The neck is the part of the human body that is most exposed to stress. The fact is that in a relatively small area of it a significant number of nerves and blood vessels are concentrated. In addition, the cervical vertebrae are almost always at maximum mobility.
Many people experienced pain in this part of the body. Often its manifestation was expressed by a cross. As a rule, such a symptom is caused by sharp muscle cramps that occur as a result of the development of any pathology or due to external factors.
Type of lumbago
Pain syndromes in the neck are very different. They differ in location and duration. At the same time, the pain itself may be different. In this regard, a similar disease is classified based on its symptoms.
At the location, lower, upper and post-traumatic syndrome are distinguished. Sources of the first two types of such pathology of the cervical spine often become birth defects. As for the post-traumatic syndrome, it develops after an injury (immediately or after some time after it).
There is a shooting pain in the neck and the duration of these uncomfortable sensations. In this case, it is divided into cervicago, as well as cervicalgia. Pathologies in the first of these two groups occur suddenly. At the same time, a person is absolutely healthy, but he has shooting pain in his neck. Cervicalgia includes chronic pathologies, which, in turn, are divided into vertebral and non-vertebrogenic.
The condition in which it shoots in the neck is classified according to the following syndromes:
- "Shoulder-brush." With this syndrome, a change in temperature and skin color occurs. At the same time, a swelling occurs in the upper limbs.
- Minor pectoral muscle. Often, this pathology is considered a symptom of a malfunction in the system of blood vessels and the heart. The fact is that in such cases, the distance between the head of the bone of the shoulder and the pectoralis minor muscle is somewhat reduced. Due to the pressure that appears during this, the pain that arises in the neck gives off to the sternum.
- Shoulder-shoulder periarthrosis. With this syndrome, the muscles located in the subscapular section are tensed, and shoulder pain occurs. A person complains of difficulty breathing.
- Pathology affecting muscle and fibrous tissues. In this case, the development of degenerative-dystrophic changes. The cause of this ailment is microtrauma.
- Staircase muscle. When this syndrome occurs, the patient complains that he shoots in the neck and the pain spreads to one of the hands.
Sympathetic syndrome is also highlighted. In such cases, a person shoots in the neck and the following neurological symptoms occur:
- dizziness and pain in the head;
- sleep loss
- jumps in blood pressure;
- visual and hearing impairment.
The cause of this syndrome, as a rule, is osteochondrosis. In addition, if a person complains that he shoots strongly in the neck, then such a condition can be caused by other pathologies of the spine.
Symptoms
Shooting pain in the neck on the left or on the right can appear not only when moving, but also at that moment when a person is at rest. This symptom may intensify after physical exertion or independently of them (for example, at night during rest).
The intensity of that sensation when shooting in the neck is also different. Such pains can range from very minor, accompanying a sharp turn of the head, to very severe when a person has to turn the entire body in order to look left or right.
When cervicago shoots in the neck from the right side or from the left (as a rule, only with one). Such symptoms occur during a sudden movement by her. If the pain gives into the hands, chest or head, then movement becomes simply impossible. With any attempt to tilt or turn, the manifestation of the pathology is even more amplified.
Causes of occurrence
Why shoots in the neck? The causes of this condition can be many. Some of them are quite harmless, while others are very serious and require urgent medical intervention. Those pathologies that cause such conditions when they shoot in the neck from the right side or from the left are divided into several groups based on the mechanism of the onset of the disease. Let's consider them in more detail.
Injuries
Often people are faced with the fact that they shoot in the neck left or right as a result of local hypothermia (fan, air conditioning) or with a sudden turn of the head. Similar causes lead to pain on either side of the neck. The head of such a patient deviates somewhat to the right or left due to the existing strong muscle spasm.
Neck mobility in these cases is severely limited. Even a slight movement of the shoulder or head leads to increased discomfort. Pain arising from such causes can be transmitted to the arm, shoulder, head or chest. That shoots in the neck left or right, a person stops complaining after about 10 days. In rare cases, the pathology is delayed and causes discomfort to a person for 8-12 weeks.
Sometimes shooting pains in the neck occur after a night's rest. The reason for their appearance is an uncomfortable posture for sleep. The localization of pain in such cases is only in the neck. By evening, the uncomfortable feelings recede a little.
Athletes often suffer from cervicalgia. Those pains that arise after training are the result of sprains in the neck. If severe discomfort occurs during hard work or exercise, injury may be suspected. If this is not a bruise, but a fracture, then in parallel with unbearable pain, mobility in the neck and also in the shoulder practically disappears. Numbness of the limb is also possible.
Sometimes, when injuring the spine, the pain syndrome develops gradually. For example, the so-called whiplash injury, which often occurs in divers and in accidents, is formed in the case of a sharp extension and bending of the neck. Pain in such cases appears, usually after about a day. Sometimes people for a long time suffer from impaired swallowing, headaches, vision problems and constant pain in the neck on the left or on the right, without linking their pathological condition with the injury.
Spinal ailments
Because of what shoots in the neck right or left? The most common cause of pain is osteochondrosis. This is a degenerative-dystrophic change in the spine, which is observed in almost 50% of people who celebrated their half-century anniversary. However, today the disease is getting younger. The risk of developing cervical osteochondrosis is also great at an earlier age. The reason is a sedentary lifestyle, being in the same position for a long time (in the office or at the computer). In such cases, stagnation occurs in the neck, and blood circulation worsens in it. This is what causes the development of degeneration of the intervertebral discs and vertebrae.
With osteochondrosis, it often shoots in the neck and gives to the head or arm, as well as to the chest. But sometimes the pain is limited only to the neck.
Systemic pathology
It shoots in the neck on the right or left because of:
- Ankylosing spondylitis;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- polymyalgia, which is the cause of cervicalgia with localization in the lower parts of the neck;
- fibromyalgia, in which it shoots in the neck from the back in all areas;
- tumors (often neck pain provokes metastases that occur in the stomach, lungs and mammary glands);
- diabetic neuropathy.
Infectious diseases
Cervicalgia can occur due to:
- lymphadenitis, pharyngeal abscess, and sore throat;
- meningitis, in which stiff neck develops;
- acute (subacute) thyroiditis;
- tuberculosis
- polymyelitis;
- tinea versicolor;
- osteomyelitis.
Reflected pain
Sometimes a person cannot understand why he has uncomfortable sensations in his neck. Nevertheless, cervicalgia may well be one of the first symptoms of a serious life-threatening pathology. For example, if he shoots in the neck from the left side and at the same time gives pain to the jaw, then this condition may indicate the development of myocardial infarction. A similar symptom requires urgent medical attention.
Pain in the neck also occurs with intracranial hemorrhage, pathologies of the brain or esophagus. If discomfort in the shoulder is added to them, then this condition may indicate ailments of the vessels and lungs. Paroxysmal pains covering the entire posterior surface of the neck and back of the head indicate migraine.
Lifestyle impact
Why shoot programmers and office workers in the neck and head? Such sensations are associated with trigeminal neuralgia. Pain with this pathology is felt in the neck, passing to the back of the head and behind the ears. At the same time, it shoots to the right (very rarely - from two sides) with a spontaneous start and a sharp end to such conditions.
Sometimes cervicalgia with the transition of pain to different areas indicates the presence of nervous exhaustion and depression. In school age, these symptoms occur due to a long stay at the desk, when the child takes a curved pose, leading to scoliosis.
Risk factors
In what cases is the likelihood of developing muscle spasm in the cervical spine at times? This is due to:
- uncomfortable posture during sleep;
- carrying heavy items;
- long stay behind the PC monitor;
- hypothermia;
- stress
- sharp turns of the head;
- spinal injuries etc.
In addition to this, people are at risk of a lumbago neck:
- engaged in heavy physical labor and not taking the simplest safety measures;
- working in offices, as well as sitting or standing in the same position for a long time;
- overweight;
- ignoring the need for a balanced diet;
- not caring for posture;
- leading a sedentary lifestyle.
Recommendations for lumbago
In most cases, the painful syndrome suddenly blocks the neck. And a person wants to somehow get rid of him even before visiting a doctor.
Of course, self-treatment of such neck pain is undesirable. But in order to alleviate your condition, you can:
- Lie on a hard, level surface with your back down. This pose will allow you to remove the load that has arisen in the cervical spine. If it is not possible to be on the back, it is allowed to sit on the stomach. It is not recommended to use the floor as a solid surface. Indeed, possible drafts can do even more harm.
- Apply cold to the localized area of pain. This should be done on the first day after the appearance of uncomfortable sensations. Such actions should be monitored by the attending physician.
- Apply something warming. Such procedures will help with the shooting of any part of the neck or neck. During their implementation, control is needed to prevent overheating. Otherwise, there will be an increase in muscle swelling, which will cause a relapse of the condition.
If the neck shoots, what should I do? To relieve pain, it is recommended to take an antispasmodic drug. It can be "Paracetamol", "No-Shpa", "Aspirin".
To relieve pain with lumbago, it is advisable to use a special corset for the neck. A cotton-cardboard tire can be taken as such an item.
A sore spot should not be massaged independently. The muscles in this area are tense due to cramping. Improper massage will not remove the stiffness of the neck, as well as its swelling. He will only do harm.
Diagnostics
What to do: shoots in the neck left (right)? If a person asks such a question, then he needs to consult a specialist. After the initial examination, the doctor will prescribe the necessary set of studies. This will establish the exact causes of the pain. In this complex are:
- clinical and biochemical analyzes;
- studies to determine the hormonal background (to exclude thyroid diseases);
- tumor markers;
- X-ray studies (for the detection of osteochondrosis).
In cases where the patient complains of tinnitus and dizziness, as well as changes in vision and hearing when turning the head, a specialist will appoint a tomographic study. In addition, the patient is sent for ultrasound, which allows to determine the characteristic of blood flow in vessels located in the neck.
The passage of a set of diagnostic measures is designed to detect abnormalities in the structure of the vertebrae, as well as some diseases of the spine. It is also possible to determine circulatory disorders arising from squeezing of blood vessels.
Treatment
An urgent visit to a doctor is necessary in cases where:
- pain syndromes disturb for more than two days without a decrease in intensity, intensifying and gaining momentum;
- uncomfortable sensations arise in other organs;
- backache is repeated constantly.
In most cases, when a patient complains of pain in the neck, the doctor prescribes conservative treatment, which includes either medications or procedures designed to eliminate uncomfortable sensations.
When prescribing a course of therapy, the doctor, as a rule, is guided by the localization of pain and the causes of its occurrence. At the same time, the question of possible complications of the patient's condition is also considered. It is very rare that shooting sharp pains are provoked by pinched nerve fibers. Treatment is not prescribed at all. In such cases, the patient is only recommended peace in order to rid the body of all movements.
But most often, based on the results of the study, the doctor prescribes medications or massage and various ointments. In some cases, pain can be eliminated only with an integrated approach.
Drug treatment for backache in the neck includes the use of non-steroidal drugs. In most cases, the use of tablets is sufficient. But sometimes, based on the diagnosis, the doctor prescribes chondrostimulating, regenerating, and also anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of injections to the patient.
In case of severe pain, medications of the blockade principle of action are prescribed. They are injected into the localization sites of unpleasant sensations only by the doctor himself. Such injections can blunt pain receptors.
Creams and ointments are often added to oral medications. The need for them arises with intense pain syndromes. Such funds have a local effect, somewhat reducing discomfort in the neck. Based on existing practice, creams and ointments cannot be used as an independent treatment method because of their low effectiveness. The best results can be achieved by using them in combination with other drugs for conservative treatment.
The most popular ointments are Fastum Gel and Diclofenac, Voltaren and Capsicam, Ibuprofen and Nize Gel, as well as some others.
A good effect in the elimination of lumbago in the neck can be obtained during massage. With its help, the muscles relax, the pressure on the pathological areas decreases.
In those cases when the pain in the neck are signs of other ailments that are not related to muscle cramps, massage will not bring much effect. That is why it is so important to know the real cause of the uncomfortable sensations and diagnose the pathology.
One of the most reliable methods of eliminating backache in the neck is physiotherapy. It allows you to achieve not only a relaxing effect. When using this method, the necessary drugs are injected into the areas of pain localization. This allows you to reduce its intensity and exclude the provision of side effects on other organs.
There are different types of physiotherapy. Among them are magnetic and laser, electric and shock wave, ultrasonic, ultraviolet, etc. All of them are somewhat different from each other, but they pursue the same goal, which is:
- reduction or removal of pain;
- restoration of metabolic processes;
- improving blood flow;
- reduction of spasms.
Each type of physiotherapy can be prescribed either separately or in combination with other means.
When shooting pain occurs on the right or left, special orthopedic collar corsets are also used. Due to their shape, they allow you to reliably fix the neck from all sides and sides. The muscles at the same time relax, reducing their tone. Such collars are hard and soft. The first of these two options for orthopedic products is used to securely fix the neck after surgery or injury. In other cases, it will be advisable to use soft collars. , , , .
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During surgery, damaged or deformed sections of the vertebrae are removed, which are replaced by prostheses. Such treatment, on the one hand, is very effective, and on the other, it carries the risk of damage to a rather complex system of nerve connections.