The neck is made up of vertebrae that run from the skull to the top of the torso. Cervical discs absorb shock between bones. Bones, ligaments and muscles support the head and allow it to move. If there are any abnormalities, abnormalities, inflammation or trauma, it can cause pain or stiffness in the neck area. At such times, it is difficult to immediately determine what the neck hurts from and take action.
Many people sometimes experience discomfort or stiffness in this area, most often due to poor posture or excessive exertion. In most cases, neck pain is not a serious illness and can be resolved within a few days. However, in some cases, such a symptom may indicate serious illness and requires medical consultation.
This article will help you understand why the neck hurts on the right side, as well as in other places. It will also provide a classification of the types of pain and its most common causes. Consider how you can get rid of the discomfort in this part of the spine.
Types of pain in the cervical region
In order to prescribe effective treatment, a specialist must accurately determine the symptoms and causes of the pathology. Doctors classify neck pain as follows:
- cervikago - lumbago;
- neck pain.
The latter type involves pain resulting from damage to the vertebrae or cervical muscles. Neck pain, in turn, can be divided into pain:
- associated with skin lesions (superficial somatic);
- associated with muscle or vertebral damage (deep somatic);
- associated with the appearance in the body of infection or disruption of the work of internal organs (visceral).
Neck pain, which affects adjacent areas, is divided into:
- for cervicobrachialgia (the pain goes from the neck to the shoulders);
- cervicocranialgia (pain goes from the neck (through the back of the head) to the head).
Speaking of cervicago, it should be noted that this pain is always acute, it limits the mobility of the neck. He suddenly appears and torments a person for a while so that it is impossible for him to think of anything else.
In order to find out why the neck hurts, it is extremely important that the doctor establish its nature and describe it using the listed classification.
Common causes
Based on medical statistics, most often people who see a doctor for neck pain are diagnosed with several of the following diseases and conditions:
- cervical osteochondrosis;
- osteoporosis;
- muscle spasms;
- herniated disc;
- inflammation of the lymph nodes;
- systemic disorders in the body (infectious processes, tumors, problems with the immune system).
However, pain can be caused not only by the presence of a person's illness. The appearance of discomfort can also be caused by muscle tension or stretching (due to prolonged sitting in front of the computer, driving a car, lifting weights, uncomfortable posturewhile sleeping or playing sports). In addition, discomfort may appear due to the fact that a person has a headache closer to the neck.
Why is this happening and what is the root cause? Only a specialist can answer this question. Sometimes people, trying to get rid of the discomfort, take self-medication - massage, antibiotics, pain relievers and other drugs. However, the consequences of such actions may not be the most favorable.
Understand what the diseases and conditions listed above are and how they can be dangerous, and also why you cannot treat them yourself.
Cervical osteochondrosis
The appearance of this pathology in humans is associated with anatomical specificities. The dimensions of the cervical vertebrae are much smaller than the bony structures of other segments of the spine. The neck is constantly stressed, and this is due to the fact that its main functions are to support the head and ensure its mobility. If a person asks why the neck hurts from behind, then they should consult if they have osteochondrosis in that part of the spine.
Symptoms of this disease can be as follows:
- Pain from the neck to the shoulder extending to the outer surface of the shoulder, forearm and hands.
- Penetrating pain in the neck or occipital region (especially worse in the morning, with movement of the head, cough, etc. ).
- Headache (paroxysmal or persistent, deaf, impulsive, worse when turning your head), dizziness, blurred vision, ringing in the ears.
- Pain in the chest muscle.
- There is a violation of the blood flow of the cerebral arteries, which sometimes leads to temporary loss of consciousness. With deterioration of health, speech and motor functions may be impaired.
It is not worth treating this disease on your own, because the consequences of such actions can be far from happy. But by turning to professionals, a person can be sure that the therapy will be of high quality and effective.
As a rule, the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis can include the use of various anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs, restorative gels and ointments, physiotherapy and health exercises. Various medicinal patches and so on can be used.
Osteoporosis
This is a bone disease that occurs when bones lose their density. As a result, they become weak and can break if dropped or minor impacts. It is more common in women during menopause, but habits such as smoking, heavy drinking, poor diet, and sedentary behavior increase the risk of its occurrence.
For many people, the formulation of such a diagnosis may be the answer to the question of why the neck hurts from behind and at the same time gives it to the arms and shoulders.
Doctors distinguish three stages of this disease. The first stage assumes that a person begins to feel changes in the cervical spine such as a decrease in the density of the vertebrae, mild cramps, weakness and pain. At the second stage, constant headaches appear, the pressure may drop sharply and exceed normal, numbness in the hands and general weakness appear. The third (most difficult) stage assumes that a person has severe deformities of the vertebrae, a lump may appear in the neck area, and pain in the head and neck become constant companions.
Treatment for osteoporosis is aimed at slowing or preventing its development, maintaining bone mineral density, and reducing pain. This is achieved through the use of supplements and drugs, as well as the revision of his lifestyle in favor of light but constant loads (walks, sports), good nutrition.
Muscle spasms
Why does the neck on the left side hurt? The cause may be a spasm. It not only occurs on the left, but can affect the right and back of the neck. This is due to the involuntary contraction of muscles as a result of intense exertion. The situation often causes severe pain that lasts from a few minutes to several days.
Asking why neck muscles hurt, a person should think about how they sleep, work, sit. Often, spasms occur due to a violation of the natural position of the body, the transfer of weight to the shoulders, including bags, hunched shoulders and other conditions (including serious illnesses).
Pain relievers can then help relieve neck pain, relieve muscle tension and reduce inflammation. However, they must be taken, following the attached instructions and with the knowledge of the doctor. If you are not sure whether the neck pain is caused by a spasm, you should not take any medicine until you see a specialist. In this case, you can apply an ice pack (wrapped in a towel) to your neck to temporarily relieve the pain.
It should always be remembered that it is very difficult to independently determine what is hurting your neck. If the discomfort persists or intensifies, this can be a very serious reason to see your doctor.
Herniated disc
This element is a strong ligament that connects one vertebral bone to another. The discs are cushioning cushions between each vertebra in the column. A hernia of the cervical spine can occur when too much pressure is exerted even on a healthy disc (carrying heavy loads, falling from a height).
Symptoms of this condition usually include severe pain that may extend to one or both arms or legs, as well as numbness or tingling in the extremities, muscle weakness, and loss of sensation. At first, a person may not understand why the neck hurts when turning, bending, or other usual movements. However, over time, the discomfort becomes unbearable. Some people may not have neck pain or back pain with a herniated disc. Where the symptoms will appear depends on the exact location of the pathology.
Treatment for a herniated disc depends on the severity of the disease and the visible damage. Most often, a person's condition improves within six weeks of the first visit to the doctor. In many cases, quality medication and physical therapy is sufficient. In therapy, drugs can be used to control pain, reduce muscle spasms.
Inflammation of the lymph nodes
Typically, such pathologies result from exposure to bacteria or viruses. When these changes occur in the body, it becomes easy to understand why the neck hurts on the left or on the right, because it is in these areas that the lymph nodes are located. They can swell in response to an upper respiratory infection, such as a cold. The associated symptoms that may be present with edema are cough, fatigue, chills, runny nose, profuse sweating.
What does the neck hurt with inflammation of the lymph nodes? The answer is simple: the pathological process affects the nerve endings, which send pain signals.
Treatment for such a condition generally includes identifying its nature (virus, infection, bacteria, tumor). Then the doctor prescribes drugs for the treatment of the root cause, which has a beneficial effect on the elimination of the inflammatory process.
Various systemic disorders in the body
Sometimes people may not understand why the neck and head hurt, hence these sensations go to the back or arms. Often times, this condition can be caused by certain systemic disorders in the body. These include various tumors, depression, arthritis, infectious processes, meningitis, internal bleeding and other serious pathologies.
Pain in the cervical region can also occur when the body does not receive the required amount of certain useful substances (vitamins, micro- and macroelements).
Why the neck hurts in front, behind, or muscle discomfort and headache are felt, only the doctor will answer you based on the results of tests and further studies. The root cause may be due to the poor condition of other organs, not just the cervix area.
Diagnostic
The first step in establishing the cause of neck pain is to see a therapist. He will appoint the necessary consultation with other specialists and determine the need for technological diagnostic methods.
The specialist will explain why the neck hurts on the right side, left side or some other part of it. It will collect a full history and determine what disorders in the body are currently taking place.
During the examination, a person may be assigned the following diagnostic methods:
- MRI;
- CT;
- ECG;
- Ultrasound.
MRI can help determine the condition of tissues, CT scan - to identify pathologies of the cervical vertebrae, an ultrasound is needed to study the arterial ring, nearby vessels and tissues, and the ECG for the doctor tocan exclude various cardiac pathologies.
In addition, one of the mandatory tests is the study of the patient's blood, which will help determine whether inflammatory or infectious processes are taking place in the body.
What to do?
Anyone who is suffering wants to get rid of it as soon as possible. For neck discomfort, the following may help:
- Apply ice to the sore spot (wrap with a towel first).
- If mild pain is caused by overexertion, you should temporarily stop strenuous exercise and allow your neck muscles time to rest.
- It is necessary to do light exercises for the neck (curves and slow turns) throughout the day.
- You need to control your posture so as not to aggravate the situation with additional loads on the muscles and vertebrae.
If the pain persists within one to two days, you should seek help from a doctor who will determine why the neck hurts. If symptoms such as swollen lymph nodes, fever, numbness or tingling, swelling, nausea, and inability to move your head or limbs are added to it, you should immediately call an ambulance team. or consult a specialist on your own.
Prophylaxis
In order not to wonder why the neck hurts closer to the head, in other places where muscle spasms occur, it is important to monitor your health and follow a number of the following recommendations:
- You should sleep only on comfortable pillows that would allow the cervical spine to relax while resting. To avoid neck and back problems, it is better to buy an orthopedic pillow.
- The best position for a comfortable rest of the whole spine is lying on your back. You need to practice falling asleep in this position.
- you need to choose the right chair height and monitor position when working on the computer.
- It is not worth texting, playing games or reading on mobile devices for a long time. This creates an excessive load on the neck (most often during this activity the head is lowered, which causes disturbances in the work of this part of the spine).
- It is important to be careful and make time for exercise, outdoor walks, and sports.
- You have to adjust your diet and your diet. It is very important that the body receives the required amount of nutrients throughout the day.
- It is better to give up bad habits (eating too much, smoking, drinking alcohol and drugs).
Conclusion
After considering the main reasons why the neck hurts, we can conclude that it is unlikely that it will be possible to establish and fix the problem on your own. It is therefore important not to hesitate. You should see a specialist immediately, even if your neck pain can be tolerated. It should be remembered that even minor discomfort can indicate disturbances in the functioning of the body.