Neck pain can be painful for many reasons. In most cases, it is necessary to first determine what causes the pain and muscle tension in order to choose the right pain reliever. Both drugs and folk remedies help to quickly relieve neck pain.
Structure of the neck
The package includes:
- cervical spine
- muscles,
- bundle,
- larynx,
- thyroid.
There are seven vertebrae in the cervical spine. Compared to the rest of the spine, the cervical vertebrae are not large. They consist, like all others, of the body and processes with attached ligaments and muscles.
Between the vertebrae - discs with the rigid outer part, consisting of fibrous fibers, and the inner, soft nucleus pulposus, which provides the spine with shock absorption.
Causes of neck pain
Traumatic injury
Can be obtained by playing sports, falling upside down, in an accident or car accident. With a sudden braking in the process of rapid movement in the cervical spine, a "whiplash symptom" occurs, as a result of which sprains of ligaments and muscles, compression fractures, displacement of the cervical discs with the formation of hernias are possible.
Bad posture
Prolonged work in a monotonous position, sleeping on an uncomfortable or excessively soft pillow, and prolonged static stress are predisposing factors. As a result, a curve appears, the head begins to move forward relative to the body, the ligaments and muscles in the neck begin to experience increased tension.
Spinal osteochondrosis
In osteochondrosis, the trophism of the disc is disturbed by its flattening and changes in the surrounding tissues. As a result, there is a decrease in the amortization function and the appearance of pain in the neck.
The cause of osteochondrosis can be malnutrition, back injuries, increased physical activity, unfavorable environment, chronic stress, inactive lifestyle, bad habits. Furthermore, there is a genetic predisposition.
With osteochondrosis, there is pain in the neck, shoulders, arms, dizziness and fainting. Impairment of hearing, vision, memory. "Vertebral artery syndrome" - flashing flies in front of the eyes, tinnitus. Impaired coordination and gait instability.
Protrusion or herniated disc
This is the name of the protrusion of the disc from the spine. With a hernia, the outer ring is destroyed with a displacement of its central part in any direction: sideways, backwards or forward.
The most difficult pathology is the inward displacement of the nucleus - this can lead to a violation of the spinal cord. With age, spinal osteochondrosis can join the hernia. All of the above factors can be the cause of a hernia, as well as carrying heavy bags, scoliosis, flat feet, and age-related changes in the body.
Symptoms are similar to those of osteochondrosis, plus unstable blood pressure, insomnia, hand weakness and numbness of the fingers.
Ischemic heart disease - heart attack, angina attack
With this pathology, both irradiation pains that radiate to the neck, and independent pains in the neck and lower jaw are possible. As a rule, they are combined with other signs of myocardial ischemia: fear of death, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea and vomiting.
Benign or malignant growth
The growing tumor puts pressure on the nerve roots, causing neck pain and other symptoms of spinal cord compression. Benign tumors (neuroma, hemangioma) very often have a regular rounded shape and a clear border.
Neck pain is mild. Basically, there is discomfort from the compression of the tissues by a growing tumor. Malignancies (lymphogranulomatosis, sarcoma, thyroid cancer) have practically no boundaries and metastasize to neighboring tissues.
The destruction of tissues causes pain and deterioration of the general condition. Pain in the neck in the front occurs with tumors of the oral cavity, larynx, thyroid gland. Along with pain, difficulties arise when swallowing, impaired phonation, swelling of the face and neck.
In a bone tumor, the spinal cord and nerve roots are often damaged, resulting in paralysis.
Myositis of the neck
Appears after hypothermia or prolonged muscle strain. It is characterized by the appearance of acute pain during movement. Pain can occur both with inflammation of the superficial (sternocleidomastoid) muscles, and deep around the spine, involved in neck movements.
Palpation reveals muscle hypertonicity 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 sides of the spine with the appearance of a stiff neck - the inability to keep the head strictly upright.
Other diseases that cause neck pain
Spondylolisthesis: one vertebra "slips" from the other with the trapped disc.
Bechterew's disease - ankylosing spondyloarthritis.
Meningitis. Hypertonicity and stiffness of the neck muscles cause severe back pain when trying to tilt the head.
How to relieve neck pain with drugs
First, you need to determine the possible cause of the neck pain. In any case, limit your mobility. In case of injury - to ensure immobilization of the damaged section and deliver 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 calm the patient.
If there is a possibility of meningitis - if there has been contact with a sick person - also call an ambulance. But in all cases, to stop the pain on its own. Do not heat the sore spot!
A good effect is noted from taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - acetic acid. They also reduce morning stiffness and have an antiplatelet effect: they prevent erythrocytes from sticking together.
Propionic acid derivatives also contribute to pain relief. They are of low toxicity, well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract with a sufficient range of action.
Option to replace drugs in tablets - suppositories.
If your neck, shoulders and arms hurt
The gels are useful for treating pain in the shoulders and arms.
Relieves neck pain and tension during muscle spasms
To relieve existing muscle spasm, it is good to administer muscle relaxants together with analgesics.
External remedies for severe neck pain
To relieve neck pain in case of cervical osteochondrosis or other diseases, local therapy will not be superfluous - the use of various rubs and compresses. After using these rubs, wrap your neck with a warm handkerchief, avoid getting water.
How to relieve neck pain with folk remedies
Attach a whole cabbage or burdock leaf to the neck.
Mix 50 ml of horseradish root juice with the same amount of vodka. Rub or apply compresses.
Uses kerosene, previously deposited and passed through activated carbon, as a heating agent for grinding.
Make a honey cake with honey and flour, apply it on a sore spot.
Use whole honey for grinding, you can - half with aloe juice.
Mixture obtained by mixing equal parts of radish juice, honey and vodka, to be used for grinding.
Use chamomile or calendula infusion for compresses in the neck area. Grind the horseradish root, add a little water, apply to the sore spot.
Add chili, ammonia or honey to the medicinal bile. Use for compresses.