First of all, the neck is the most mobile part of the spine, responsible for movements and turning the head. But if we compare the structure of the cervix and, for example, the lumbar vertebrae or the thoracic vertebrae, it can be noticed that the former have a much thinner body. But on this unit, all the load from maintaining the head and its movement is reduced. Due to such natural "unfairness", the cervical region is frequently subject to illness and injury, resulting in neck pain when turning the head.
Neck pain has now become one of the common problems. They occur in everyone regardless of age, occupation, or physicality. More and more patients come to the doctor with complaints like: "I can't turn my head", "My neck hurts a lot", "My neck is cramping". There are many reasons for such symptoms, it is important to get the correct diagnosis. Otherwise, it will not be possible to quickly get rid of the pain.
Characteristics of pain
This pain when turning the head is familiar to many people. This occurs due to pathology of the muscles, ligaments or spine in the cervical region. Moreover, the pain is not only present in the neck but also in the shoulder, even in the hand, spreading to the back of the head. Other symptoms may appear: numbness, tingling, weakness, dark circles under the eyes. In this case, the head cannot turn to the side, a person has to turn with the whole body.
In most cases, neck stiffness and pain last from a few days to a week. They can be different in personality: shoot, destroy, burn, surround, stab. Sometimes the pain varies and in intensity: from weak, aching - to sharp, very strong. If it is not associated with any pathology, but appears due to overwork or stress, it will pass even without serious treatment, just by reducing the load and anesthetic ointments.
See a doctor if the neck pain does not stop within a week, and other symptoms appear. This may include numbness, tingling or tingly feeling, headache, nausea, weakness or fever. It's important to seek medical attention if your neck has sudden, unexplained pain, and the stiffness increases rapidly.
Reason
Neck pain can have many causes. Usually they are associated with muscle tension or hypertonia. This happens after physical exertion, such as when playing sports. When a person usually tilts or turns his head, lifts weights, or performs high-amplitude movements with his hands, lactic acid is formed in the muscles and microtransformation of the fibers occurs. Lesions may be localized to the neck or collar region. This leads to the pain getting worse every time you turn your head.
Athletes are not the only ones with this problem. Often reduces the neck of porters, builders, workers, tailors, drivers - i. e. those whose occupational activities involve frequent over-mobility of the hands and collar region.
Static loads are no less dangerous for the neck. Usually, when a person wakes up, he notices that he has been lying on his back. This happens due to an uncomfortable sleeping position or from choosing the wrong bedding. For example, sleeping on a furry bed that is too soft, a large or hard pillow, or a sagging sofa can lead to neck pain. A similar situation occurs when a person stays for a long time in an uncomfortable position, such as sitting with his head tilted in front of a computer or talking on the phone, with his shoulder pressed to his ear.
In addition to muscle strain, trauma is often the cause of pain. In most people, the muscles in the neck are quite weak, and the cervical spine has a more fragile structure than others. Therefore, any sudden movement, a blow to the neck, or even a fall of a person can lead to injury to this area.
Injuries are mainly muscles and ligaments. Normally, the muscle that runs along the back of the neck is responsible for the movement of the sprained shoulder blade. Common occurrences are also mixed vertebrae or fractures. The result of all injuries is intense pain that makes any head movement impossible.
Muscular conditions that cause neck stiffness and pain on rotation or tilt also include myositis. This is an inflammation of the muscles that occurs as a result of hypothermia, infectious disease, injury, or overuse. Inflammation is accompanied by edema, resulting in severely limited head mobility. The cause of this condition can even be severe stress, which leads to muscle spasms and limits any movement of the head.
What diseases appear?
There are more serious reasons for this problem. If the pain doesn't go away after a few days, any movement causes pain, numbness or tingling in the fingers, or a headache, it's important to see a doctor. After all, most likely, such pains are a symptom of a pathology that requires special treatment.
With severe pain that limits the mobility of the neck, it is better to consult a specialist.
Most often they occur in diseases of the cervical spine. Each person has different symptoms, but pain when turning the head is almost always present. There are some of the most common diseases.
Cervical spine tumors are becoming more and more common nowadays. The cause is due to a sedentary lifestyle, lack of nutrition, increased strain on neck muscles when sitting at the computer. Often, with osteonecrosis, the neck is painful on the right or left side, since its cause is an invasion of the nerve roots.
Herniated or protruding discs in the neck region are common. After all, the muscles that hold the vertebrae in place are weak here, and the load on the neck is always great. As a result, damaged discs, due to improper nutrition, will become very fragile. As a result of this, the vertebrae converge and invade the nerve roots. This, as well as muscle spasms, leads to pain when turning the head.
Disc arthritis is less common. Elderly people are most susceptible to this disease, because it is a degenerative-nutrient process. Usually, arthropathy is accompanied by narrowing of the spinal canal and the appearance of bony growths near the vertebrae. Because of this, some patients are unable to move their head.
Scoliosis and stooping are not considered serious conditions by many, but they can also cause pain and stiffness. Due to the incorrect position of the spine, the increased load falls on one side of the neck. As a result, the pain is only present on the right or left side.
The cause of this condition can also be other diseases: vascular disorders, neurological diseases or infections. Of these, meningitis is the most dangerous. This is a rather rare, but dangerous disease. In addition to a stiff neck, when meningitis is present, a person may experience headaches, nausea, weakness, and a temperature that may rise. One such disease is meningococcal disease.
Neck pain and stiffness can be a symptom of cervical spondylosis, sciatica, periarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, vertebral artery insufficiency, occipital neuralgia. Although the symptoms of these diseases can be similar, the treatment is different, so an accurate diagnosis is important.
Pain in children
This condition, when the head cannot be moved, occurs even in children. Some babies are born with a condition such as torticollis. In this case, the child's head is in a forced position - tilted to the side. The cause is neck muscle spasm.
Pain when turning the head can also occur in older children. This is usually caused by infectious diseases. It can be lymphadenitis, mumps, purulent tonsillitis, meningitis. Timely recognition of the disease and initiation of treatment is extremely important.
The treatment
In many cases, when overwork, hypothermia or stress become the cause of such a bad condition, you can relieve the pain yourself. The main thing at the same time is not to be restricted in taking painkillers. An integrated approach is required: restriction of head movement with the help of orthopedic devices, beneficial massage, special gymnastics, application of ointments or compresses.
But if such pain is a symptom of any disease then only a doctor can determine the correct treatment. After all, it is very important to conduct not only symptomatic treatment, but also treat the underlying pathology.
Treatments vary depending on the cause of the pain, but there are a few that apply in all cases:
- The drug relieves pain, reduces inflammation, reduces muscle spasms, improves blood circulation and metabolism.
- Rest for a few days, sometimes immobilizing the neck with a Shant collar or stiffer orthopedic brace, this will help speed up the healing of damaged tissue.
- Apply cold or warm compress.
- Massage, apply ointment.
- Physical therapy.
Treatment of this pathology should be complex, necessarily including massage or manual therapy.
Medical therapy
Many people, when they don't know how to get rid of the pain when they turn around, start taking pain relievers. Sometimes this helps if the condition is not related to a serious illness. But it should be remembered that any pain reliever or NSAID should not be taken without consulting a doctor for longer than 3-5 days. Therefore, if the pain does not improve during this time, it is better to consult a specialist.
Also, in many cases, pain relief alone will not restore neck mobility, as it is still needed to relieve muscle spasms, normalize blood circulation, and reduce inflammation.
Therefore, in such cases, a drug complex is often prescribed:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and inflammation.
- Muscle relaxants to reduce muscle spasms.
- Chondroprotectors help restore cartilage tissue, improve spinal mobility.
- Many ointments help relieve pain, inflammation, warmth and relaxation.
- Multivitamins compensate for vitamin deficiencies.
Physiotherapy treatment
In addition to medication, treatment of neck pain necessarily includes other methods. Usually, massage is prescribed, which relaxes the muscles, improves mobility of the neck. Manual therapy is effective, but in this department it must be applied very carefully. In addition, spinal traction is sometimes indicated. This method is a good support for nerve fiber invasion, bone necrosis, disc herniation.
For any pathology, physical therapy is effective. It can be electrophoresis, UHF, laser, acupuncture, paraffin application, acupuncture. Useful mud application, therapeutic bath. These procedures normalize muscle tone, improve blood circulation and metabolic processes, and have a general health-promoting effect.
And therapeutic exercises will help reinforce treatment results and restore range of motion. Start performing special exercises after pain and inflammation are reduced. They strengthen muscles, increase mobility, and prevent muscle spasms. All exercises are done slowly, without sudden movements, avoiding the occurrence of pain.
Folk remedies
Such a pathology is treated at home. Therefore, many patients, in addition to the methods prescribed by the doctor, also use different folk recipes.
- A hot salt bag warms the neck well during muscle spasms.
- Pour boiling water over a sheet of horseradish, which, after cooling, tie around the neck and wrap with a towel. You can leave the gauze overnight if there is no severe burning sensation.
- In a similar way, a compress is made from the leaves of burdock or cabbage.
- Mix 50g of honey and vodka each, add 2 tablespoons of fine salt and some ground horseradish. When the volume becomes uniform, use it to rub the neck.
- An effective warming swab is made from 300 ml of alcohol, 10 ml of camphor and a vial of iodine.
- Mix the yolks, camphor, vodka and mustard powder together. Rub your neck before sleeping.
- If you mix crushed ginger root, some garlic and butter, this ointment will help you quickly get rid of cramps.
- Drinking aloe vera and black radish juice mixed with honey is also relaxing and soothing.
By itself, the neck will not cease to hurt, its mobility will not be restored. Therefore, it is better for you to immediately consult a doctor and start the correct treatment than to constantly suffer from irresponsibility.