Almost everyone has experienced neck pain. They can be seen not only in adults but also in children. To get rid of unpleasant feelings, you must first find out the cause of neck pain and solve the problem based on it. This is not a simple pain, but it can be a sign of a more serious illness, so 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 for cervical back pain, 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 may be prolonged stay in one position, excessive tension, repetition of the same 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 the vertebrae, intervertebral discs, joints, ligaments. Neck pain can be the result of degenerative-dystrophic diseases. The most common pathologies in this group are osteochondrosis, spondyloarthritis, spondylolisthesis, stenosis and hernia.
- Pathology of internal organs. Anterior pain often occurs due to thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland). Any impact on the neck exacerbates this pain. Inflammation of the salivary glands, caries, tonsillitis, damage to the larynx and trachea can also cause neck pain.
- Tumors. Neoplasms can be a provocateur of severe neck pain. They are long enough. If the discomfort persists, you should see a doctor immediately.
- Injuries and other mechanical injuries. Another cause of pain in the spine in the neck is an injury. Even a small blow can cause damage to the cervical spine. When hit, the spine can move. If not done on time, the patient complains of pain in the front, right and left neck for no reason.
- Inflammatory processes. The pain may be due to arthritis, lupus, spondyloarthritis and Sharp syndrome. Occasionally there is pain and inflammation due to ankylosing spondylitis.
- Muscle corset pathologies. When the muscles in the shoulder and neck are spasmodic, trigger points and small lumps appear in the neck.
- Infectious diseases. These pathologies generally include tuberculosis, meningitis, zonal and osteomyelitis.
- Results of the operation.
Symptoms of diseases that cause pain in the shoulders and neck may not appear for years or may always be present. Therefore, it is important to undergo regular examinations in medical institutions.
There are causes of neck pain that only affect children. If a child has a sore neck, these are usually very serious illnesses. These include torticollis, tetanus, mumps, polio, young rheumatoid arthritis.
Diagnostics
If you have cervical spine pain to find out the cause of the discomfort, it is important to consult a specialist as soon as the first symptoms appear. Your therapist or pediatrician will refer you to a narrower specialist after the initial examination and, depending on the nature of the pain.
They often consult a neurologist or chiropractor. If neck pain is the cause of a mechanical injury, then consult a traumatologist. Orthopedics may be used for neck pain or torticollis in children. If they are worried about left neck pain, they are sent to a cardiologist, but there are no problems with the work of the arms and legs. An otolaryngologist should be consulted if neck pain occurs and is suspected to cause sore throat or lymph node inflammation.
The doctor first palpates to determine the origin of the pain in the front, back, right or left neck. Based on the results of this examination, the specialist decides what diagnosis to make and prescribes treatment.
When there is pain when shaking the head, bending forward and backward, it indicates that the first vertebra is damaged. If you experience discomfort when bending to the sides or turning your neck, the problem is most likely in the second vertebra.
If the patient is concerned about severe pain in the cervical spine, an experienced specialist can easily determine the cause. Because the focus of the pain may be too far from the site of manifestation, the most accurate diagnosis is made when the throbbing pain in the left neck is disturbing.
Based on the results of the initial examination, your doctor may refer you for additional diagnostic procedures. These include blood and urine tests, ultrasound, MRI, X-ray, tomogram, cardiogram, electroeurogram. 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 can tell you how the patient will get rid of neck pain after going through all the diagnostic procedures. You should not self-medicate, as pain can have different etiologies and treatment approaches will be different.
A neurologist or physiotherapist will prescribe treatment for the cervical spine. These specialists can refer you to a chiropractor if needed. It is generally recommended to take a course of medication, physiotherapy and massage. If the neck hurts a lot and treatment with medication, physiotherapy and massage does not help, surgery is performed.
Non-surgical treatment
Treatment should be comprehensive to eliminate cervical back pain quickly and effectively. Generally, the patient is prescribed the following non-surgical treatment for cervical low back pain:
- drug treatment;
- orthopedic methods;
- reflexology;
- ultrasound treatment;
- laser therapy;
- therapeutic massage, osteopathy;
- physiotherapy.
Drug treatment is treatment with ointments, tablets, injections. Aims to relieve pain and associated unpleasant symptoms.
If a sharp pain in the neck is caused by osteochondrosis, in addition to painkillers, muscle relaxants are prescribed. In severe cases, corticosteroids may be prescribed due to acute neck pain.
If you have severe neck pain, plugs are used to relieve the symptom.
Orthopedic methods include wearing a collar. Its fixation can be both soft and hard. More often, such treatment is prescribed when the neck is constantly in pain or injury.
If preventive measures are not continued at the end of the course of treatment, neck pain may reappear in both adults and children.
Reflexology is an electric shock for pain in the cervical spine. Separate regular acupuncture and electroacupuncture.
If there is pain in the neck muscles, the ultrasound effect has an antispasmodic effect, and the effect of the drug during phonophoresis increases several times.
Laser therapy has a calming effect on inflamed skin. If the neck hurts, a qualified specialist will explain how to treat this method.
If the neck hurts from the side, left or right, massage will be useful. Therapeutic massage is recommended at least twice a year. This procedure relieves stress and eliminates some of the causes of unpleasant symptoms.
Physiotherapy exercises (exercise therapy) are aimed at the correct distribution of the load during cervical back pain. In addition, there is an increase in the elongation and mobility of certain muscle groups.
In addition to formal medications to relieve neck symptoms, informal medicine can also be used to heal the back of the head and the rest of the cervical region.
Surgical treatment
Sometimes it is impossible to do without surgery. How is neck pain treated in this situation? Surgical conditions include hernias, spinal cord or spinal cord compression, and mechanical injury.
The operation involves simply removing areas of the vertebrae that interfere with the normal functioning and functioning of the spine. In some cases, it is possible to perform the operation using a laser.
Surgery can cause complications or accidents, so doctors first try different treatments.
It is important to know that if the doctor sees that other methods do not work, he will suggest a surgical solution to solve the problem. Therefore, treatment should not be delayed for a long time, especially if the disease is detected at an early stage.
Prophylaxis
Self-massage is recommended to rule out the cause of neck pain, such as inactivity and restlessness. How to treat neck pain in this way will be advised by a masseur or other specialist who comes in contact with neck pain.
It will be useful to do light exercise during working hours. You need to take regular breaks to get your neck muscles back to normal. Cervical back pain can occur with a long wrong position or tension.
A pillow and mattress for the bed should be orthopedic. They will relieve stress on the spine during the day.
Massage twice a year will reduce the chances of going to the doctor for neck pain. A professional massage therapist can eliminate the cause of chronic neck pain on the right, front and left during the course.
To rule out serious illness, you need to determine what causes damage to your neck. It is important to keep the neck warm, to protect it from drafts. Proper posture is no longer possible, especially for children.