There are many reasons why the neck hurts, because this component of the human body, in turn, consists of many tissues and organs that organize not only the musculoskeletal system, but also other systems: respiratory, metabolic, sensory, and others. Neck pain can be caused by even a mild manifestation of any inflammation, for example, an unexplained lymph node reaction.
The modern pace of life further contributes to the appearance of this unpleasant symptom. Low mobility, the ecological situation in the region, malnutrition, hidden systemic diseases - all this can lead to pain in the neck. Whether it's worth enduring or starting urgent treatment depends on what you say.
How does the neck hurt?
The neck is a connecting link, it is quite mobile and prone to various types of injuries for the same reason. If pains appear in the neck, this can be an accident caused by a sudden and clumsy movement, or it can be a pattern so much so that a person is already used to this part of the spine hurting. Much depends on the type of neck pain itself, because it can be so different that it is difficult to list its features:
- unexpected sharp pain (indicates cervicago - cervical lumbago, when the receptors of the nerve, which is sinuvertebral, are compressed; in addition, this may be an indicator of muscle spasm or neuralgia);
- aching pain in the neck (occurs with muscle numbness, overwork, problems with the cervical spine, for example, with ligaments);
- periodically the neck hurts for unexplained reasons;
- constant pain of this area;
- radiating pain: in the head, arm, sternum, neck, shoulders;
- pain in the neck, which occurs only when the head is moved, or is retained even when the neck and all its muscles are in a calm, unused position;
- pain accompanied by numbness (may be caused by pinched nerve, herniated disc, prolapsed disc);
- the neck sometimes hurts to the right, or to the left, or closer to the shoulder region, or closer to the head.
Reasons why your neck hurts
Neck pain can be caused by many factors of mechanical and non-mechanical origin. There are cases when they cannot be explained at all, and consequently this leads to the fact that the treatment cannot actually be prescribed. However, the world practice of specialists in various fields of medicine has come up with a list of the most common reasons why the neck hurts, and not another part of the spine.
Formation of large salt deposits in the neck.
Evidence of diseases such as osteochondrosis and osteoarthritis. These diseases cause not only pain, but also a crunch, a click when turning the head, which cannot be confused with anything. If treatment is not started on time, the fourth stage of the disease begins, which is fraught with the formation of bone growths, due to which the neck loses mobility.
muscle spasm
With muscle spasm resulting from a clumsy or excessively sharp turn of the head to the right or left side. This often happens during injuries sustained in car accidents and the like. Neck pain disappears when this spasm is eliminated by various manipulations performed by a masseur, an osteopath and a specialist in manual therapy. But, in principle, if the spasm was not strong, the symptom can pass without consequences on its own.
intervertebral hernia
They arise not in the neck, but in the shoulder region, but spread to the upper region. Due to its appearance, the functional abilities of the nerve may be impaired, so patients often complain of numbness of the damaged area and adjacent departments.
To work
The appearance of pain in the neck from the monotonous work that a person is forced to do in one position, for example, sewing or sitting at a computer. Often in such cases the neck begins to numb and at the same time aches with a dull ache.
tumors
Tumors located both in the neck and in other organs, tissues, departments. For example, cancer of the lung, breast or prostate, kidney, thyroid and other varieties of the same can cause this symptom, not to mention tumors that occur in the neck itself. It can come and go, which should encourage a person to do a full exam.
cervical myelopathy
It causes stenosis of the spinal canal in the neck, so it hurts. But the pain can spread not only in this area. Symptoms have a wide range of manifestations, and the treatment of such a disease is quite complex and has consequences.
Polymyalgia rheumatica or fibromyalgia
Neck pain in this case can be a secondary symptom, but nevertheless quite noticeable and annoying.
Systemic diseases of the body.
One symptom is pain in different parts of the musculoskeletal system, especially the neck. These are rheumatoid arthritis, infection, ankylosing spondylitis, and others.
muscle hypothermia
Hypothermia of the muscles that move the head. If a draft has passed through the neck, it hurts so much that it becomes very difficult to make any movement with it, in other cases it is almost unbearable.
What to do if the neck hurts a lot
The neck performs important functions for the body, its damage can lead to instant death, so if it hurts, doing nothing and waiting for the pain to go away on its own is the worst option. You should definitely get a consultation from one of the specialists: rheumatologist, osteopath, oncologist, therapist, surgeon, traumatologist, orthopedist, neurologist.
If it is not possible to visit a doctor at this time, then call a masseur to at least hear his opinion on this matter. But this does not mean that massage is mandatory and when done, it will eliminate pain in the neck. It is also possible that a specialist will not be able to prescribe the treatment, because the problem will not be your profile. It will be necessary to listen to the opinions of at least three doctors.
In each case, the treatment will be different. Sometimes it will be enough to do exercises every day, and the symptom located in the neck will disappear on its own. With complex diagnoses, such as a tumor or stenosis, or a herniated disc, the pain does not go away until surgical treatment is applied. In this case, the question of whether to carry out the operation is not even worth it - the person practically has no choice.
For many types of injuries, treatment may be reduced to wearing orthopedic products such as a neck brace for a period of time. In order for a person to feel better, it is often prescribed to sleep in a particular position of the body and use a special pillow, on which the neck assumes a correct position relative to the body.
To break up salt deposits in the cervical region, treatments based on physical procedures, such as shock wave therapy or intensive massage of this area, may be prescribed.
The use of drug therapy is appropriate when dealing with systemic or infectious diseases that cause pain in the cervical region. Medicines will help cure or slow down the development of the disease, support the regenerative forces of the body, aimed at combating and diagnosing.
A massage therapist, a chiropractor, an osteopath are specialists who can help cope with the above mentioned symptom, if they are professionals in their field. Therefore, when neck pain occurs, patients often resort to them. Sometimes a seemingly simple massage can increase blood circulation in the cervical region so well that not only this symptom will disappear, but also the headaches.
In any case, with pain in the neck, so that they do not recur, you need to start treatment and take care of your health.