Several important musculoskeletal, nerve and arterial plexuses pass through the cervical regions. Various types of neck pain due to mechanical stress or neurological damage. In addition, neck injuries can occur after prolonged static stress. Let us consider the most likely conditionsConsider what provides pain in the cervical spine, establish the symptoms and signs of neurological diseases, and also determine how to get rid of pain with the most effective methods of treatment at home.
Reason - Why does neck hurt?
The cervical spine consists of seven vertebrae, the seventh of which is distinguished from other osteoarticular segments of the spine by its greatest mobility. In addition, the delicate intervertebral cervical regions are constantly under strong pressure from the heavy head, and therefore the cervical spine, All the prerequisites for pain in the shoulder girdle and back are created. The anatomical cervical structures are not only muscles and ligaments, articular cartilage, nerve fibers and vascular plexus, but also other life support organs - larynx, esophagus, trachea, lymphNodes and thyroid gland. Any regional inflammation or injury causes pain of varying degrees in the neck.
Thus, it is possible to conditionally divide why there is pain in the cervical spine:
- mechanical injuries of the back and neck;
- systemic diseases of vital organs;
- defeat by infectious agents;
- degenerative changes of the spinal cord area;
- Symptoms of reflective pain;
- The result of a qualitative change in life or work.
Neurological pathologies that determine the cause-and-effect relationship, why back muscles hurt, and why spinal pain occurs in the neck include:
- deformity of the vertebral discs;
- intervertebral hernia;
- spinal cord compression;
- Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
Systemic etiology, why neck injuries can occur:
- psoriatic or rheumatoid arthritis;
- fibromyalgia;
- neuropathy of a diabetic nature;
- Tumor formation of a benign or malignant nature.
If an infectious lesion causes great pain in the neck, the following clinic is prescribed:
- Meningitis;
- An acute or chronic form of thyroiditis explains why there is pain in the front neck;
- tuberculosis;
- It hurts to swallow, and sometimes hurts in the neck and ears with inflammation of the cervical lymph nodes - lymphadenitis.
Other etiological factors include:
- inactive lifestyle;
- excessive overstrain of muscle areas;
- nervous exhaustion;
- Improper arrangement of sleeping place, when neck pain occurs even after orthopedic pillows.
In addition, there is persistent pain in the neck, such as after a minor cervical injury, for example, after an accident in an accident, a fall or a collision.
The causes of neck pain may accompany alcohol syndrome. After drinking a lot of alcohol, there is also intense pain in the cervical vertebrae, often radiating to the ears, head (at the base of the skull and temples).
Symptoms
If neck pain occurs due to osteochondrosis or its complex neurological pathology (intervertebral hernia), then pain symptoms are expressed as follows:
- the pain begins to give in the form of aching or pulling of the cervical vertebrae to the sides;
- There is severe pain in the back and neck, especially in the area of the collarbone;
- Tilt and / or turn the head provides acute or sharp pain in the cervical regions;
- difficulty swallowing;
- there is a strong rigidity of movements;
- Along with pain, there are common symptoms of cervicitis.
With an infectious lesion of the cervical regions of the spine, discomfort is expressed by the following symptoms:
- Local increase in temperature is accompanied by cold of the neck, the temperature is 37 ° and above;
- due to metabolic disorders, sometimes there is pain in the abdomen;
- metabolic processes affect the work of the gastrointestinal tract (the stomach may be sick, sometimes nausea and vomiting appear);
- Neck damage may be expressed by tonic muscle syndrome;
- There is irritability and rapid fatigue in the body.
Often, the painful symptoms affect a teenager or young child, in the case of cervical lymphadenitis or parotitis, when the salivary glands of the ear become inflamed. A younger patient may experience pain behind the ear, difficulty swallowing andIt hurts at the base of the skull, while the neck hurts not only from the side, but also along the entire circumference. Parents should pay attention to the clarity of the contours of the cervix, which are noticeably modified, they are swollenGo, and on palpation, a slight compaction of the skin is felt. It is not difficult to draw a conclusion.
The listed symptoms of possible complications provoked by painful cervical attacks seem very frightening to an unknown person, so you should not engage in self-diagnosis, but you should immediately consult a doctor. Often, these pain symptoms in women. Most actively manifested during pregnancy. Only a qualified specialist will determine what to do with neck pain and how to treat this or that clinical pathology.
What to do?
Excluding all possible clinical pathologies of neck pain, we will consider methods of treatment of the most common neurological problem - osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
The classical medical definition of a neurological condition is a degenerative-dystrophic lesion of the articular cartilage of the cervical-movable segment of the spine. It is possible to correct the condition with medication, physiotherapy methods, special exercises, massage and treatment with folk remedies at home. In case of acute exacerbation, anti-inflammatory and analgesic pharmacological treatments are used.
After completing the mandatory treatment course with drugs, complex rehabilitation therapy at home can be continued.
neck gymnastics
The main rule when performing physiotherapy exercises for the cervical spine is unhindered, slow and smooth movements. The medical and rehabilitation complex includes the following simple physical exercises:
- You should start by tilting the head back and forth, with a gradual increase in amplitude. 3-5 times is enough for the first session.
- The next exercise is circular motion and turns the neck to the right and left.
- The next exercise will take some effort. A gymnastic stick is placed under the chin, and with force you should press it as hard as possible. The exercise is performed 2-3 times.
Meditation!In the event that the pain in the neck spreads to the arm, shoulder girdle or clavicle, the exercise should be stopped and notify the attending physician.
Massage therapy is also an effective way to relieve pain in the cervical vertebrae. Therapeutic and prophylactic measures are aimed at restoring blood circulation and weakening muscle spasms. The massage therapist begins treatment with light stroking movements along the neck. However, you should not go too far to exercise your neck and rub it too vigorously, as sometimes the neck hurts after the massage, which is not always a sign of quality.
Pain relief according to the method of pedagogy
To combat pain in cervical osteochondrosis there is a special author's method, developed by an academician. As a functional solution, a conventional pencil is used, which acts on the so-called cervical region, which is calledRepresented in the region of the thumb. This region is located between the palmar fold and the superior articular fold of the thumb. The author calls the distance between these segments the cervical space. Until the appearance of stagnant heat, up to the projection of the cervical spine, onePain is relieved by intense rubbing with a pencil. Such a treatment and prophylactic procedure can be carried out in almost any situation even outside the home. Some medical experts disapprove of the effectiveness of this method, however, this developmentMany patients who use it believe that such a procedure brings some relief.
What to do at home?
To relieve muscle tension, ensure healthy blood flow in the cervical canals, facilitate the work of the articular elements of the spine, the following home recipes will allow:
- Salt baths containing magnesium sulfate are an effective way of relaxing for tight areas of the neck.
- Decoction of pine buds. 200 ml of water is taken for 100 g of forest product. The whole composition is brought to a boil, and kept for 4-5 hours in a dark place. Healing medicine is used as a cervical compress. is done as.
- A decoction of dill seeds and/or parsley root is very helpful. It is quite easy to make the medicine at home. For 50 grams of any herbal product, you should take a glass of boiling water. Healing broth 1-1. Infused for 5 hours, after which it is used for internal or external use.
- Rubbing alcohol based on iodine and camphor oil. For 200 ml of 96% alcohol, 10 drops of iodine and the same amount of camphor oil are taken. The medicinal product is mixed and in the form of a compress for the neckis used in.
- An equally effective way to eliminate pain is a mixture of 150 ml of vodka and 100 ml of natural honey.
- You can make healing recipes at home with grated potatoes and honey. The "uniform" consists of boiled hot potatoes mixed with a spoonful of honey. This lozenge should be applied to the swollen area of the neck.
It is important to knowThat any compress gives a therapeutic effect only after 30-40 minutes.
The given examples of traditional medicine are suitable only in the initial stage of osteochondrosis. In case of increasing symptoms, for example, a herniated intervertebral cervical disc, the proposed recipes should be agreed with the attending physician. Also, if on some treatment productsThey should not be used if there is an allergic dependence.
pain prevention
There is no single therapeutic and prophylactic action against all types of pain in the cervical spine. It is possible to protect your body from various causal factors for the onset of symptomatic manifestations, perhaps only if a healthy lifestyle (alcohol, smoking, etc. ) is followed. except) and annual preventive examination by a physician or specialist.