Pain in the muscles of the neck

Pain in the muscles of the neck, or cervicalgia, is located exclusively in the cervical region and does not radiate to other parts of the body, occurs due to the lesion of the cervical spine or muscles in this area.

If the pain in the neck muscles radiates into the arm, there is likely a disease such as cervicobrahialgia - the jelly core of the intervertebral disc loses its elasticity and gradually breaks up into separate fragments. Pain in the muscles of the neck, radiating to the forehead, whiskey, shoulders, hands, can be a sign of cervicocranium. It increases with palpation of the cervico-occipital muscle fibers.

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The main causes of pain in the muscles of the neck

• hypothermia
• uncomfortable posture during sleep
• long stay in the same position, for example, when working behind a monitor
• overload of muscle fibers during sports training or when lifting weights
• traumatism of cervical department
• tumor or infectious processes in the tissues of the spine.

The main symptom are painful sensations, accompanied by tingling, pulsation, and lumbago. When coughing or the slightest attempts to strain the pain grow, can be accompanied by a sensation of noise in the ears, dizziness, limited mobility of the cervical region, pain in the occipital part, numbness of the upper limbs.

How to recognize the pain in the muscles of the neck?

• X-ray examination of the cervical spine.
• Radiocontrast examination of the spinal cord (myelography).
• Methods of computer and magnetic resonance imaging.
• Electromyography - is a method of hardware research, with the help of which the degree of conductivity of nerve endings and electrical activity is determined.
• Analysis of the conditions under which pain was first experienced.
• Electro-neurology - with the help of this method, the speed of carrying out an electric pulse along the nerves is determined.

How to treat pain in the muscles of the neck?

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - tablets, ointments, intramuscular injections (diclofenac, finalgel, finalgel, fastumgel, apizarthron, movalis, rheumoxicam, etc.)
• Muscle relaxants. It may be expedient, for example, to use the drug midokalm, which reduces the myogypertonus. The daily dose of the drug for adults is 150-450 mg, the reception is divided into three times. Intramuscular injections are given twice a day (100 mg each), and intravenous injections are administered once a day (100 mg).
• Local injections of anesthetics are novocaine, lidocaine (in case the paravertebral muscle bundles are very tight).
• Wearing a special cervical collar during the treatment period (from one to three weeks). Such a collar can only be picked up by a doctor.
• Traction, or extractor. The mechanism of exposure is to increase the diameter of intervertebral segments, as a result of which the puffiness and pressure of the nerve roots and nearby tissues are neutralized. As a result of traction therapy, the tension of ligaments and tendons decreases, the excessive excitability of the central nervous system, which is formed due to impulses from the musculo-articular apparatus of the spine.

Physiotherapy

With moderate pain, not accompanied by additional symptoms, you can perform the following simple exercises for which you need:

1. Lie on your stomach, put your head on your side, take a breath, press your cheek onto the surface of the bed, make an exhalation.
2. Take the sitting position, put your hands on the back of the head, take a breath, hold your breath, press your hands tightly against the back of your head, exhale, tilt your head slightly. Repeat three to four times.
3. In the sitting position, place your hands on the forehead, inhale, press the palms to the forehead, exhale and relax.
   • Physiotherapy method involves the use of local thermal procedures (mud baths, compresses), massage procedures (in the acute stage of the massage is contraindicated), correction of posture.
   • Use of an orthopedic pillow.

If you experience pain in the neck muscles, consult a traumatologist or neurologist for advice.