Having neck pain must have been experienced by everyone more than once in their life. If the back of the neck is painful, then the cause, in most cases, is in the cervical spine. Let's take a closer look at each disease.
Myositis
With hypothermia and colds, myositis in the neck develops - acute inflammation of the muscles. A person begins to have severe pain in the neck and shoulders, a slight increase in temperature. When palpating the painful area, the skin above the muscle is edematous, swollen, and hot to the touch. When you try to turn your head towards the affected side, you will experience sharp pain and muscle tension in your neck.
Myositis can manifest itself against the background of a respiratory or viral disease. Then there is a sore throat, neck, swollen glands.
Treatment
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs will help relieve inflammation quickly and effectively. Various ointments and gels can be used locally. Here it is necessary to add an important information about the final coating - you need to apply a thin layer and under any circumstances cannot wash off with water.
You can use half alcohol and warm compresses - with vodka, diluted alcohol or dimexide. Folk remedies also work well: boil potatoes, apply honey, apply crushed cabbage leaves.
In addition to treating myositis, colds are treated - antiviral or antibacterial drugs, vitamins, sprays in the nose and throat. For quick relief of a sore throat, a spray is a powerful help - a powerful antibacterial and antifungal drug, the effect of which can be felt 20-30 minutes after the start of treatment.
Cervical bone necrosis
Everyone has heard of this disease, but the reason for its development remains a mystery.
Predisposing factors are trauma, prolonged forced posture, minor injuries of muscles and tendons during heavy work, dystrophy process in the spine, old age, menopause.
With protrusion, instability, cervical spine herniation, compression on nerve roots, blood flow in the vertebral artery is disturbed, easily leading to cerebral ischemia.
All symptoms of cervical osteonecrosis are divided into:
- reflex;
- compression of the lens and blood vessels;
- Spine.
Than:
- Reflex symptoms occur with prolonged stimulation of tissue receptors of the pathological spine. Nerve impulses from the affected vertebra enter the spinal cord, causing changes in the surrounding muscles and tissues. The muscles of the healthy side take over all functions, forming a pattern of movement that is stereotypically pathological. And the muscles on the affected side fix the misaligned vertebra in a certain position, preventing its further curvature. But they also do not give the opportunity to physiological. If at this time a person does not go to a doctor and orthopedist, muscle atrophy will occur, degenerative changes in the tissues of the vertebrae, the formation of osteonecrosis of the neck will occur. Later, the disease progressed, causing inflammation and fibrosis of the shoulder blades, forming parenchymal pouchitis. Reflex symptoms:
- soreness along the spine - touching the nape of the neck will cause discomfort, pain, shooting into the vertebrae;
- tightness and pain in the muscles at the back of your neck, which is worse when you try to turn your head or probe;
- cervicitis - aching or sharp pain in the neck, which may subside in cycles, giving the person time to rest. But with loads, in a prolonged sitting position (for example, during flights, long bus or car trips), the pain will not last long. With cervicitis, a person may periodically hear a crackling sound in the neck, experience discomfort and numbness of the skin;
- cervicitis - severe and aching pain in the neck that radiates to the head. Usually, the back of the head is - heavy, has a "banging" feeling, numbness, the patient wants to support the head with their hands or lean on a hard surface. Periodic "hot flashes" - it looks like the back of the head and neck are burned or frozen. Sleep also suffers - it is intermittent, superficial, the patient wakes up in the morning sluggish, lethargic, tired. pain that may spread throughout the head - photophobia, cramping pain in the temples, neck, eyes, high blood pressure, frequent nausea and vomiting;
- cervicitis - pain in the cervical region that radiates down the shoulder and arm. Shoulder pain and spasms, stiffness, shoulder joint pain, creaking, difficulty trying to lift or move the arm away.
- Compression of the roots and vessels of the spinal cord is manifested by the syndrome of the vertebral arteries. This is a large complex of many manifestations of compression of the vertebral blood vessels. There are 3 groups of symptoms that directly indicate this disease:
- Pain and headaches of a persistent or paroxysmal, burning, intolerable nature. Increases when the uncomfortable position persists, spreading from the occipital to the forehead;
- changes in the cochlea - dizziness, unsteadiness when walking, various noises in the ears (clicking, ringing in the ears, ringing in the ears). Persistent or paroxysmal patient dizziness, which reduces a person's quality of life;
- vision pathologies - dark circles and "flies" before the eyes, discomfort and a feeling of "sand", burning, decreased vision.
There are several types of manifestations of vertebral artery syndrome:
Barre-Lieu syndrome - there is pain in the posterior cervical and occipital region, which enters the anterior parts of the head - "removes the helmet". It intensifies at night and after sleep, especially if the person sleeps on an uncomfortable pillow. When he turned his head, he appeared dizzy, tinnitus, and dark circles in his eyes.
Basal migraine - before a migraine, darkness in the eyes, flashing black dots, photophobia. The attack begins with severe dizziness, ringing in the ears, deterioration of the joints of the tongue (a person has difficulty pronouncing words). Severe pain in the nape of the neck, back of the head, immobilize the patient to relieve the attack. At the peak of the headache, vomiting appears, in severe cases - fainting.
Cochlear symptoms - pain in the back of the neck, crunching when tilting and turning the head, dizziness, hearing loss and hearing loss. Often the patient cannot distinguish between whispers.
Ophthalmic syndrome - against the background of cervical osteonecrosis, vision is impaired. A person experiences rapid eye fatigue while reading, vision loss, red conjunctiva and watery eyes.
Spondylolisthesis disease
The disease is characterized by "wear and tear" of cartilage with bony growth along the edge of the joint surface. The disease occurs at any age, but its onset is most common in the elderly. Trauma, inflammation, and congenital changes in the joints can cause spondylolisthesis.
Symptom
The patient is disturbed by pain in the cervical spine, which is aggravated by turning and tilting the head. Often, a person is unable to turn their head completely to one side, attempting to increase range of motion causes back pain. In the supine position, the pain gradually subsides. In addition to the neck, the spine, knee and hip joints are also involved in this process.
As the disease progresses, stenosis occurs in the neck and lumbar region. Progressive myelopathy - a chronic disease of the spine with a weakening of muscle tone and dysfunction of internal organs. Myelopathy causes an increase in pain in a person, reducing the speed of blood circulation in the blood vessels of the neck and head.
Spondylitis
Persistent pain in the back of the neck, inability to bring the head to the chest - symptoms can also indicate rheumatoid arthritis of the spine. The disease develops against the background of polyarthritis - damage to many joints.
Symptom
The pain appears in the back of the neck, spreads to the back of the head, is intense when tilting the head back, turning left and right. A person cannot move the head completely, the neck muscles are tight and painful. In severe cases, a life-threatening complication develops - bulbar syndrome. Its manifestations are diverse and depend on the degree of canal compression during the mapping process. The patient's speech is disturbed - slurred speech, slurred speech, and the patient quickly becomes tired of speaking. Swallowing is also disturbed, especially liquid food. A person chokes, fluid comes out through the nose or the corner of the mouth. Cardiac activity is disturbed - arrhythmia occurs, tachycardia.
In children, cervical spondylosis develops as a complication of acute sinusitis - inflammation of the sinuses. The disease was named Grisel's torticollis after a French doctor. The disease is formed with defects in the joints of the atlas and teeth of the axial vertebrae.
Symptoms of the disease are specific and help you quickly make a diagnosis: the child's head is tilted towards the source of inflammation and slightly towards the healthy side.
Treatment of cervical spondylosis and cervical spondylosis is the same. Patients should be consulted and treated with a manual therapist. The specialist will quickly and painlessly affect the vertebrae, eliminating the need for expensive treatment in the clinic. If necessary, every six months or a year, the neurologist at the clinic prescribes a course of drugs: these are drugs given intramuscularly or intravenously and tablets.
Good support in the treatment of cervical spondylosis, neck massage, acupuncture. You can do a self-massage - massage your neck muscles from the back of your head down to your shoulders in a soft circular motion. You can't forcefully massage the muscles in your neck - you could increase arterial and intracranial pressure.
Patients often use topical medication - the point effect of the needles reduces muscle tension, stimulates blood circulation. It is necessary to use applicators only after consulting a doctor and making an accurate diagnosis - needles are contraindicated in oncology, since they stimulate tumor growth.
In case of vertebral artery syndrome and cerebral ischemia, nootropic treatment is required: intravenous administration of drugs that stimulate blood circulation, increase brain oxygenation, reduce episodes of dizziness, tinnitus.
Tuberculosis of the spine
With the spread of tuberculosis in the joints, it is the spine that is most often affected. The danger of the disease is in a long period of silence. Tuberculosis does not manifest in any way for 2-4 years. As the disease progresses and the vertebral bodies are destroyed, severe pain in the neck and shoulders occurs, and vague pain in the spine without obvious localization.
A person who is incapable of holding his head on his own for long periods of time, he tries constantly to support his arms. Due to severe pain in the neck, the patient avoids turning and tilting the head. When the vertebrae are destroyed, the process spreads to the surrounding tissues, an abscess is formed - an abscess in the cyst. A swollen bump appears at the back of the neck, has a dense elasticity, increasing in size. The abscess can spread to the throat, causing coughing, difficulty swallowing, and sore throat.
Tuberculosis treatment is carried out at a TB clinic. The treatment is difficult and lengthy, with many side effects. Strong bactericidal preparations of synthetic production are used. The course dose with 2-3 drugs is prescribed. During treatment, monthly blood and urine tests are conducted to check for tuberculosis bacteria. Every two months, the patient has an X-ray examination.
Cervical spine cancer
Tumors can occur at any age. Cancer can develop from cartilage, bone, and nerve tissue. The tumor can be an independent disease or a focal point of metastasis from another organ. Usually, metastases in the cervical region cause breast, prostate, lung, and stomach cancers.
Symptoms will increase as the tumor spreads: the patient constantly has neck pain, difficulty appears when tilting and turning the head. There is weakness, sweating, fatigue. The growth of the tumor and pressure on the roots and blood vessels will lead to tremors and weakness in the arms and shoulders, constant headaches and dizziness.
Treatment
Apply for:
- surgical intervention - complete radical resection of the tumor in healthy tissues;
- chemotherapy - cytotoxic drugs that slow down the division of tumor cells and prevent its further growth;
- radiation therapy - acting on tumor cells with ionizing radiation;
- Symptomatic treatment - pain relievers in the late stages of cancer, narcotic pain relievers are most commonly used.
Spine cancer is an extremely dangerous disease, the manifestation of the disease is often attributed to bone tumors and late treatment. Therefore, when there is pain in the cervical spine, it is necessary to conduct X-ray or magnetic resonance. This will allow you to quickly diagnose and initiate appropriate treatment.
In polyclinics, an MRI is ordered extremely rarely for financial reasons - but this examination is done for a fee in many private centres. It is better to pay a few thousand rubles and protect yourself than to treat the disease for a long time, not knowing what the source of the trouble is.