Why does the neck hurt and what to do about it

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

There are only three signs that neck pain is dangerous.

If your neck tingles, clicks, shoots, it cramps, you can exhale: with a probability of 99% nothing terrible is happening to you. Only 1% of neck pain is caused by When to Worry About Neck Pain… and when not to! really disturbing reasons. And more often than not, these dangerous diseases do not manifest themselves too much.

When neck pain is really dangerous

Sometimes, neck pain can be a symptom of an autoimmune disease, tumors, inflammation, pinched nerve, blood vessel problems, or spinal cord injury. You can assume an unpleasant disease if you observe three important signs at once.

1. Neck discomfort or pain persists for at least several days.
2. The unpleasant sensations are growing.

3. You have at least one aggravating factor:

   • age over 55 or under 20;
   • increasing pain when tapping;
   • fever, nausea, or general malaise;
   • weight loss;
   • regular headaches;
   • stiffness in the simplest movements;
   • numbness, tingling, weakness in other parts of the body - arms or legs.

If all three points coincide, try to contact a therapist as soon as possible. The doctor will prescribe tests for you and, possibly, refer you to narrow specialists to clarify the reasons and make a diagnosis.

There is another obvious situation where pain cannot be left without immediate attention: if you are involved in an accident, fall from a bicycle, ski, snowboard, or were injured in another way, and sharp pain in the neck occurred immediately after that. Here you can immediately contact the emergency room or the surgeon.

Why does the neck hurt?

The neck is thin and flexible, and she has to hold a weighty head, which also twists back and forth, upsetting balance. In general, there is enough tension. But in some situations Neck pain the load increases and pain appears. In addition, other factors often play a role in the emergence of the latter.

Muscle tension

Almost everyone who spends a lot of time at a computer or desk is familiar with him. Sitting, we unconsciously lean forward, putting our head behind the shoulder girdle. To keep her in such a non-physiological position, the muscles have to seriously strain. If this lasts for hours, the neck starts to ache.

There is an additional nuance: over time, the muscles get used to being in the wrong position and it is no longer so easy to relax them. This means that tension pains become regular.

By the way, the neck muscles overload even such seemingly harmless things as reading in bed or the habit of clenching your teeth.

Worn joints

Like other joints in the body, cervical joints wear out with age. The spacers between them - elastic cartilage that provide the necessary shock absorption under stress and soft turns - become thinner, and sometimes even completely collapse.

Due to thinning cartilage, the joints rub against each other during movement. This causes stiffness and soreness.

Whiplash injuries

You are driving, for example, in a minibus, and at some point it slows down sharply. Your head moves forward by inertia, and then leans back and moves forward again, onto your chest.

The load on the muscles increases, they stretch sharply, and micro-tears appear. Podiatrists call this whiplash due to the characteristic movement of the neck.

Muscle inflammation

I ran without a scarf in winter or sat in a draft - and now, my neck blew. In medical terms, due to exposure to cold, the muscles became inflamed - myositis began.

Neck muscles can also become inflamed against the background of infectious diseases: ARVI, influenza, viral sore throat … Most often, myositis is not dangerous and goes away by itself within a few days. However, it is important to monitor the symptoms listed in the “When neck pain is really dangerous” section so that you can see a doctor in time if necessary.

Inflammation of the lymph nodes

Strictly speaking, in this case it is not the neck itself that hurts, but the accumulation of lymphatic cells. Swollen, painful lymph nodes are a sure sign that the body is fighting off a Swollen lymph nodes infection centered in the neck and head.

Most often we are talking about colds - flu, SARS, ear infections. But sometimes the cause of inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck area can be "exotic". For example, developing caries in one of the teeth, beginning measles, immune disorders and even HIV.

Only a qualified doctor can establish the exact cause, so carefully monitor your condition so as not to miss dangerous signs and consult with a specialist in time.

What to do if your neck hurts right now

The vast majority of neck problems are associated with either muscle tension pains or worn joints. These situations do not require special treatment. The discomfort usually goes away within a few days.

To relieve pain if it really spoils your life, doctors recommend Why Does My Neck Hurt? So:

1. Take pain relievers like aspirin, ibuprofen, or paracetamol.
2. Attaching a bag of ice or frozen vegetables wrapped in a thin towel to your neck can also help relieve puffiness, if any. You can use cold during the first 2-3 days.
3. If the discomfort has not gone away after 2-3 days, it is better to relieve the condition with the help of moist heat. For example, taking a hot shower or applying a towel soaked in hot water to your neck.
4. Exercise to gently stretch your neck muscles and improve circulation. Please note that training is prohibited in case of acute pain or suspected diseases of the cervical spine - pinched nerve, hernia, and so on. Once again, check your feelings with the paragraph "When neck pain is really dangerous" and if you have the slightest doubt, consult your doctor as soon as possible.

What to do to prevent neck pain

The most effective way to deal with neck pain is through prevention. To make life easier for this important part of the body, follow these guidelines.

1. Watch your posture. When standing or sitting, make sure your shoulders are directly above your hips and your ears are above your shoulders.
2. Take breaks and warm up. If you work a lot at the computer or travel while sitting, get up, move, stretch your shoulders and stretch your neck at every opportunity.
3. Adjust the height of your desk and chair, computer monitor and keyboard. The display should be at eye level with your knees just below your hips. The keyboard - lie on the table so that you can comfortably work on it, resting your elbows on the armrests of the chair.
4. Get out of the habit of holding your phone between your ear and shoulder while talking. If your hands are busy, use a headset or speakerphone.
5. If you smoke, here's another reason to quit. Smoking worsens the blood vessels and cartilage tissue that feed the muscles. As a result, the risk of developing neck pain increases.
6. Do not carry heavy shoulder bags.
7. Sleep with your head and neck level with your body to reduce stress on your spine. Ideally, sleep on your back with a small bolster under your neck and a flat pillow under your hips.
8. Keep track of your menu, even if nothing hurts right now. A balanced diet will nourish your muscles and prolong joint health.
9. Be careful to avoid drafts and injuries.
10. Monitor your health carefully during the cold season. The life hacker has already advised how not to catch the flu.