There are a lot of 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 system and others. Neck pain can be caused by even a slight manifestation of any inflammation, for example, an unexplained reaction of the lymph node.
The modern rhythm of life all the more contributes to the emergence of this unpleasant symptom. Low mobility, the ecological situation in the region, malnutrition, hidden systemic diseases - all this can provoke pain in the neck. Whether it is worth enduring it or urgently starting treatment depends on what it signals.
How does the neck hurt?
The neck is a connecting link, it is quite mobile and prone to various kinds of injuries for the same reason. If pains appear in the neck, this may be an accident caused by a sharp and awkward movement, or it may be a pattern so much so that a person is already used to the fact that this part of the spine aches. Much depends on the type of neck pain itself, because it can be so different that it is difficult to list its characteristics:
- sharp unexpected 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 soreness of this area;
- radiating pain: in the head, arm, sternum, collar, shoulders;
- pain in the neck, which occurs only when moving the head, or is retained even when the neck and all its muscles are in an unused, calm position;
- pain accompanied by numbness (may be caused by pinched nerve, herniated disc, prolapsed disc);
- the neck sometimes hurts on the right, or on the 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, accordingly, this leads to the fact that treatment cannot actually be prescribed. Nevertheless, the world practice of specialists in various fields of medicine has put forward 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, clicking when turning the head, which cannot be confused with anything. If treatment is not started on time, the fourth stage of the disease sets in, which is fraught with the formation of bone growths, due to which the neck loses mobility.
muscle spasm
With muscle spasm arising from an awkward 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 removed by various manipulations carried out by a massage therapist, osteopath, and a 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 extending to the upper region. Due to its appearance, the functional abilities of the nerve may be impaired, so patients often complain about the numbness of the damaged area and adjacent departments.
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 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 and other varieties of it 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 examination.
Cervical myelopathy
It provokes stenosis of the spinal canal in the neck, which is why it hurts. But 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
Pain in the neck in this case can be a secondary symptom, but, nevertheless, quite noticeable and annoying.
Systemic diseases of the body
A symptom is pain in different parts of the musculoskeletal system, among which the neck is especially prominent. 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, 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 go away by itself 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 massage is mandatory and when it is performed, it will eliminate pain in the neck. 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 opinions of at least three doctors.
In each case, the treatment will be different. Sometimes it will be enough to do everyday exercises - and the symptom localized in the neck will go away on its own. 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 has practically no choice.
For various kinds of injuries, treatment can be reduced to wearing for some time, orthopedic products such as a corset for the neck. To make a person feel better, it is often prescribed to sleep in a particular position of the body and use a special pillow, lying on which, the neck assumes a position that is correct in relation to the body.
In order to break up salt deposits in the cervical region, treatment based on physical procedures, such as shock wave therapy or intensive massage of this zone, 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 body's regenerative forces, aimed at fighting and diagnosing.
A masseur, a chiropractor, an osteopath are specialists who can help to cope with the symptom mentioned above, if they are professionals in their field. Therefore, when pain occurs in the neck, 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, but also headaches will disappear.
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.