Pain in the neck and its sudden immobility can take you by surprise at any moment. What pain indicates pinching? How can I remove it and can I make it stop appearing again?
- Why it occurs
- Who is at risk
- Symptoms
- When it’s time to see a doctor
- Possible complications
- How to help yourself in case of pinching
- Treatment
- What can help maintain normal condition
There is little pleasure in having a pinched neck, but many attribute it to age or some weakness in the muscles, and some simply think that they have a draft. But all this is more serious and it is important to identify it in time and start treatment. Let's discuss with neurologist Alexander Kruzhalov why this problem may arise and what can be done to feel better as quickly as possible.
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Why it occurs
There are many reasons for the appearance of neck pain: the most common are spasms of the neck muscles, slightly less often trauma and inflammatory changes in the ligamentous apparatus of the spine, inflammation, arthrosis and subsequent deformation of the facet joints of the cervical spine, compression of the spinal roots by disc herniations, irritation of the membranes of the spinal cord, can There may be even more rare reasons.
However, regardless of the cause, this disease is always accompanied by severe pain at rest and during movement, as well as limited mobility in the neck, due to muscle spasm that occurs as a protective mechanism.
Since there are reasons for the appearance of pain in the neck a lot, you must definitely consult a doctor and undergo examination and treatment under the supervision of specialists, especially if the pain syndrome is long-lasting and persistent. Self-administration of analgesics (NSAIDs – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can bring relief, but more often the effect is not permanent and unstable, and the pain returns after a while.
Is it possible to prevent these pains from occurring again? Let's take a closer look.
Who is at risk
Several factors contribute to the development of pain in the neck (cervical spine) factors. The risk group includes:
- those who have previously suffered a spinal injury, for example: whiplash injury, which can occur in a car accident, falling from a bicycle or scooter and is associated with excessive and sudden hyperextension in the cervical spine;
- people who have there are increased loads on the spine, leading to improper distribution of the load on its parts (sedentary work, professional sports, flat feet, work associated with lifting weights);
- patients with vertebral instability, spondylolisthesis (displacement of the vertebrae relative to each other friend and the normal axis of the spine);
- and last (and most common): those who have degenerative changes in the spine. At present, the mechanism of development of degenerative changes in the spine and, as a consequence, the appearance of pain syndrome has not been established; there are several theories. The most common theory is involutional, according to which a local, premature change in the cartilage and bone tissues of the spine occurs as a result of mechanical and inflammatory damage.
Neck entrapment is a multifactorial disease, which means that it does not have any one predisposing risk factor for its development, from those that we listed above, most often it is a combination of several.
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Symptoms
The main core of the symptoms of the disease will be:
- pain, sometimes localized not only in the neck, but also radiating to other areas: shoulder, shoulder blade, arm down to the fingers,
- spasm (tension) and pain in the muscles of the neck and cervical-collar area, scapular region,
- severe limitation of mobility in the cervical spine.
Some symptoms may precede the onset of pain. This is an increase in the tone of the neck muscles, the appearance of a feeling of “heaviness and discomfort in the neck” and a slight limitation of mobility.
When it’s time to see a doctor
You should consult a doctor when the first signs of an incipient exacerbation of the disease appear in order to begin treatment as early as possible. This is very important if pain occurs for the first time in life. Considering that there are many reasons for neck pain, self-medication can only worsen the situation, so it is necessary to undergo an examination under the supervision of specialists, especially if the pain syndrome is long-term and persistent.
Possible complications
Over time, irritated and inflamed nerves can become damaged. This can lead to long-term (permanent) numbness or weakness. If symptoms suddenly change or worsen, be sure to tell your doctor.
How to Help Yourself in Case of Pinching
As a first aid, you can take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), use ointments with NSAIDs, or ointments of a distracting (cooling or warming) nature.
It is also important to immobilize with a cervical collar and keep yourself or the victim at rest.
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Treatment
The main thing to remember: this disease is chronic, and the main thing in treating patients is achieving stable remission. To achieve this, an integrated approach is used.
The first stage is relief of acute pain syndrome. At this stage, primarily cervical immobilization through rest and sometimes wearing a cervical brace, analgesics (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants and physical therapy are used. In physiotherapy, preference is given to techniques using a pulsed magnetic field, varying degrees of intensity, or diodynamic currents (Bernard currents).
At the second stage, after relief of acute pain and partial restoration of range of motion in the neck, early rehabilitation of patients begins, a mandatory component of which is physical therapy. The scope of physiotherapeutic procedures is expanding, manual techniques are beginning to be used (manual therapy, osteopathy).
After complete relief of the pain syndrome and complete restoration of the range of motion in the neck, a period of remission begins. To prevent pinching from happening again, the main task of this period is to maintain long-term, stable remission. The obligatory and most effective method is physical therapy and its equivalents (swimming, yoga), which, if necessary, can be supplemented with courses of manual therapy or osteopathy.
What can help maintain normal condition
- Prescription or over-the-counter pain medications.
- Cold compresses. They help reduce pain.
- Rest. Positions and activities that increase pain should be avoided.
- Neck brace (collar).
- Physical therapy, including exercises and stretches. This may help reduce pain and improve mobility and functionality.