Almost everyone has experienced neck pain. They can appear not only in adults but also in children. To get rid of the discomfort, you must first find the cause of the neck pain and solve the problem accordingly. As this is a symptom of a more serious illness and not a simple pain, it is important to see a doctor in time.
Causes of neck pain
Cervical discomfort is one of the most common complaints of patients. There may be several reasons why cervical spine pain can be fixed, but each is divided into several groups:
- Non-specific factors. The cause of pain in the neck and back of the head can be a long stay in one position, overexertion, repetition of the same type of movements, hypothermia, overweight, stress. They may appear after a night’s sleep in poor condition 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 a consequence of degenerative-dystrophic diseases. The most common pathologies in this group are osteochondrosis, spondyloarthrosis, spondylolisthesis, stenosis, and hernia.
- Pathology of internal organs. Anterior pain is often caused by inflammation of the thyroid gland (inflammation of the thyroid gland). This pain is aggravated by any effect on the neck. Inflammation of the salivary glands, tooth decay, tonsillitis, damage to the larynx and trachea can also cause neck pain.
- Tumors. Tumors can be provocateurs of severe neck pain. They are quite long. If the discomfort persists, consult a doctor immediately.
- Injury and other mechanical damage. Another reason why the spine hurts in the neck is an injury. Even a small blow can damage the cervical spine. When struck, the vertebrae can be moved. If they are not placed in place in time, the patient will complain that there is no pain in the front, right or left of the neck for no apparent reason.
- Inflammatory processes. Pain can occur due to arthritis, lupus, spondyloarthritis, and Sharp syndrome. Sometimes inflammation occurs with pain caused by ankylosing spondylitis.
- Muscle corset pathologies. Triggering points, tiny lumps in the neck, appear when the muscles of the shoulders and neck are spasmodic.
- Infectious diseases. These pathologies usually include tuberculosis, meningitis, shingles, and osteomelitis.
- Consequences of the operation.
Symptoms of painful conditions in the shoulders and neck may not occur for years or may be present continuously. Therefore, it is important to conduct regular examinations in health care institutions.
There are only causes of neck pain that affect children. If a child’s neck hurts, they are usually very serious illnesses. These include torticollis, tetanus, mumps, polio, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
Diagnostics
To find out the cause of the discomfort, if the cervical spine hurts, it is important to consult a specialist immediately when the first symptoms appear. Your therapist or pediatrician will refer you to a narrower specialist after the first examination and depending on the nature of the pain.
They are most often referred to a neurologist or chiropractor. If painful neck pain is caused by mechanical injuries, a referral should be sent to a traumatologist. Children with neck pain or torticollis may turn to an orthopedist. They are referred to a cardiologist if they are worried about left neck pain, but there is no problem with the function of the arms and legs. The ear-nose throat should be consulted if prolonged neck pain occurs and is suspected to be due to sore throat or inflammation of the lymph nodes.
To determine the origin of anterior, posterior, right, or left neck pain, the doctor first probes. Based on the results of the test, the practitioner will decide what diagnosis to make and prescribe treatment.
When pain occurs when the head nods, back and forth bending, this indicates damage to the first vertebra. If you experience discomfort when bending to the side or twisting your neck, the problem is probably in your second vertebra.
If the patient is concerned about severe pain in the cervical spine, an experienced professional can easily determine the cause. Because the focus of the pain may be far from the site of manifestation, including when the throbbing pain in the left neck is disturbing, the most detailed diagnosis is made.
Based on the results of the first test, your doctor may refer you for further diagnostic procedures. These include blood and urine tests, ultrasound scans, MRI, x-rays, tomograms, cardiograms, electron neurograms. The results of these procedures are important to answer the question of how to treat pain in the neck and neck area.
Treatment of neck pain
The practitioner will be able to tell you how to get rid of the neck pain after the patient has completed all the diagnostic procedures. It should not be self-medicated as the pain may have different etiologies and treatment methods may be different.
A neurologist or physiotherapist prescribes treatment for the cervical spine. These professionals can refer you to a chiropractor if needed. Medication, physiotherapy and massage are usually recommended. If the neck hurts a lot and medication, physiotherapy and massage do not help, surgery will be performed.
Non-surgical treatment
To relieve cervical spine pain quickly and effectively, treatment should be comprehensive. The patient is usually prescribed the following non-surgical treatment for cervical spine pain:
- drug therapy;
- orthopedic methods;
- reflexology;
- ultrasound therapy;
- laser therapy;
- therapeutic massage, osteopathy;
- physiotherapy.
Drug therapy is treatment with ointments, tablets, injections. Its purpose is to eliminate pain and related unpleasant symptoms.
If acute neck pain is caused by osteochondrosis, muscle relaxants are prescribed in addition to painkillers. In severe cases of acute neck pain, corticosteroids may be prescribed.
In the case of severe neck pain, blockages are used to relieve the symptom.
Orthopedic methods involve wearing the collar. Fixing can be soft or hard. More often, such treatment is prescribed if the neck is constantly sore or has been injured.
If preventive measures are not continued at the end of treatment, neck pain may recur in both adults and children.
Reflexology is an electric shock for cervical spine pain. Order standard acupuncture and electroacupuncture.
The effect of ultrasound is antispasmodic if the neck muscles are sore and the effect of the drug increases several times during phonophoresis.
Laser therapy has a calming effect on the inflamed skin surface. If your neck hurts, a qualified professional will explain how to treat this method.
Also, if the neck hurts from the side, left or right, a massage will be helpful. Therapeutic massage is recommended at least 2 times a year. This procedure relieves stress and eliminates some of the causes of the unpleasant symptom.
The goal of physiotherapy exercises (training therapy) is to distribute the load correctly during pain in the cervical spine. In addition, there is stretching and increased mobility of certain muscle groups.
In addition to official medications to relieve neck symptoms, informal medicine can also be used to treat the back of the head and the rest of the neck region.
Treatment with surgery
There are cases where it is impossible without surgery. How is neck pain treated in this case? Treatable situations include compression of the hernia, spinal cord, or spinal root, and mechanical injury.
The operation results from the simple removal of areas of the vertebrae that interfere with the normal functioning and work of the spinal cord. In some cases, it is possible to perform an operation with a laser.
Surgery can lead to complications or accidents, so doctors initially try different treatments.
It is important to know that your doctor will only offer a workable solution to your problem if you see that other methods are not producing positive results. Therefore, treatment should not be delayed for a long time, especially if the disease is detected at an early stage.
Prophylaxis
To rule out a cause of neck pain such as inactivity and discomfort, self-massage is recommended. The method of treating neck pain with this method will be advised by a masseur or other professional who has been contacted for neck pain.
Easy training during working hours can be helpful. You need to take regular breaks to keep your neck muscles working. Prolonged misalignment or tension can cause pain in the cervical spine.
The pillow and mattress used for sleeping should be orthopedic. They relieve the load on the spine throughout the day.
Massage twice a year reduces the likelihood of seeing a doctor for neck pain. A professional massage therapist can remove the cause of chronic neck pain on the right, front and left side of the course.
To rule out serious illnesses, you need to determine the cause of the neck pain. It is important to keep your neck warm, you need to protect it from drafts. Adherence to proper posture will not be unnecessary, especially for children.