neck pain

Neck pain is a rather unpleasant phenomenon that can affect anyone. Let’s take a look at why neck pain occurs, what it looks like, and how to properly diagnose and treat it.The neck has many functions; it is responsible for the function of the spine and supports the head. Neck pain occurs frequently, usually due to the heavy load placed on this delicate yet versatile part of the body. There are many causes of neck pain. So, first things first.

causes of neck pain

The causes of neck pain can be related to various types of illness or injury. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the main factors causing pain:

• Chronic disease (osteochondrosis, osteoarthritis) is a degenerative disease that may appear in the muscles of the neck, ligaments or in a certain part of the spine.
• Injuries – Pain occurs when discs, ligaments, vertebrae, and joints are injured.
• Herniated disc.
• Pain caused by esophageal, muscle spasms, heart, and lung diseases.
• Cervical spine tumor or metastasis from kidney cancer, thyroid cancer or breast cancer.
• Infectious bone disease, tetanus, meningitis, etc.

How does neck pain show up?

Neck pain has different symptoms and everyone experiences it differently. Let's look at the most common of them.

• It is difficult to turn your head from side to side or move your head up and down.
• Pain on the left or right side of the neck, especially when trying to lift the head.
• Pain in the temples and shoulders occurs when the neck is turned.
• Pain may also occur in the back of the neck, resulting in numbness.
• Wrong sleeping position, sedentary work – causes of neck, shoulder and back pain.

neck and head pain

Neck and head pain occur due to injury, mechanical damage, or disease. If the pain is due to injury or spasm, it will stop after 1-2 weeks. Other causes of pain:

• Damage to the base of the neck, spinal muscles, or ligaments.
• Muscle spasms.
• Holding your head in an incorrect and uncomfortable position for an extended period of time.
• Consequences of injury or tumors.
• Acute thyroiditis.
• Ankylosing spondylitis.
• Infections and rheumatoid arthritis.

If neck and head pain causes you discomfort, pain, or interferes with your normal activities, consult your doctor immediately. The doctor will help determine the cause of the pain and eliminate it.

neck headache

Neck headaches may occur due to the active movement of the cervical spine. Pain can be caused by fatigue, lack of sleep, surges in stress, and general illness. Neck headaches can also occur due to chronic illness or old injuries. Pain may occur due to osteochondrosis or worsening of chronic tonsillitis. An unpleasant sensation pervades the base of the head, and sometimes pain radiates to the temples when trying to tilt or turn the head. If such symptoms occur, timely treatment is required. If the pain is not related to muscle contraction, but to a progressive disease, the consequences can be very detrimental. Violation of blood vessels can negatively affect the oxygen and blood supply to the brain, leading to insufficient blood supply to the blood vessels. As a result, hearing will be significantly reduced, vision and memory will be reduced, and concentration will be reduced. To avoid this, you need to consult a surgeon or neurologist.

right side neck pain

Often, pain in the right side of the neck area is caused by osteochondrosis (disc disease) of the cervical spine. Most often, older people suffer from this disease. Pain can be treated with friction, ointments, massage, manual therapy, and orthopedic exercises.But right side neck pain can occur for other reasons as well. Therefore, injuries to the discs, joints, vertebrae, muscles, or ligaments can cause right-side neck pain. Various immune disorders, infections, and spinal diseases can also cause pain. Don’t forget about referred pain and tumors in the neck area. They can wreak havoc on the immune system and cause pain.

severe neck pain

Severe pain in the neck can occur due to established disease, injury, or fairly common conditions. Let’s look at the causes of severe neck pain.

• Increased pressure on the spine and prolonged exposure to uncomfortable or incorrect positions can lead to spasms and severe muscle pain.
• Chronic diseases, infections, immune system problems.
• Sudden movements, emotional tension.
• Hypothermia in the muscles can impair blood circulation, causing neck pain.
• Excess weight is another cause of severe pain.

Pain in left neck area

Pain in the left side of the neck is a sign that something is wrong; these pains may be caused by injury, illness, or mechanical damage. If the pain is not related to the disease, it will go away within 1-2 weeks. But some pain is chronic and can last for years, causing inconvenience and pain.Patients of all ages experience left-side neck pain. Pain may be caused by spinal disease, neck muscle injury, or ligament problems. In children, the pain is due to cervical lymphadenitis, a sore throat and other complications after a cold. A neurologist or chiropractor can diagnose the pain and prescribe treatment.

pain in front of neck

Severe pain in the front of the neck is often a symptom of a (malignant) tumor. The tumors appear near the spine, esophagus, thyroid, or throat. Another cause of pain is angina. But inflammatory processes or styloid process syndrome can also cause pain. If the pain is due to pins and needles syndrome (styloid process), the painful sensation will be a sharp pain in the ears and throat. Many times, patients with this disease have their tonsils removed, which is a mistake.The cause of front neck pain can be accurately diagnosed with an X-ray. Determining the cause on your own is difficult and even dangerous. Because incorrect diagnosis can lead to incorrect treatment. To prevent this from happening, seek qualified medical help.

back of neck pain

Pain in the back of the neck may be caused by muscle spasm or muscle strain (often occurring when sitting for long periods of time at work). Muscles put pressure on blood vessels responsible for delivering oxygen to the brain, nerves and cervical spine function. To eliminate muscle spasms, manual therapy and complex massage procedures are used.If back of neck pain is caused by a chronic disease, tumor, or infection, the first step is to diagnose the condition. Therefore, you can develop an effective treatment plan and take all steps to eliminate painful symptoms.

persistent neck pain

Persistent neck pain is often caused by improper sleeping positions, muscle spasms, or pinched nerves. If you have a cold or have recently had a cold in your neck, you may experience pain. In order to accurately determine the cause of your pain, you need to seek medical help. Your doctor will recommend a cervical spine ultrasound and X-ray.If persistent neck pain is not related to illness or infection, your doctor may prescribe ointments to relieve the pain. Don't forget preventive exercises, which will prevent future pain. A little neck warm-up in the morning can relieve pain and provide a good start to the day.

severe neck pain

Acute neck pain can occur in both adults and children. There are many causes of pain. Pain may occur due to deformation of the spine, known as osteochondrosis or osteoarthrosis. Injury, ligament or muscle damage can also cause severe neck pain. Only a doctor can diagnose the cause of acute pain.As for treating pain, start by minimizing physical activity and neck stress. It is also important to ensure that your neck is in the correct position during sleep, especially during a sedentary job. Don’t forget to perform regular neck exercises, which can prevent muscle atrophy.

Who to contact?

• chiropractor
• neuropathologist

Diagnosis of neck pain

The diagnosis of neck pain should be made by a specialist. The following methods are used for diagnosis: radiography, ultrasound, MRI. The method of diagnosing the cause of pain is chosen by the doctor after examination and study of the patient's symptoms and complaints.Neck pain is diagnosed and treated by surgeons, orthopedists, rheumatologists, and chiropractors. In some cases, patients are diagnosed and treated by a physical therapist, massage therapist, or traumatologist. If the cause of the pain is malignancy, the patient is biopsied and diagnosed by an oncologist, surgeon, otolaryngologist, or therapist.

Treat neck pain

Treatment for neck pain depends on the cause of the neck pain. If the pain is caused by a disease, then treatment is necessary (only in this case will the pain disappear). If the cause of the pain is injury, muscle spasm, or inflammation, then the patient will be prescribed anti-inflammatory medications, minimal physical activity, and special ointments.In an emergency, the patient's neck is completely immobile; for this, a cervical corset is used. If severe pain occurs in the neck, the first rule of treatment is to abstain from physical activity. This will tidy up your muscles and eliminate muscle spasms. You can't go wrong with a massage; it will improve circulation and tone stagnant muscles. For severe pain, patients take muscle relaxants. Don't forget that chronic neck pain is not normal. Therefore, seek qualified medical help if symptoms of pain occur.

Prevent neck pain

Preventing neck pain is all about eliminating the factors that are causing the pain. First, you need to make sure your neck and spine are in a normal position. Don't sit in one place for long periods of time and do basic neck and back exercises regularly. Neck pain can be caused by smoking. In this case, prevention is about giving up bad habits. Excess weight is another factor that can lead to neck pain. A healthy lifestyle, regular exercise and healthy sleep are the main preventive measures to prevent cervical pain.Neck pain is a problem that everyone faces sooner or later. There are many causes of pain, and only a doctor can accurately diagnose them. But regular preventive measures - neck exercises, healthy lifestyle and quitting bad habits will protect you from painful sensations.