Almost everyone knows the condition when there is pain in the neck after sleep. This condition causes significant discomfort and reduces the human performance. There are many different reasons why discomfort can occur.
In the event that discomfort occurs often enough, you need to conduct a comprehensive diagnosis and subsequent treatment.
Causes of Pain
Many people are aware of the need to sleep on hard, flat pillows, but many still prefer tall and soft pillows, which can cause discomfort. Pain in the neck after sleeping on a high pillow results from the fact that the head and neck are in an anatomically incorrect position. Often discomfort occurs as a result of an uncomfortable body position during night rest, but sometimes discomfort is a sign of such serious diseases as:
- spondylolisthesis;
- osteochondrosis;
- the formation of osteophytes.
One of the main causes of neck pain after sleep is poor body position. Due to the fact that the load on the spine and neck muscles is not distributed correctly, significant muscle strain, pinching of the nerve endings and squeezing of the nerve endings that pass through the intervertebral openings occur. This leads to the fact that there is swelling of the tissues or nerves, which provokes acute pain in the neck after sleep, aggravated by movement of the head.
With osteochondrosis, the intervertebral discs become thinner, the vertebrae are displaced, as a result of which the nerve endings and blood vessels are squeezed. The causes of neck pain after sleep can be a prolonged load on the neck muscles, for example, when working at a computer. Spondylolisthesis is a displacement of the vertebra that can be triggered by degenerative diseases of the spine.
Numb muscles
If there is pain in the neck after sleep and gives to the head, then this may be due to an uncomfortable position of the body or muscle strain. As a result, a person feels unbroken and overwhelmed. Painful sensations can be very intense, and sometimes it is even difficult to turn the neck. To get rid of discomfort is quite simple, you just need to take a hot bath or shower, apply a warm compress, make a relaxing massage.
If these methods do not bring relief and pain remains for a week, then you need to visit a doctor, as problems can be more serious. To avoid such problems, it is important to monitor the quality of sleep. It is advisable that the mattress be stiff and the pillow orthopedic.
Osteochondrosis
Pain in the neck after sleep often occurs due to the presence of osteochondrosis. This disease occurs in almost every person whose work is associated with forced physical inactivity. It is accompanied by severe crunching in the cervical vertebrae and destruction of the intervertebral cartilage. Among the characteristic signs of the disease, it is necessary to distinguish such as:
- pain in the neck;
- crunch when turning the head;
- hearing impairment;
- noise in ears;
- numbness of the fingers;
- general weakness.
Signs of osteochondrosis can manifest in completely different ways. However, in the case of alarming symptoms, you should not self-medicate, as other health problems may arise. An accurate diagnosis can only be made by a neurologist based on a survey.
Be sure to charge. As a preventive measure, it is recommended to follow a special diet and pay attention to physical activity.
Psychosomatics of pain
Psychosomatics can have a certain effect on neck pain after sleep, which is associated with internal problems in humans. Perhaps the reasons lie in the fact that a person stubbornly does not want to look at the problem differently. In life, very often not very pleasant situations arise that very many people simply cannot accept.
In this case, a person tries to restrain his anxiety and emotions, and he tries to pretend that everything is normal. That is why pain begins in the neck and the reason for this is psychosomatics. If there is a very severe pain in the neck after sleep, then this may indicate fears and fear that something bad should happen.
For treatment, you should contact a psychiatrist or psychologist. Only these doctors will help to make the correct diagnosis and prescribe the method of therapy. For treatment, antidepressants can be prescribed to help relax. In addition, analgesics may be required to reduce pain, resulting in normal sleep. In addition, psychological trainings are conducted to eliminate fear and anxiety.
Pain in the neck and neck
Pain in the neck after sleep mainly occurs with pathological changes that occur in the soft tissues. All of them are penetrated by a network of nerve endings, as a result of which impulses are transmitted to the corresponding sections of the nervous system. A person experiences painful sensations if a mechanical effect is exerted on the nerve endings. It can be triggered by trauma or inflammatory processes, against which soft tissue swelling develops.
During a night's rest, the brain ceases to control certain areas of the muscular skeleton. As a result of this, the muscles relax as much as possible, as the function of supporting the bone structure is weakened. If a person has pathological changes in the cartilage, then the muscles are forced to perform a compensatory function. During a night's sleep, a person may experience relaxation and tension in the muscles of the neck. In this case, pain occurs after waking up in the morning.
In addition, this can lead to circulatory disorders. Slowing the venous outflow from the brain against the background of insufficient arterial blood flow provokes the occurrence of painful sensations and swelling in the occipital region.
In addition, neck pain can occur after sleep during protrusion or destruction of the intervertebral disc, which can be triggered by osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia and many other pathological disorders that occur in the cervical region.
Diagnostics
If neck pain after sleep is often observed, what to do at the same time can only be determined by a qualified doctor after an examination. Often a person turns to the doctor when considerable discomfort is already manifested and it is almost impossible to turn his head. In this case, it is very important to make a diagnosis, since treatment largely depends on the cause of this condition.
The doctor may prescribe such research methods as:
- radiography of the spine;
- tomography of the neck;
- ultrasound diagnostics.
In some cases, additional consultation with an ENT, a pulmonologist, an endocrinologist may be required. It happens that the neck became ill as a result of the respiratory system, inflammation. An accurate determination of the main provoking factor for the occurrence of pathology will help to cope with discomfort much faster.
Treatment features
Many are interested in the question, if there is pain in the neck after sleep, what to do and how to get rid of the existing discomfort? Treatment mainly consists of providing the spine with complete rest. For this, the patient will certainly be prescribed bed rest and pain relief. As the painful manifestations subside, daily therapeutic exercises should be performed.
A good result is achieved during physiotherapeutic procedures, in particular, such as dynamic currents, electrophoresis. You may also need to perform massage and reflexology courses. Often resort to the help of osteopathic and manual techniques.
To stop acute pain, you need to take anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants. If pills and injections do not help, then the doctor may prescribe novocaine blockade. Usually they are given courses to quickly and effectively get rid of pain.
In the presence of an intervertebral hernia of the cervical spine, surgery may be required. It is performed using a special operating microscope from a small skin incision in the area of ​​localization of the disorder.
Drug therapy
The classical treatment regimen for neck pain after sleep consists of several stages, and therapy is carried out only after a comprehensive diagnosis. Be sure to take medications that will help relieve pain and eliminate inflammation.
For the long-term elimination of pain, anti-inflammatory drugs should be taken. Most often, the doctor prescribes Nimesil or Indomethacin. Be sure to warn the doctor if there are problems with the stomach or intestines.
For complex treatment, muscle relaxants are required. The most effective drugs in this case will be Midokalm. However, this drug can only be taken only after prior consultation with a doctor.
As external remedies for treatment, you can use gels, creams, ointments. The best effect is exerted by the Menovazin preparation and pepper tincture. In addition, “Finalgon”, “Dolobene-gel”, “Fastum-gel” can be used to warm up muscles.
Drug therapy must necessarily ensure the rapid normalization of the patient’s well-being and prepare him for the use of other treatment methods. It is worth noting that all medications have contraindications and side effects. That is why you can use them only as directed by the doctor and first you need to familiarize yourself with the instructions for use.
Physiotherapy and massage
In the case when intense neck pain after sleep is often worried, only the attending doctor can determine how to get rid of the unpleasant manifestation. To eliminate the acute signs of the pathology, the use of physiotherapeutic techniques is indicated along with medications. They have a positive result due to the normalization of blood circulation and biochemical processes in the affected area. In the presence of pain, the following procedures are indicated:
- wave treatment;
- electrophonophoresis;
- reflexology;
- laser therapy;
- water and mud treatment;
- hirudotherapy.
Treatment necessarily includes therapeutic gymnastics. It is selected for each patient, taking into account all the characteristics of the human body. Gymnastics should be aimed at the gradual stretching of muscles, stabilization and strengthening of the cervical spine. Initially, you just need to perform turns and tilts of the head. Then gradually move on to more complex exercises. Gymnastics should be carried out regularly and at the same time it is necessary to strictly control your well-being, since it is forbidden to perform exercises in the presence of painful sensations.
As a technique for eliminating pain in the neck, massage can be used. It contributes to tissue warming, muscle relaxation and normalization of blood circulation. As a result, inflammation and discomfort are reduced. During the massage, rubbing, stroking, pressing, kneading is used.
A large amount of protein must be present in the daily diet, as it is simply necessary to maintain the muscles of the spine and neck. Vitamins and minerals help normalize metabolic processes and strengthen immunity.
Folk techniques
As an aid to the treatment, alternative medicine techniques can be used. They have a pronounced anti-inflammatory or analgesic effect. As folk methods, such tools are used as:
- honey;
- clay compress;
- propolis.
To warm the affected area, you can spread a thin layer of honey on the neck, wrap it with cling film, wrap a towel on top and hold the compress for 20 minutes.
A good remedy is a clay compress. To do this, you need to prepare clay dough, spread it on cheesecloth, folded in several layers, put on a sore spot and fix the compress. Leave it all night.
Prophylaxis
In order to prevent the development of dangerous diseases, as well as the occurrence of pain in the neck after sleep, preventive measures should be taken. Among them, it is necessary to highlight such as:
- avoid drafts;
- move more;
- properly organize your berth.
If work is associated with prolonged sitting at a computer, you need to periodically take small breaks to stretch your neck a little. You need to properly organize your berth. Ideally, a person should sleep so that the spine and neck are in line.