Many vital musculoskeletal, nerve, and arterial plexuses pass through the regions of the cervix. Different types of neck pain, caused by mechanical stress or neurological damage. In addition, the neck can be injured after prolonged static stress. Let's examine the most likely situations that offer cervical back pain, determine the symptoms and signs of neurological disease, and also determine how to get rid of pain with the most effective treatment methods, including at home.
Reasons - why does the neck hurt?
The cervical spine consists of seven vertebrae, of which the seventh is distinguished for its greater mobility by other osteoarticular segments of the spine. In addition, the fragile intervertebral regions of the cervix are constantly under strong pressure from the heavy head, and therefore all the preconditions for pain in the cervical spine, shoulder girdle and back are created. The anatomical structure of the cervix is not only the muscles and ligaments, articular cartilage, nerve fibers and vascular plexuses, but also other life support organs - larynx, esophagus, trachea, lymph nodes and thyroid glands. Any inflammation or regional injury causes varying degrees of neck pain.
Thus, it is possible to divide conditionally why the cervical spine hurts:
- mechanical injuries to the back and neck;
- systemic diseases of vital organs;
- loss from infectious agents;
- degenerative transformations of the spinal region;
- symptoms of reflex pain;
- the result of a qualitative change in life or work.
Neurological pathologies that determine the cause-and-effect relationship, why the back muscles ache and why the neck spine aches, include:
- the state of deformation of the vertebral discs;
- intervertebral hernia;
- spinal nerve compression;
- osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
Systemic etiology, why neck pain can:
- psoriatic or rheumatoid arthritis;
- fibromyalgia;
- neuropathy of a diabetic nature;
- formation of tumors of a benign or malignant nature.
If the neck hurts a lot due to an infectious lesion, then the following clinic is prescribed:
- meningitis;
- an acute or chronic form of thyroiditis explains why the front neck hurts;
- tuberculosis;
- it hurts to swallow, and sometimes the neck and ear hurt with inflammation of the lymph nodes of the cervix - lymphadenitis.
Other etiological factors include:
- passive lifestyle;
- excessive strain on muscle areas;
- nervous exhaustion;
- incorrect arrangement of a sleeping place, when the neck hurts even after an orthopedic pillow.
Moreover, the neck constantly aches after seemingly insignificant cervical bruises, for example, after an accident in an accident, after a fall or collision.
Causes of neck pain can occur with alcohol syndrome. After quite drunk alcohol, there is also acute pain in the vertebrae of the cervix, which often radiates to the ear, head (at the base of the skull and temples).
Symptoms
If the neck hurts due to osteochondrosis or its complicated neurological pathology (intervertebral hernia), then the symptoms of pain are expressed as follows:
- the pain begins to be released painfully or attractively to the sides of the cervical vertebrae;
- back and neck ache strongly, especially in the clavicle area;
- tilting and / or turning the head give acute or sharp pain in the regions of the cervix;
- have difficulty swallowing;
- has a strong stiffness of movements;
- with pain, there are general signs of cervical pain.
With an infectious lesion of the cervical segments of the spine, discomfort is expressed by the following symptoms:
- there is a local increase in temperature with a cold of the neck, a temperature of 37 ° and above;
- due to metabolic disorders, colic sometimes occurs;
- metabolic processes affect the work of the gastrointestinal tract (stomach can get sick, sometimes appear nausea and vomiting);
- neck injury can be expressed with tonic muscle syndrome;
- there is increased nervousness and rapid fatigue of the body.
Often, painful symptoms affect a teenager or young child, in the case of cervical lymphadenitis or mumps, when the salivary glands of the ear become inflamed. A small patient begins to ache behind the ear, difficulty swallowing and radiating pain at the base of the skull, while the neck aches not only from the side but also along the entire periphery. Parents should pay attention to the clarity of the contours of the cervix, which are significantly modified, they swell and on palpation a slight compression 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 uninformed person, so you should not engage in self-diagnosis, but should immediately consult a doctor. Often, these pain symptoms are most actively manifested during pregnancy in women. Only a qualified specialist will determine what to do with neck pain and how to treat this or that clinical pathology.
What should be done?
Excluding all possible clinical pathologies of cervical pain, we will consider methods of treating the most common neurological problem - osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
The classic medical definition of neuralgic condition is a degenerative-dystrophic lesion of the articular cartilage of the cervical-moving segment of the spine. It is possible to correct the situation with medication, physiotherapy methods, special exercises, massage and treatment with folk remedies at home. In case of a sharp deterioration, pharmacological anti-inflammatory and analgesic treatments are used.
After completing the course of mandatory drug treatment, complex rehabilitation therapy can be continued at home.
Neck gymnastics
The main rule when performing physiotherapy exercises for the cervical spine are smooth, slow and smooth movements. The medical and rehabilitation complex consists of the following simple physical exercises:
- You should start by tilting the head forward and backward, with a gradual increase in amplitude. Enough for the first session 3-5 times.
- The next exercise is the circular movements and turns of the neck to the right and left.
- The next exercise will take some effort. A gymnastic stick is applied under the chin and with force, you should press it as hard as possible. Exercise is performed 2-3 times.
Careful!In the event that neck pain radiates to the arm, shoulder girdle or clavicle, exercise should be discontinued and the attending physician reported.
Massage treatments are also an effective way to relieve pain in the cervical vertebra. The purpose of the therapeutic and prophylactic measure is to restore blood circulation and weaken muscle spasm. The massage therapist should begin treatment with light stroke movements along the neck. However, you should not pull too much by exercising on your neck and rubbing it intensely, as sometimes after the massage your neck hurts, which is not always a sign of quality.
Pain relief according to the academic method
There is a special author method for treating pain in cervical osteochondrosis, developed by an academic. As a functional solution, a conventional pencil is used, which operates in the so-called cervical region, represented in the area of the thumb. This area is located between the palmar fold and the upper articular fold of the thumb. The distance between these segments, the author calls cervical space. The pain is relieved by intense rubbing with a pencil, until the appearance of steady heat, the projection of the cervical spine. Such treatment and prophylactic procedure can be performed in almost any condition, even outside the home. Some medical experts deny the effectiveness of this method, however, many patients, using this development, believe that such a procedure brings relief.
What to do at home?
To relieve muscle tension, to ensure healthy blood flow to the cervical canals, to facilitate the work of the articular elements of the spine, the following homemade recipes will allow:
- Salt baths containing magnesium sulfate are an effective way of relaxation for tight neck areas.
- A decoction of pine buds. For 100 grams of forest product take 200 ml of water. The whole composition is put in boiling and kept for another 4-5 hours in a dark place. The healing medicine is used as a compress on the cervix.
- Decoctions of fennel seeds and / or parsley root are very useful. Making a home remedy is quite easy. For 50 grams of any of the herbal products, you should drink a glass of boiling water. The healing broth is injected for 1-1, 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 take 10 drops of iodine and the same amount of camphor oil. The medicinal product is mixed and used as a neck compress.
- An equally effective way to eliminate pain is a mixture of 150 ml of vodka and 100 ml of natural honey.
- You can make a homemade healing recipe from mashed potatoes and honey. Hot potatoes boiled in "uniform" are ground with the addition of a spoonful of honey. This tablet should be applied to the inflamed area of the neck.
It is important to know,that each compress give 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 aggravating symptoms, for example, an intervertebral cervical disc herniation, the proposed prescriptions should be agreed with the attending physician. In addition, if there is an allergic dependence on certain treatment products, then they should not be used.
Pain prevention
There is no single therapeutic and prophylactic action against all types of cervical spine pain. It is possible to protect your body from various causal factors of the onset of symptomatic manifestations, perhaps only if a healthy lifestyle is observed (excluding alcohol, tobacco, etc. ) and an annual preventive examination by a specialized therapist or specialist.