Neck pain and stiffness occur with inadequate loading, as well as some pathological conditions of the cervical spine. Painful sensations in the neck are almost always accompanied by its limited mobility - when trying to turn or tilt your head, there is a sensation of sharp or rising pain. Sometimes it is so strong that the person is forced to move the whole body instead of moving the neck. In this case, the pain may not only reach the neck, but also be given to nearby areas - chest, arms, head, shoulders; accompanied by tinnitus, numbness in hands and fingers, dizziness.
To prescribe competent treatment, you need to determine the causes of neck pain - this task will be left to the specialist you contact. Let's find out what can cause cervical spine pain.
Causes of Neck Pain
There are 2 main causes of pain and limited movement in the neck: muscle stiffness and cervical spine disorders.
neck stiffness
Stiffness is a condition in which the muscles become more toned (unable to relax) and resist any attempt to move. Neck muscle stiffness is not an independent disease - it occurs due to lack of physical activity or accompanies some illnesses.
In connection with a sedentary lifestyle - working at the computer, driving, lack of sports activity - the vertebrae in the cervical spine may change, aches and pains, spasms caused by inadequate circulation in the cervical region may appear.
Neck stiffness can also be a symptom of:
- encephalitis, meningitis, cerebral hemorrhage. Other symptoms of these illnesses: headache, weakness, nausea, fever, dizziness, skin rash.
- parkinsonism. It is accompanied by tremors throughout the body, imbalance and automatic movement and speech problems.
- neck injuries. In these cases, pain always precedes some serious mechanical effect on the neck (fall, blow).
cervical spine diseases
Pain and movement limitation in the cervical spine may occur due to spinal pathologies:
Which doctor should I see for neck pain?
First, we suggest that you see a general practitioner (therapist) who will be responsible for the examination. To clarify the diagnosis and indication of direct treatment, physicians with a more restricted focus may be involved: rheumatologist, neurologist, traumatologist, orthopedist. The patient may also be referred to a chiropractor and massage therapist.
Diagnose the cause of neck pain
After an oral questioning, the doctor examines the patient: probes the surface of the neck, checks the sensitivity of the arms and legs, the state of reflexes, discovers the presence of muscle spasms and hypertonia.
Hardware techniques used:
- radiography;
- Magnetic resonance;
- Computed tomography;
- electromyography (EMG);
- Ultrasound Dopplerography (USDG) of the neck vessels.
Blood and urine tests can be done to detect inflammatory processes in the body.
Treatments for Neck Pain and Stiffness
Treatments for neck pain may include:
- Physiotherapy sessions (magnetotherapy, electrophoresis, ultrasound therapy, shockwave therapy).
- Prescription of analgesics, sedatives, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants.
- Holistic medicine methods (acupuncture, massage, moxibustion, hirudotherapy, stone therapy, vacuum therapy).
- Physiotherapy, correct organization of the work environment, postural control.
- Surgical intervention. Radical surgical treatment methods are prescribed only in case conservative methods are ineffective or with a more serious diagnosis, which initially involves surgery.
Neck pain treatment at the medical center
The doctors' high professionalism and impressive work experience allow you to choose the right cervical disease treatment program for each patient. The medical center is equipped with modern, high-tech and reliable devices for laboratory and instrumental diagnostics, physiotherapy and treatment. And experienced massage therapists and chiropractors will help not only relieve neck pain, but also improve the body in general.
If you are concerned about neck pain and difficulty in walking, make an appointment with us without expecting an exacerbation of the problem.