Pain when turning the head

Any pain is associated with a pathological process that affected any organ or work of a part, or even the whole system of the human body, And any pain is a symptom of a certain disease. It is necessary to eliminate the "malfunction" in the body - and the pain will pass ... Symptoms such as acute pain when turning the head or constant aching pain, which are localized in the neck and become more tangible with the slightest change in the position of the head, are familiar to many.

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Causes of pain when turning the head

In neurology, it is commonly believed that pain when turning the head is most often the result of spasm of nearby muscles, cervical osteochondrosis and cervico-brachial radiculitis. Also, the causes of pain when turning the head can be covered in pathologies such as twisting of the vertebral artery, displacement of the second cervical vertebra (spondylolisthesis), a syndrome of the anterior staircase and brain abscess. It is not ruled out that such pain can arise after a trauma to the cervical spine, in the presence of a brain tumor, cervical spinal cord or metastases in the spine (for example, in breast or lung cancer).

Spasm of muscles occurs with their severe supercooling (for example, from drafts), as well as as a result of prolonged static physical activity or uncomfortable position of the head for a long time.

Cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by severe pain when turning the head, which is localized in the neck and the occipital part of the skull. The pain intensifies in some definite positions of the head and neck, especially under physical exertion. The fact is that with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, intervertebral discs are destroyed: their height decreases, the cartilaginous tissue of the joint becomes more rigid, and the cartilage begins to press on the nerve endings and blood vessels. As a result, a person feels pain in the area of damaged vertebrae, including a sharp pain when turning the head, which can move from the neck to the shoulder region.

The peculiarity of myofascial (muscular) pain syndrome in the back of the neck, shoulder and shoulder blade with cervical-brachial radiculitis (which is a complication of osteochondrosis) is that the pain when the head turns, as well as with other movements in the cervical region and shoulder is significantly strengthened. In addition, patients with this disease often experience discomfort on both sides of the neck, which eventually change to a loss of skin sensitivity.

The reason for the pain when turning the head may be due to the twisting of the vertebral artery around the first cervical vertebra (atlanta). In this case, pain is accompanied by ringing in the ears, dizziness, double vision, numbness of limbs or the whole body.

Pain when turning the head is observed with traumatic spondylolisthesis of the second cervical vertebra (axis), which some experts call a fracture of the second cervical vertebra of the first degree. With this pathology, the axis shifts relative to the vertebra following it, and patients feel dull pain when turning their head, and also unpleasant sensations in the neck. In the process of further displacement of the vertebra, the pain intensifies.

Scalenus syndrome or a syndrome of anterior staircase (this muscle starts from the transverse processes of the third and fourth cervical vertebrae and ends at the anterior edge of the first rib) - these are pains from squeezing the lower roots of the brachial plexus of this muscle and the subclavian artery. It should be noted that this pain syndrome in most cases develops parallel to cervicothoracic osteochondrosis, but the same factors contribute to the disease: hypothermia, static load and physical overstrain.

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Headache when turning the head

Headache when turning the head occurs with a local purulent inflammation of the brain - an abscess. With an abscess of the brain against the background of general weakness, depression and loss of appetite, the head starts to ache, either entirely or in a certain place. But the pain necessarily becomes very strong when moving and especially when turning the head. And with this disease, the pain is steadily growing, and no analgesics with it can not cope.

Headache when turning the head - a frequent companion of the so-called neuralgia of the occipital nerve, which is caused by many diseases of the cervical spine, primarily osteochondrosis and spondyloarthrosis.

Often, headaches are caused by the inflammatory processes of the vertebral joints - cervical spondylitis, cervical spondylosis and spinal cord spondyloarthrosis. These are chronic diseases of the spine, in which

Deformation of the vertebral and intervertebral joints, leading to pain in the neck and difficulty in its movement, headache and pain in the upper shoulder belt, which accompany literally every movement of the head.

Finally, a pressing headache when turning the head, as well as dull pain when turning the head, concentrated in the occipital region, are characteristic of hypertensive syndrome, which is associated with increased intracranial pressure. Experts argue that the cause of the development of hypertensive syndrome is very often problems with the spine. And to them, in turn, lead to a prolonged muscle strain and an incorrect position of the neck and head, not only with physical exertion, but also with sedentary work, for example, at the computer.

How does pain appear when you turn your head?

The main symptoms of pain when turning the head, which are typical for patients with cervical osteochondrosis, are pains of varying intensity in the neck. And this symptom is one of the first signs of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Typically, the pain that occurs in the neck and occiput, seizes the parietal region, forehead and whiskey. Pain can be accompanied by the appearance of "flies" in the eyes, hearing loss, hot flashes, chills, sweating and palpitations.

The main symptoms of pain when turning the head, which are experienced by patients with a diagnosis of cervical scoliosis - a significant limitation of mobility of the neck, a crunch in the neck when turning the head. Moreover, pain deep inside the neck can appear even when a person simply turns his head, coughs, sneezes or wants to roll over on the other side, lying in bed.

With neuralgia of the occipital nerve, the pressing pain in the nape turns into aching pain when the head turns and into sharp pains in the ears, lower jaw and neck - with any movements of the head.

If the pain when turning the head is a consequence of the syndrome of the anterior staircase, the pain spreads over the inner surface of the shoulder and the forearm to the wrist and fingers, but when the head turns, the pain affects the nape.

A hypertensive syndrome is characterized by a bursting or pressing headache (which can become stronger from loud sounds and bright light), a feeling of heaviness in the head in the morning and painful sensations in the field of eyeballs. Nausea and even vomiting are possible.

Diagnosis of pain when turning the head

It is clear that some symptoms for determining the root cause of pain when turning the head is clearly not enough, and neurologists based on the results of anamnesis and primary examination of patients (including by using the palpation of the vertebrae and muscles of the neck and shoulder girdle) put a preliminary diagnosis.

Establishing a final diagnosis and establishing the causes that cause pain when turning the head is helped by differential diagnosis. X-rays, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are widely used for its implementation. With the help of these diagnostic methods, doctors can determine the degree of development of the disease, its location and the anatomical and physiological features of its course in a particular patient.

Treatment of pain when turning the head

In the treatment of pain in the pathology of the cervical spine, a crucial role is played by symptomatic therapy, that is, the removal of the pain syndrome.

Medicamental treatment of pain when turning the head

Treatment of pain when turning the head, caused by almost all the above reasons, includes the use of external distracting (locally irritating), analgesic and anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal agents - ointments and gels.

Ointment Fastum gel (active ingredient - ketoprofen) is applied to the skin over the inflammation focus with a thin layer (lightly rubbing) 1-2 times a day. Contraindications: a tendency to skin allergies and skin diseases; severe renal insufficiency; Dermatosis and eczema in the place of application of the gel; children's age till 12 years; pregnancy and lactation. Ointments and gels Ketoprofen, Ketonal, Artrozilen, Artrum, Oruvel and others have the same active substance and are analogues.

Ointment or gel Diclofenac (active ingredient diclofenac) is also effective for pain relief, it is applied 3-4 times a day, applying to the skin of a painful area. Diclofenac can cause serious side effects if patients have bronchial asthma, hypertension, heart failure, stomach ulcers, chronic hepatitis, pyelonephritis. The drug is contraindicated in pregnancy and lactation, as well as in elderly patients. Ointments (or gels) Voltaren, Diclac, Diclofen, Naklofen have the same active substance and are analogous.

Local irritant and analgesic effect is also the drug Nise gel (the active substance is nimesulide). The gel column length of approximately 3 cm is applied in a thin layer (not rubbing) on the area of maximum soreness 3-4 times a day. The duration of the drug is 10 days. When using this drug, there may be local adverse reactions in the form of hives, itching and flaking of the skin.

In the treatment of pain when turning the head as an anesthetic, such medicines for oral administration as butadione, nimesil, ketonal, piroxicam and others are used.

Butadion (synonymous with Butalidone, Phenylbutazone, Arthrizon, Butalgin, Diphenylbutazone, Zolafen, Novophenyl, Fenopyrin, etc.) is similar in its effect to aspirin: it refers to non-steroidal analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Butadion (tablets of 0.05 g and 0.15 grams) is taken orally 0.1-0.15 g 2-3 times a day. The duration of the course is from two weeks to a month. Among the contraindications of the drug: gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, impaired liver and kidney function, diseases of the blood-forming organs, cardiac arrhythmia. Side effects: nausea, pain in the stomach (possible the appearance of ulcers on the mucous membrane), skin rashes, nerve inflammation (neuritis), anemia, hematuria (blood in the urine).

Nimesil (pellets in bags for the preparation of suspension) is taken orally - 1 packet (dissolved in 100 ml of water) after eating. The drug is contraindicated in: inflammatory bowel diseases, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, severe blood clotting disorders, severe cardiac and renal insufficiency, liver diseases, children under 12 years of age, pregnancy and lactation. The drug has side effects, including: heartburn, headache, dizziness, nausea, pain in the stomach, diarrhea, toxic hepatitis, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, anemia, agranulocytosis.

Capsules Ketonal is administered one capsule three times a day, the maximum daily dose is 300 mg (not more than 6 capsules). When osteoarthritis is recommended to take one capsule 4 times a day. The drug should be washed down with a sufficient amount of liquid (not less than 100 ml). Side effects occur rarely and can manifest as epigastric pain, nausea, diarrhea, headache and dizziness. In the list of contraindications for this drug: hypersensitivity, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (during an exacerbation), violations of the kidneys, liver and hematopoietic system, late pregnancy, breast-feeding, age up to 15 years.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug Piroxicam is prescribed to adults 10-40 mg once a day (1 tablet contains 20 mg of active ingredient) - during or after a meal with a sufficient amount of liquid. Side effects are possible as a feeling of thirst, loss or increase in appetite, flatulence, nausea, diarrhea, or constipation.

Contraindications of the drug: increased sensitivity to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, bronchial asthma, ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, pronounced renal dysfunction, pregnancy, lactation, and children under 15 years.

It is clear that in addition to eliminating pain, therapy is designed to restore the function of the cervical spine and remove the cause of pain when turning the head. For this, various physiotherapeutic procedures are used.

Physiotherapy in the treatment of pain when turning the head

In the arsenal of physiotherapy methods that are successfully used in the treatment of pain when turning the head, the most effective are: massage, electrophoresis with the use of medications, ultrasound, mud therapy, magnetotherapy, sinusoidal simulated currents.

Massage in the treatment of pain when turning the head can be done independently. Here are the main techniques for self-massage of the collar zone:

1. Brush your hand (right hand on the left side and vice versa) to stroke the back of the neck from the occiput to the shoulder joint (5-10 times on each side). Pressing on the skin should not cause painful sensations.
2. With the help of finger pads, rub the skin along the neck and along the cervical vertebrae in a circular motion to the back (5-10 times). In this case, the fingers must press on the skin, simultaneously shifting and stretching it.
3. Relax the muscles from the cervical vertebrae to the shoulders and shoulder blades, knead them between the large and the four remaining fingers - the right hand on the left side and vice versa (5-10 times on each side).
4. On the back and side surfaces of the neck is a slight pat on the fingers (10 times).
5. Stroking the palms of the front of the neck - from the chin to the collarbone (5-10 times).

To do the massage you need to sit, turning your head in the opposite side of the massaged part. If, due to pain when turning the head, this can not be done, then the massage is performed with a minimally painful position of the head.

Prevention of pain when turning the head

To pain when turning the head did not become your constant companions, sleep on your side and on a firm mattress. And if possible - without a pillow (or buy a special orthopedic pillow). In winter, do not forget to warm your neck with a scarf.

With sedentary work, do exercises to prevent pain when turning your head:

1. Without getting up from the workplace, put your hand on the forehead and strongly push it with the whole head - while the hand should remain completely still (it seems to spring and does not allow the head to move). Then, do the same with your palm resting on the back of your head. And complete this isometric exercise (very useful for the blood supply of the cervical spine), putting the chin on the back of the palm and trying to tilt your head forward. Everything is done 5-7 times (at least twice a day).
2. Slowly tilt the head back and forth, right-left (10 times).
3. Straighten your back, put your hands down (along the trunk) and raise-lower your shoulders (movement "shrugging").
4. Smoothly turn your head from side to side.

Pain when turning the head can and should be "treated". Although, you yourself understand that it is necessary to treat those diseases, which became its cause.