The neck consists of vertebrae that extend from the skull to the upper torso. Cervical discs absorb impacts between bones. Bones, ligaments and muscles support the head and allow it to move. If there are any abnormalities, deviations, inflammation or injuries, this can cause pain or stiffness in the collar zone. At such moments, it is difficult to immediately determine what the neck hurts from and take any measures.
Many people sometimes experience discomfort or stiffness in this area, which is most often caused by poor posture or excessive stress. In most cases, neck pain is not a serious pathology and can be eliminated in a few days. However, in some cases, such a symptom may indicate a serious illness and requires the advice of a doctor.
This article will help you understand why the neck hurts on the right side, as well as in other places. A classification of the types of pain and its most common causes will also be given. Consider how to get rid of discomfort in this part of the spine.
Types of pain in the cervical region
In order to prescribe effective treatment, a specialist must accurately determine the symptoms and causes of the pathology. Doctors classify pain in the neck as follows:
- cervicago - lumbago;
- cervicalgia.
The latter type refers to pain resulting from damage to the vertebrae or cervical muscles. Cervicalgia, in turn, can be divided into pain:
- associated with skin lesions (superficial somatic);
- associated with muscle or vertebral injuries (deep somatic);
- associated with the appearance in the body of an infection or malfunction of the internal organs (visceral).
Cervicalgia, exciting nearby areas, is divided into:
- on cervicobrachialgia (pain goes from the neck to the shoulders);
- on cervicocranialgia (pain goes from the neck (through the back of the head) to the head).
Speaking of cervicago, it is worth noting that this pain is always acute, it limits the mobility of the neck. Appears sharply and torments a person for a certain time so that it is impossible for him to think about anything else.
In order to determine why the neck hurts, it is extremely important for the doctor to establish its nature and describe using the above classification.
Common causes
Based on medical statistics, most often people who seek medical attention for pain in the neck are diagnosed with a number of the following diseases and conditions:
- cervical osteochondrosis;
- osteoporosis;
- muscle spasm;
- herniated intervertebral disc;
- inflammation of the lymph nodes;
- systemic disorders in the body (infectious processes, tumors, problems with the immune system).
However, pain can be caused not only by the presence of a disease in a person. The appearance of discomfort can also be caused by muscle tension or stretching (due to long sitting at the computer, driving a car, lifting weights, uncomfortable posture during sleep or playing sports). In addition, unpleasant sensations can occur due to the fact that a person has a headache closer to the neck.
Why is this happening, and what is the root cause? Only a specialist can answer this question. Sometimes people, trying to get rid of discomfort, take self-medication - massage, taking antibiotics, painkillers and other medicines. However, the consequences of such actions may not be the most favorable.
It should be understood what the above diseases and conditions are and what can be dangerous, and also why you can not treat them yourself.
Cervical osteochondrosis
The appearance of this pathology in humans is associated with anatomical specifics. The size of the vertebrae of the cervical region is much smaller than the bone structures of other segments of the spine. The neck is constantly experiencing tension, and this is due to the fact that its main functions are to maintain the head and ensure its mobility. If a person wonders why a neck is hurting from behind, then he needs to consult whether he has osteochondrosis of this spine.
Symptoms of this disease may be as follows:
- Pain from the neck to the shoulder, spreading along the outer surface of the shoulder, forearm, and hands.
- Penetrating pains in the neck or occipital region (especially intensified in the morning, with head movement, coughing, etc.).
- Headache (paroxysmal or constant, dull, impulsive, aggravated by turning the head), dizziness, blurred vision, ringing in the ears.
- Pain in the pectoral muscle.
- There is a violation of the blood flow of the cerebral arteries, which sometimes leads to a temporary loss of consciousness. With a deterioration in well-being, impaired speech and motor functions are possible.
It is not worth treating this disease on your own, since the consequences of such actions can be far from joyful. But turning to professionals, a person can be sure that the therapy will be of high quality and effective.
As a rule, treatment of cervical osteochondrosis may include the use of various anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs, gels and restorative ointments, physiotherapy and wellness exercises. Various medical plasters and more can be used.
Osteoporosis
This is a bone disease that occurs when they lose their density. As a result, they become weak and can break when dropped or small hits. This is the most common disease among women during menopause, but such habits as smoking, frequent drinking, and poor nutrition and a sedentary lifestyle also increase the risk of it.
For many people, making such a diagnosis may be the answer to the question of why the back of the neck hurts and at the same time gives it to the arms and shoulders.
Doctors distinguish three stages of this disease. The first stage suggests that a person begins to experience changes in the cervical region, such as a decrease in the density of the vertebrae, mild cramps, weakness and pain. In the second stage, constant headaches appear, pressure can drop sharply and rise above the norm, numbness in the hands and general weakness appear. The third stage (the most difficult) assumes that a person experiences severe deformities in the vertebrae, a hump may appear in the collar zone, and headaches and neck pains become constant companions.
Treatment of osteoporosis is aimed at slowing down or preventing its development, maintaining bone mineral density, and reducing pain. This is achieved through the use of supplements and drugs, as well as the revision of a person’s lifestyle in favor of light, but constant stress (walking, playing sports, etc.), proper nutrition, etc.
Muscle spasm
Why does the neck on the left side hurt? The cause may be a spasm. It occurs not only on the left, it can affect the right and back of the neck. This is due to involuntary muscle contraction as a result of intense tension. The situation often causes severe pain, which lasts from minutes to several days.
When wondering why the neck muscles hurt, a person should think about how he sleeps, works, and sits. Often spasms occur due to a violation of the natural position of the body, the transfer of heavy loads on the shoulders, including bags, stoop and other conditions (including serious diseases).
In this case, painkillers can help reduce neck pain, relieve muscle tension, and reduce inflammation. However, it is necessary to take them, following the attached instructions and with the knowledge of the doctor. If you are not sure that the pain in the neck is caused by a spasm, you should not drink any medications before consulting a specialist. In this case, you can attach an ice pack (wrapped in a towel) to your neck to temporarily relieve pain.
It is always worth remembering that it is very difficult to independently determine what the neck hurts from. If the discomfort does not go away or intensifies, then this can be a very serious reason for going to the attending physician.
Intervertebral disc herniation
This element is a strong ligament that connects one vertebral bone to another. Disks are cushioning cushions between each vertebra of the pillar. A hernia in the cervical spine can occur when even too much pressure is exerted on a healthy disc (weight transfer, falling from a height, etc.).
Symptoms of this disease usually include severe pain that can spread to one or both arms or legs, as well as numbness or tingling in the limbs, muscle weakness, and loss of sensation. Initially, a person may not understand why the neck hurts when turning, tilting, or other familiar movements. However, over time, discomfort becomes unbearable. Some people may not have neck or back pain with an intervertebral hernia. Where the symptoms will manifest itself depends on where the pathology is located.
The treatment of a herniated disc depends on the severity of the disease and visible damage. Most often, the condition of people improves within six weeks after the initial visit to a doctor. In many cases, medication and good physiotherapy are enough. During therapy, medications can be used to control pain, reduce muscle spasm.
Lymph node inflammation
Typically, such pathologies result from exposure to bacteria or viruses. When these changes occur in the body, it becomes not difficult to understand why the neck hurts on the left or on the right, since it is in these areas that the lymph nodes are located. They may swell in response to an upper respiratory tract infection, such as a cold. Concomitant symptoms that may be present along with edema are cough, fatigue, chills, runny nose, and profuse sweating.
What causes a neck sore with inflammation of the lymph nodes? The answer is simple: the pathological process affects the nerve endings, which send pain signals.
Treatment of this condition, as a rule, includes the identification of its nature (virus, infection, bacteria, tumor, etc.). Then the doctor prescribes drugs for the treatment of the root cause, which favorably affects the removal of the inflammatory process.
Various systemic disorders in the body
Sometimes people may not understand why the neck and head hurt, from which these sensations pass into the back or arms. Often this condition can be caused by some systemic disorders in the body. These include various tumors, depression, arthritis, infectious processes, meningitis, internal hemorrhages and other serious pathologies.
Pain in the cervical region can also occur when the body does not receive in the right amount some useful substances (vitamins, micro and macro elements).
Why does the neck ache in front, behind, or muscle discomfort and headaches are felt, only the doctor will answer according to the results of analyzes and additional studies. The root cause can be explained by the poor condition of other organs, and not just the collar zone.
Diagnostics
The first thing to do in order to establish the cause that causes pain in the neck, visit a therapist. He will appoint the necessary consultation with other specialists and determine the need for technological diagnostics.
The specialist will explain why the neck hurts on the right side, on the left or in another part of it. He will collect a complete medical history and determine what disorders in the body are happening at the moment.
During the examination, a person may be assigned the following diagnostic methods:
MRI can help determine the state of tissues, CT can detect pathologies in the cervical vertebrae, ultrasound is necessary to study the arterial ring, blood vessels and nearby tissues, and ECG so that the doctor can exclude various cardiac pathologies.
In addition, one of the necessary tests is the study of the patient’s blood, which will help to determine whether inflammatory or infectious processes are taking place in the body.
What to do?
Every person in pain wants to get rid of it as soon as possible. With discomfort in the neck, such actions can help:
- Ice should be applied to the sore spot (initially wrapped in a towel).
- If mild pain is caused by overstrain, you should temporarily abandon heavy physical exercises and give the neck muscles time to relax.
- It is necessary to perform light physical exercises for the neck during the day (slow bends and turns).
- You should control your posture so as not to aggravate the situation with additional loads on the muscles and vertebrae.
If the pain persists for one to two days, you should seek help from a doctor who will determine why the neck hurts. If symptoms such as swollen lymph nodes, fever, numbness or tingling, swelling, nausea, or the inability to move your head or limbs are added to this, you should immediately call an ambulance team or make an appointment with a specialist yourself.
Prevention
In order not to wonder why the neck hurts closer to the head, in other places, or muscle cramps occur, it is important to monitor your health and follow a series of the following recommendations:
- You only need to sleep on comfortable pillows that would allow the cervical region to relax while relaxing. To avoid problems with the neck and back, it is best to purchase an orthopedic pillow.
- The best pose for a comfortable rest of the entire spine is lying on your back. You should accustom yourself to fall asleep in this position.
- You need to choose the correct chair height and monitor position when working at the computer.
- Do not chat for a long time, play games or read on mobile devices. This creates an excessive load on the neck (most often with such an occupation, the head is lowered, which causes disturbances in the work of this part of the spine).
- It is important to pay attention and take time to charge, walks in the fresh air and sports.
- You should adjust your diet and diet. It is very important that the body receives the necessary amount of nutrients throughout the day.
- It is best to give up bad habits (overeating, smoking, drinking alcohol and drugs).
Conclusion
Having examined the main reasons why the neck hurts, we can conclude that it is unlikely to fix and fix the problem on its own. Therefore, it is important not to hesitate. You should immediately consult a specialist, even if neck pain can be tolerated. It is worth remembering that even slight discomfort can indicate violations in the body.