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 others. Neck pain can be caused by even a mild manifestation of any inflammation, for example, an inexplicable reaction of a lymph node.
The modern rhythm of life increasingly contributes to the emergence of this unpleasant symptom. Poor mobility, environmental situation in the region, malnutrition, hidden systemic diseases - all of these can cause neck pain. Whether it's worth holding out or starting treatment immediately depends on what it signals.
How does your neck hurt?
The neck is a connecting link, it is quite mobile and susceptible to various types of injuries for the same reason. If pain appears in the neck, it can be an accident caused by a sharp and unpleasant movement, or it is a pattern so much that the person is already used to pain in this part of the spine. Much depends on the type of neck pain itself, because it can be so different that it is difficult to specify its characteristics:
- sharp unexpected pain (indicates cervicago - cervical lumbago, when the receptors of the sinuvertebral nerve are compressed; in addition, it can be an indication of muscle spasm or neuralgia);
- aching pain in the neck (occurs with muscle numbness, overwork, problems with the cervical spine, for example, with ligaments);
- occasional neck pain for inexplicable reasons;
- constant pain in this area;
- radiating pain: in head, arm, sternum, collarbone, shoulders;
- pain in the neck, which occurs only when moving the head, or persists even when the neck and all its muscles are in an unused, quiet position;
- pain accompanied by stiffness (can be caused by pinched nerve, disc herniation, disc prolapse);
- the neck sometimes hurts on the right, or on the left, or closer to the shoulder area, 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, accordingly, this leads to the fact that treatment cannot actually be prescribed. Nevertheless, the world practice of experts from 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 creaking, clicking when turning the head, which cannot be confused with anything. If the treatment is not started on time, the fourth stage of the disease occurs, which is full of the formation of bone growths, due to which the neck loses mobility.
muscle spasm
With muscle spasm caused by awkward or overly sharp turning of the head to the right or left side. This often happens with 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 may pass without consequences on its own.
Intervertebral hernia
They do not arise in the neck, but in the shoulder area, but extend to the upper region. Due to its appearance, the functional capabilities of the nerve may be impaired, so patients often complain of numbness in the damaged area and neighboring departments.
Work
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 a computer. Often in such cases, the neck begins to tingle, and at the same time, it hurts with a dull pain.
Tumors
Tumors localized both in the neck and in other organs, tissues, departments. For example, cancer of the lung, breast or prostate, kidney, thyroid gland and other types of it can cause this symptom, not to mention tumors that occur in the neck itself. It can come and go, which should prompt a person to do a complete checkup.
Cervical myelopathy
It provokes stenosis of the spinal canal in the neck, which is why it hurts. But the pain can spread not only in this area. The 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
The symptom is pain in various 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 the draft has passed through the neck, then it hurts so much that it becomes very difficult to make any movements 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 disappear by itself is the worst option. Be sure to consult one of the specialists: rheumatologist, osteopath, oncologist, therapist, surgeon, traumatologist, orthopedist, neurologist.
If it is not possible to see a doctor at the moment, call the massage therapist to at least hear his opinion on this matter. But this does not mean that massage is mandatory and when it is performed it will eliminate neck pain. It is also possible that one specialist will not be able to prescribe treatment, because the problem will not be his profile. It will be necessary to hear the opinion of at least three doctors.
Either way, the treatment will be different. Sometimes it will be enough to do daily exercises - and the symptom localized in the neck will disappear by itself. With complex diagnoses, such as a tumor or stenosis, or a herniated disc, the pain will not go away until surgical treatment is applied. In this case, the question of whether to perform the operation is not even worth it: the person practically has no choice.
For various types of injuries, treatment can be reduced to wearing orthopedic products such as a neck brace for a while. In order for a person to feel better, it is often prescribed to sleep in a certain body position and use a special pillow, lying on which the neck takes the correct position in relation to the body.
To break up salt deposits in the cervical region, a treatment based on physical procedures, such as shock wave therapy or intensive massage of this area, can be prescribed.
The use of drug therapy is appropriate when it comes to systemic or infectious diseases that cause pain in the cervical region. Medicines will help to cure or slow down the development of the disease, support the regenerative powers of the body, aimed at fighting and diagnosing.
Masseur, chiropractor, osteopath are experts who can help to deal with the above symptom, if they are professionals in their field. Therefore, when neck pain occurs, patients most often turn 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 headache.
In any case, in case of neck pain, in order not to recur, it is necessary to start treatment and take care of your health.