There are many reasons why the neck hurts, because this component of the human body, in turn, consists of many tissues and organs that not only organize the musculoskeletal system, but also other systems: respiratory, metabolic, sensory and other. Neck pain can also be caused by a slight manifestation of any inflammation, for example, an unexplained lymph node reaction.
The modern rhythm of life contributes even more to the emergence of this unpleasant symptom. Low mobility, ecological situation in the region, malnutrition, hidden systemic diseases - all this can lead to pain in the neck. Whether it is worth putting up with it or starting treatment urgently depends on what it signals.
How does the neck hurt?
The neck is a connecting ring, it is quite mobile and prone to various types of injuries for the same reason. If neck pains appear, this can be an accident caused by a sharp, clumsy movement, or it can be such a pattern that a person is already used to the fact that this part of the spine hurts. Much depends on the type of neck pain itself, because it can be so different that it is difficult to list its characteristics:
- sharp and unexpected pain (indicates cervicago - cervical low back pain, when the receptors of the nerve, which is sinovertebral, are compressed; in addition, this can 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;
- radiant pain: in the head, arm, sternum, collar, shoulders;
- pain in the neck, which occurs only when the head is moved, or is maintained even when the neck and all its muscles are in a calm and unused position;
- pain accompanied by numbness (can be caused by pinched nerve, herniated disc, disc prolapse);
- the neck sometimes hurts on the right, or left, or closer to the shoulder region or closer to the head.
Reasons why the 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, as a result, this leads to the fact that the treatment cannot actually be prescribed. However, the world practice of specialists in various fields of medicine presented 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 creak, clicking when turning the head, which cannot be confused with anything. If the treatment is not started in time, the fourth stage of the disease begins, which is fraught with the formation of bone growths, as a result of which the neck loses mobility.
muscle spasms
With muscle spasm resulting from an awkward or excessively abrupt rotation of the head to the right or left side. This often happens during injuries sustained in traffic accidents and the like. Neck pain disappears when this spasm is removed by various manipulations performed by a massage therapist, osteopath and manual therapy specialist. 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 extend into the upper region. Due to its appearance, the functional abilities of the nerve can be impaired, so patients often complain of numbness in the damaged area and adjacent departments.
Opera
The appearance of pain in the neck from monotonous work that a person is forced to do in one position, for example, sewing or sitting at the computer. Often in such cases, the neck begins to numb and at the same time hurts with a dull ache.
Tumors
Tumors localized both in the neck and in other organs, tissues, departments. For example, cancer of the lung, breast or prostate, kidney, thyroid, and other varieties can cause this symptom, not to mention cancers that occur in the neck itself. It can come and go, which should encourage a person to take a full exam.
Cervical myelopathy
It causes stenosis of the spinal canal in the neck, which is why it hurts. But the pain can spread not only to 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, the neck being particularly prominent. These are rheumatoid arthritis, infection, ankylosing spondylitis and others.
Muscle hypothermia
Hypothermia of the muscles that move the head. If a current of air 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 the moment, call a massage therapist to at least hear his opinion on this matter. But this does not mean that the massage is mandatory and when it is performed it will eliminate the pain in the neck. It is also possible that a specialist will not be able to prescribe treatment, because the problem will not be his profile. It will be necessary to hear the opinions of at least three doctors.
In each case, the treatment will be different. Sometimes it will be enough to do daily exercises and the symptom localized in the neck will go away on its own. With complex diagnoses, such as a tumor or stenosis or 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 has practically no choice.
For various types of injuries, treatment can be reduced to wearing orthopedic products such as a neck brace for some time. To make a person feel better, it is often prescribed to sleep in a particular position of the body and to use a special pillow, lying on which the neck assumes a correct position with respect to the body.
To break up the salt deposits in the cervical region, a treatment 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. Drugs will help cure or slow the development of the disease, support the regenerative forces of the body, aimed at fighting and diagnosing.
A massage therapist, a chiropractor, an osteopath are specialists who can help cope with the aforementioned symptom, if they are professionals in their field. Therefore, when neck pain occurs, patients turn to them more often. Sometimes a seemingly simple massage can increase blood circulation in the cervical region so well that not only this symptom, but the headache also disappears.
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.