic state is a degenerative-dystrophic lesion of the articular cartilage of the cervical mobile segment of the spine. It is possible to correct the situation with medication, physiotherapy methods, special exercises, massage and treatment with folk remedies at home. In case of severe exacerbation, pharmacological anti-inflammatory and analgesic treatments are used.
After completing the mandatory course of drug treatment, complex rehabilitation therapy can be continued at home.
neck gym
The main rule of thumb in performing physiotherapeutic exercises for the cervical spine is unhurried, slow, and gentle movements. The medical and rehabilitation complex consists of the following simple physical exercises:
- You should start by tilting your head back and forth with a gradual increase in range. Enough for the first session 3-5 times.
- The next exercise consists of circular motions and neck turns to the right and left.
- The next exercise will take some effort. A gymnastic stick is placed under the chin and you must press it as hard as possible. The exercise is performed 2-3 times.
Attention!If the pain in the neck radiates to the arm, shoulder girdle or collarbone, the exercise should be stopped and the treating physician notified.
Massage treatments are also an effective way to relieve cervical vertebra pain. The aim of the therapeutic and prophylactic measure is to restore blood circulation and weaken muscle spasm. The massage therapist should start the treatment with light movements along the neck. However, don't get too carried away, 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 according to the academic method
There is a special method by the author for dealing with pain in cervical osteochondrosis, developed by an academic. As a functional solution, a conventional pencil is used, which acts in the so-called cervical region, represented in the region of the thumb. This area is located between the palmar crease and the superior articular crease of the thumb. The distance between these segments, the author calls the cervical space. Pain is relieved by intense rubbing with a pencil, until stable heat appears, the projection of the cervical spine. This treatment and prophylactic procedure can be performed in almost any condition, 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 healthy blood flow 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 form of relaxation for cramped cervical areas.
- A decoction of pine buds. For 100 grams of forest product, 200 ml of water is taken. The entire composition is brought to a boil and kept for another 4–5 hours in a dark place. The curative medicine is used as a cervical compress.
- Dill seed and/or parsley root decoctions are very useful. Making home remedies is easy enough. For 50 grams of any of the herbal products, you should take a glass of boiling water. The curing broth is infused for 1–1. 5 hours, after which it is used for internal or external use.
- Iodine-based isopropyl alcohol and camphor oil. For 200 ml of 96% alcohol, 10 drops of iodine and the same amount of camphor oil are taken. The medicine is mixed and used as a neck compress.
- An equally effective way of eliminating pain is a mixture of 150 ml of vodka and 100 ml of natural honey.
- You can make a homemade cure recipe with grated potatoes and honey. Hot potatoes cooked in "uniforms" are ground with the addition of a tablespoon of honey. This lozenge should be applied to the inflamed area of the neck.
It's important to know,that any compresses give a therapeutic effect only after 30-40 minutes.
The examples given from traditional medicine are only suitable for the early stage of osteochondrosis. In the case of aggravating symptoms, eg a herniated cervical intervertebral disc, the proposed prescriptions should be agreed with the treating physician. Also, if there is an allergic dependence to certain treatment products, they should not be used.
pain prevention
There is no single therapeutic and prophylactic action against all types of pain in the cervical spine. It is possible to protect your body from various factors causing the appearance of symptomatic manifestations, perhaps only if a healthy lifestyle is observed (excluding alcohol, smoking, etc. ) and an annual preventive exam by a therapist or specialized specialist.