The neck is important, therefore, if it begins to hurt, then a person suffers very much from this. There are various diseases and pathologies that provoke discomfort.
When the neck muscles are sore from the side, the person experiences very strong discomfort, which partially deprives him of working capacity. Pain can be given to the head or arm. When committing an awkward movement, pain increases.
Types of pain
Probably, each person experienced pain in the neck, which mainly appears in the neck, and then gradually spreads to the left or right side. If the neck muscles are sore from the side, then the discomfort causes a spasm and does not even allow you to turn your head. Painful sensations can vary, so there is a certain classification of such an unpleasant manifestation. Depending on the localization, such types of pain are distinguished as:
- somatic surface;
- deep
- visceral.
In addition, the pain can be acute and chronic. Acute painful sensations arise as a result of the presence of certain pathologies in the body and indicate a danger of the course of the disease or organic damage. Chronic pain torments a person for a long time. Depending on the location of the pain, their severity and intensity, you can first determine why the neck muscles hurt from the side.
Most common causes
Many people wonder why neck muscles on the side hurt and how it is possible to quickly get rid of discomfort. Among the main reasons can be identified such as:
- muscle inflammation;
- spinal diseases;
- pathology of the neck;
- hereditary muscle diseases;
- violation of metabolic processes.
The most common cause is osteochondrosis. However, if neck muscles on the side are sore, then this may be a sign of a hernia, spinal tuberculosis, injuries, and also a tumor. Also, discomfort can occur with hypothermia, a previous viral disease. If the pain is aching and weak, then this may indicate the presence of myositis.
If the neck muscles are sore from the side, then this can be a sign of trauma, atherosclerosis of the vessels, varicose neck. Usually painful sensations occur in the evening or after exercise. Very rare are hereditary diseases that manifest as early as childhood.
Musculoskeletal system diseases
Why a neck sore from the side can be determined only by a qualified doctor, however, it is worth noting that there are a number of predisposing factors that provoke pain. Various diseases of the bone and muscle system, in particular such as osteochondrosis, can provoke them. This disease represents degenerative destruction of the vertebrae, provoked by heavy loads or lack of nutrition of bone tissue. As a result of this, a slow destruction of the spine occurs, which is accompanied by severe pain. The muscles are spasmodic and stretched. As a result of the course of osteochondrosis, the neck muscles in the front and side hurt, and gradually painful sensations are given to the scapular region and to the arm.
Spondylosis is characterized by the fact that the ongoing degenerative processes lead to the subsequent formation of osteophytes. These small bone growths form along the edges of the vertebra and act as additional support. However, an excess of bone tissue provokes pinched nerve endings. As a result of this, pain occurs in the neck, head, vision deteriorates, tinnitus and dizziness are observed.
Even a slight neck injury with the presence of osteochondrosis often leads to displacement of the vertebrae. The presence of pathology can be determined by the weakness of the fingers and hands, the presence of headaches and dizziness. Usually, all this symptomatology is combined with irritability, depression, and sleep problems.
Many people spend a working day at a computer in almost the same position. If the uniform load is not compensated by sports, there is a strong hypertonicity, as well as spasms of the neck muscles.
If the neck hurts on the side of the left or right, then this may be a sign of inflammation of her muscles. As a result of hypothermia, an inflammatory process is observed, and in the end there is no way even to move the head and neck normally.
Diseases of the internal organs
It may be that the neck hurts from the side to the left or right, but the discomfort has nothing to do with problems with the neck. Among the main diseases that provoke discomfort, it is necessary to distinguish such as bronchitis, tracheitis, pneumonia, laryngitis. The painful sensations emanating from the respiratory organs can give to the neck, and it may seem to the patient that it hurts.
Causes of neck pain may be circulatory problems. As a result of squeezing spasmodic muscles of the arteries that feed the brain, the development of cervical migraine is possible. This condition can additionally be accompanied by severe pain.
Infectious skin diseases lead to inflammation, which can be accompanied by very acute pain. In infectious diseases, the lymph nodes expand, which leads to unpleasant sensations in the cervical region.
If the right side of the neck is sore from the side and discomfort is felt in the right hypochondrium, then this may be a sign of cholecystitis. If in the morning there are painful sensations in the cervical spine and temples in the morning, then this may be a sign of hypertension. In this case, the pain is reflected and it comes from the esophagus, head, heart. Myocardial infarction and angina are characterized by the presence of pain in the shoulders, chest and arms.
Excruciating prolonged pains on the side of the neck can be a sign of an increase in the size of the tumor in the brain. In this case, you must definitely seek help from a doctor.
Other reasons
If the neck hurts on the right side, this may be a sign of lumbago. This violation is associated with compression of the muscles of the neck. Lumbago is harmless and passes literally in 1-2 weeks on its own. Often it occurs due to a draft, and gradually the pain spreads to the chest and head.
If the neck hurts on the left side from the side, then it is possible that the person simply tracked down this side. This is due to the fact that the work of the vessels of the cervical spine is deteriorating. During the onset of painful sensations, it is enough to just change the position of the body.
Many obese people often have cervical pain. The spine and cervical vertebrae cannot cope with being overweight, they are under a lot of stress, and they resist, which is expressed in the form of pain.
Stress and psychological overstrain become causes of excruciating sensations. If the shoulders also hurt, and numbness and tingling are also felt, it means that the nerve was pinched. The pain will disappear after an injection or taking painkillers.
Diagnostics
If the neck hurts on the side, what to do can only be determined by a doctor after a comprehensive examination. Diagnosis begins with an oral survey of the patient for the presence of characteristic complaints and a medical history. Basically, diagnostics involves conducting an instrumental examination. It includes:
- palpation of the affected area;
- roentgenography;
- tomography;
- dopplerography;
- laboratory research.
All these research methods allow you to get a complete picture of the condition of the spine, muscles and blood vessels, as well as make the correct diagnosis and choose treatment methods.
Treatment features
What to do if the neck hurts from the side to the right or left? This question is of interest to so many people who suffer from this violation. Treatment is selected strictly individually, depending on what reason the discomfort has arisen. Often, conservative treatment can be dispensed with, which includes taking medications or carrying out procedures aimed at combating pain.
When prescribing treatment, it is initially necessary to establish the cause of the occurrence and localization of pain, as well as its possible complications. In some cases, in the presence of severe severe pain provoked by pinching of the nerve endings, treatment is not required. To do this, you need to provide peace for some time, as well as relax and restrict movement. In some cases, an integrated approach to therapy is required.
Treatment with medications implies the use of non-steroidal drugs, which are mainly prescribed in tablet form. However, depending on the diagnosis, chondroprotectors, regenerating, anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of injections can be prescribed. In severe pain, blockades can be prescribed that are administered directly to the site of pain, thereby somewhat dulling the pain receptors. Such injections can only be delivered by a doctor.
With severe pain, ointments and creams are sometimes added to oral preparations. These funds have a local effect and can for some time eliminate the pain or slightly reduce it. Creams and ointments as an independent method of therapy are not very effective. It is best to use them in combination with other means of conservative therapy. The most popular drugs to combat pain are such as Fastum Gel, Diclofenac, Voltaren, Finalgon, Ibuprofen, Dolobene Gel, Chondroxide.
A good result during the treatment has a massage. It makes it possible to relax the muscles and reduce pressure on the painful area. This therapy technique is well suited for shooting, sharp pains that are combined with cramping in the neck. If discomfort in the cervical spine is considered a sign of other diseases that are not associated with muscle cramps, then a massage in this case will not be very useful. Therefore, before conducting a massage, you need to consult a doctor to determine the cause of the pain.
It is important to understand exactly what to do if the neck hurts on the left side or right, in order to normalize well-being and not provoke a complication. A good method to reduce pain is physiotherapy. Using this method, you can achieve a relaxing effect, and also the required drugs are introduced into the site of inflammation. This allows you to reduce the number of side effects and neutralize the negative effect on other organs. There are such types of physiotherapy as:
- magnetic;
- laser;
- shock wave;
- ultrasound;
- ultraviolet.
All these methods help reduce or eliminate painful manifestations, normalize metabolism, improve blood circulation and reduce spastic syndrome. All types of physiotherapy can be used alone or in combination with other means.
If the neck hurts, then special orthopedic collars will help get rid of the pain. Due to their shape, they reliably fix the cervical spine from all sides. This helps to relax the muscles, reducing their tone. These collars can be hard and soft. The rigid structure is designed to be fixed after surgery or injury. In all other cases, soft collars are used.
If conservative therapy has not brought the required results, then surgery may be prescribed. Among the main indications, it is necessary to highlight:
- pinched nerve endings;
- intervertebral hernia;
- squeezing of the spinal cord.
During the operation, damaged or deformed sections of the vertebrae are removed, which are then replaced with prostheses. It is also very important to lead a healthy lifestyle, provide good nutrition, as well as sufficient physical activity.
ethnoscience
Before treatment, it is necessary to determine why the neck hurts on the side from the right side or from the left, since the applied therapeutic methods largely depend on it. However, if desired, and after consulting with a doctor, folk remedies can be used to help reduce painful manifestations.
A good remedy is tea made on the basis of currant, elderberry, lavender and wormwood leaves. Take this tool several times a day. Instead of coffee, it is best to drink an infusion of chicory. A universal remedy is tincture of echinacea. You need to take 10 drops of this tool 4 times a day.
Helps to eliminate pain, inflammation, as well as increase immunity juices from beets and carrots, mixed in equal proportions. Such a cocktail should be taken daily. You can make compresses from mint tincture. Fresh bruise is recommended to grind with olive oil.
Physiotherapeutic Techniques
For the treatment of radiculitis, osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, techniques such as:
- leech treatment;
- electrotherapy;
- isometric kinesiotherapy;
- low-intensity laser therapy.
Treatment with leeches is widely used in medicine, since a similar technique helps to quickly and efficiently get rid of inflammation and tumors, strengthen blood vessels. In addition, it stimulates blood circulation. Isometric kinesiotherapy is a special therapeutic gymnastics. Properly selected exercises help not only eliminate pain, but also improve the vertebrae. In addition, exercises will help normalize blood pressure, speed up metabolism and make joints more mobile.
Electrotherapy is carried out using pulsed current, which has pronounced vasodilating qualities. This technique allows you to stimulate the muscle system and eliminate spasm. Laser therapy is characterized by the fact that with the help of a light stream it is possible to reduce or completely eliminate painful sensations.
Prophylaxis
The best way to prevent it will be to exercise physical therapy. It helps strengthen the muscle corset, as well as stimulate muscle nutrition. Therapeutic gymnastics does not require much effort, so it can be carried out even at the workplace. It is simply indispensable for office employees. The main movements are head tilts and static exercises.
In addition, do not allow hypothermia. The neck should always be kept warm, especially in the cold season. You need to sleep on a high pillow of medium hardness, and it is even better to use a special orthopedic product. Properly conducted treatment and preventive measures will allow you to very quickly get rid of pain and normalize your health.