There are many reasons why the neck hurts, because this component of the human body, in turn, consists of many tissues and organs that organize not only the musculoskeletal system, but also other systems: respiratory, metabolic, sensory and others. Neck pain can be caused by even a slight manifestation of any inflammation, for example, an inexplicable reaction of the lymph node.
The modern rhythm of life contributes all the more 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 persevering or urgently starting the treatment depends on what it signals.
How does the throat hurt?
The neck is a connecting link, it is quite mobile and exposed to various types of damage for the same reason. If pain occurs in the neck, it can be an accident caused by a sharp and awkward movement, or it can be a pattern so much that a person is already used to this part of the spine hurting. Much depends on the type of neck pain itself, because it can be so different that it is difficult to name its characteristics:
- sharp unexpected pain (indicates cervicago - cervical lumbago, when the receptors of the nerve, which are sinuvertebral, are compressed; in addition, this can be an indicator of muscle spasms 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 in this area;
- radiating pain: in head, arm, sternum, collar, shoulders;
- pain in the neck, which occurs only on movement of the head, or is retained even when the neck and all its muscles are in an unused, quiet position;
- pain accompanied by numbness (may be caused by a pinched nerve, herniated disc, herniated disc);
- the neck sometimes hurts on the right or 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 where they cannot be explained at all, and this therefore leads to the fact that treatment cannot actually be prescribed. Nevertheless, the world practice of specialists in various fields of medicine has 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 a crunch that clicks when the head is turned, which cannot be confused with anything. If treatment is not started in time, the fourth stage of the disease sets in, which is fraught with the formation of bone growth, due to which the neck loses mobility.
muscle spasm
With muscle spasms as a result of 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 performed 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 do not arise in the neck, but in the shoulder region, but extend to the upper region. Due to its appearance, the functional abilities of the nerve may be impaired, so patients often complain of numbness in the damaged area and adjacent departments.
Occupation
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 located 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 arise in the neck itself. It can come and go, which should prompt a person to do a full investigation.
Cervical myelopathy
It causes 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 various parts of the musculoskeletal system, among which the neck is particularly prominent. These are rheumatoid arthritis, infection, ankylosing spondylitis and others.
Muscle hypothermia
Hypothermia of the muscles that move the head. If a draft has gone 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 with 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 get his opinion on this matter. But this does not mean that massage is mandatory and when performed it will remove pain in the neck. It is also possible that a 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 located in the neck goes away 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 used. In this case, the question of whether to perform the operation is not even worth it: the person has practically no choice.
For various types of injuries, the treatment can be reduced to wearing orthopedic products such as a corset for the neck for some time. To make a person feel better, it is often prescribed to sleep in a certain position of the body and use a special pillow, lying on which, the neck takes a position that is correct in relation to the body.
To break salt deposits in the cervical region, treatment based on physical procedures, such as shock wave therapy or intensive massage of this zone, may 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 powers, aimed at combating and diagnosing.
A masseuse, a chiropractor, an osteopath are specialists who can help cope with the above symptom 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 the headache disappears.
In any case, with pain in the neck, so that they do not come again, you need to start treatment and take care of your health.