Neck pain can be painful for many reasons. In most cases, you must first determine what is causing the pain and muscle tension to select the right painkiller. Both medications and folk remedies help to relieve neck pain quickly.
Neck structure
The neck contains the following:
- cervical spine,
- muscles,
- bundles,
- larynx,
- thyroid gland.
There are seven vertebrae in the cervical spine. Compared to the rest of the spine, the cervical vertebrae are not large. These, like everyone else, consist of a body and processes to which muscles and ligaments are attached.
The vertebrae are the outer, rigid discs of fibrous fibers and the inner, soft pulp core that provides shock absorption to the spine.
Causes of neck pain
Traumatic Injury
Obtained while exercising, falling upside down, in an accident, or in a road accident. With sudden braking, rapid "movement of the cervical spine" causes a "whip symptom", which results in the twitching of the ligaments and muscles, compression fractures, and the movement of the cervical discs with the formation of a hernia.
Poor posture
Prolonged work in a monotonous position, sleeping on an uncomfortable or too soft pillow, and prolonged static stress are predisposing factors. As a result, a bend appears, the head begins to move relative to the body, the ligaments and muscles of the neck begin to become tense.
Osteochondrosis of the spine
In osteochondrosis, the violation of the trophism of the disc flattens out and changes occur in the surrounding tissues. As a result, the damping function decreases and pain appears in the neck.
Osteochondrosis can be caused by malnutrition, back injuries, increased physical activity, unfavorable environment, chronic stress, inactive lifestyle, bad habits. In addition, there is a genetic predisposition.
Osteochondrosis causes pain in the neck, shoulders, arms, dizziness, and fainting. Impairment of hearing, vision, memory. "Vertebral artery syndrome" - flies in the eyes, tinnitus. Disorder of coordination and gait disturbance.
Protrusion or herniated disc
This is the name of the disc protrusion from the spine. In the event of a hernia, the outer ring is destroyed by moving its central part in any direction — sideways, backward, or forward.
The most serious pathology is the inward movement of the nucleus - this can lead to damage to the spinal cord. As we age, spinal osteochondrosis can join the hernia. All of the above factors can be the cause of a hernia, as well as heavy bags, scoliosis, flat legs, and age-related changes in the body.
Symptoms are similar to those of osteochondrosis, with instability in blood pressure, insomnia, weakness in the hands, and numbness in the fingers.
Ischemic heart disease - heart attack, angina attack
With this pathology, independent pain radiating to both the neck and the neck and lower jaw is possible. They are usually combined with other symptoms of myocardial ischemia: fear of death, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea and vomiting.
Benign or malignant tumors
A growing tumor puts pressure on the nerve roots, causing neck pain and other symptoms of spinal cord compression. Benign tumors (neuroma, hemangioma) are most often the correct rounded shape and clear border.
Cervical pain is mild. Basically, discomfort is caused by the compression of tissues by a growing tumor. Malignant tumors (lymphogranulomatosis, sarcoma, thyroid cancer) have virtually no boundaries and form metastases in adjacent tissues.
Tissue destruction causes pain and worsening of the general condition. Pain in the front of the neck occurs with tumors of the oral cavity, larynx, thyroid gland. Along with the pain, there are difficulty swallowing, impaired sound, swelling of the face and neck.
In bone tumors, the spinal cord and nerve roots are often damaged, resulting in paralysis.
Cervical myositis
Appears after hypothermia or prolonged muscle strain. It is characterized by the appearance of acute pain on movement. Pain can occur both with inflammation of the superficial muscles (sternocleidomastoid) and deep in the neck around the spine.
Tactile explores muscle hypertension and sometimes hard, painful nodules. Chronic myositis leads to disruption of the blood supply, trophism, and replacement of muscle cells (myocytes) with connective tissue.
This causes pain and weakness in the neck muscles, a violation of the symmetrical work of the muscles on the side of the spine with the appearance of the torticollis: inability to hold the head in a strictly vertical position.
Other diseases that cause neck pain
Spondylolisthesis: one vertebrae "slips" from the other with a disc jam.
Bechterew's disease - ankylosing spondylarthritis.
Meningitis. Hypertension and stiffness in the neck muscles cause severe back pain in the neck when you try to tilt your head.
How to relieve neck pain with medication
You must first determine the possible cause of neck pain. In any case, it limits your mobility. In the event of trauma, ensure that the injured section is immobile and transport the patient to the trauma center.
If you have a history of ischemic disease, call an ambulance and stop the pain with sublingual vasodilators, try to reassure the patient.
If there is a possibility of meningitis - if you have been in contact with a sick person - still call an ambulance. But in any case - to stop the pain on their own. Do not heat the sore area!
Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - acetic acid - has a good effect. They reduce morning stiffness and also have an antiplatelet effect - preventing erythrocytes from sticking together.
Propionic acid derivatives also help reduce pain. They are less toxic, well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, with an effect of adequate width.
Possibility to replace tableted medicines - suppositories.
If your neck, shoulders and arms hurt
gels are useful in treating shoulder and arm pain.
Relieve neck pain and tension during muscle cramps
To relieve existing muscle cramps, give good muscle relaxants along with painkillers.
External treatments for severe cervical pain
To relieve neck pain in case of cervical osteochondrosis or other disease, local therapy will not be unnecessary - use various rubs and compresses. After using these rubs, wrap your neck in a warm handkerchief, avoid water.
How to relieve neck pain with folk remedies
Attach a whole kale or burdock leaf to your neck.
Mix 50 ml of horseradish root juice with the same amount of vodka. Rub or apply compresses.
Use pre-settled and activated carbon kerosene as a heating agent for grinding.
Make a honey cake from honey and flour, place in a sore spot.
Use whole honey for grinding, half with aloe juice.
The mixture obtained by mixing equal parts of radish juice, honey and vodka is used for grinding.
Use a chamomile or calendula infusion to compress the neck area. Grind the horseradish root, add a little water, apply to the sore spot.
Add hot peppers, ammonia or honey to the medicinal bile. Use for compression.