Neck Pain - Symptoms, causes and treatment

Neck pain is flavor the pain appears on the back of the neck, the right side of the neck, the left of the neck, and the front of the neck. Neck pain is common because the neck muscles are pulled, the nerves are pinched, or calcification of joints.

In general, neck pain or neck pain is not a serious condition to watch out for. This condition can heal in a few days or a few weeks without special treatment. However, there is also neck pain that appears as a symptom of certain diseases.

Neck Pain Symptoms

Neck pain can be mild to severe. The pain may be pressure-like, sharp, or throbbing. The pain may get worse with certain movements, such as looking down, looking up, or turning the head, and when touched.

In addition to complaints of neck pain, there are several other symptoms that can also appear, depending on the cause. These accompanying symptoms are:

  • Dizzy
  • Difficult to move the neck
  • Difficult to swallow
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Pain in the face
  • Pain in the shoulder
  • Pain in the upper and lower back
  • Numb or tingling hands

When to go to the doctor

An examination by a doctor needs to be done immediately if complaints of neck pain arise after an injury, for example after a traffic accident or after a fall. Accidents can cause spinal cord injury, resulting in neck pain.

Neck pain also needs to be consulted by a doctor if the pain gets worse or does not improve with pain medication. You also need to consult a doctor if your neck pain is accompanied by the following symptoms:

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • A lump appears on the neck
  • Arms or legs become weak
  • Hard to breathe

Causes of Neck Pain

Some abnormalities in the tissues in the neck can cause neck pain. These disorders include:

1. Muscle stiff neck

2. Neck joint damage

Generally, neck joint damage is caused by: osteoarthritis. This condition causes thinning of the cartilage and calcification. Calcification of the cervical spine will interfere with the movement of the neck joints and cause pain.

3. Nerves pinch

4. Cewhip

In addition to the four conditions above, some other medical conditions that can cause neck pain are:

  • Infection in the neck.
  • Narrowing of the spinal cord pathways.
  • Torticollis, which is a disorder of the neck muscles that causes the head to tilt in one direction, such as to the side or back.
  • Meningitis, which is an infection of the protective membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis on the neck.
  • Fibromyalgia.
  • Cancer around the neck or spine.

Neck Pain Diagnosis

At first, the doctor will ask about the symptoms experienced and the patient's medical history. Then the doctor will perform a physical examination, especially on the neck.

During a physical examination, the doctor will also ask the patient to move his head forward, sideways, or backwards, to determine the range of motion of the neck. After a physical exam, your doctor may order some additional tests which include:

Scan

Electromyography (EMG)

Blood test

Pevacuate lumbar

Neck Pain Treatment

Most neck pain usually goes away on its own in 2-3 weeks. However, this of course depends on the cause. The following are ways that can be done to reduce pain in the neck:

  • Use suitable pillow

    Avoid using pillows that are too high or hard, as they can stiffen your neck. There are several pillow materials that can be used. One of which is memory foam, namely materials that can follow the contours of the neck and head.

  • Do neck exercises

    Move your neck up and down, right and left, and turn your head. This stretching movement can stretch tense neck muscles.

  • neck compress

    Compress the sore neck with ice cubes wrapped in a towel for the first 3 days. After that, compress with a bottle of warm water to relieve neck pain.

  • Avoid neck movements that are too tight

    Avoid sudden, too-tight neck movements to reduce inflammation and relieve neck pain.

  • Massaging sore neck

    Massage can relieve neck pain and make you more relaxed. Ask someone else to do a gentle massage on the sore neck.

If the neck pain experienced is quite severe and does not go away despite the above treatments, the doctor may give or recommend the following treatment to the patient:

Physiotherapy

In this procedure, the therapist will correct the problematic posture with certain movement exercises. Therapy can also be done with neck traction. A device such as a hanger to support the head is used to stretch the patient's neck.

In addition to physical therapy, doctors can also perform nerve stimulation with electricity called TENS. This therapy is done by channeling electricity to the painful area, so that the pain subsides quickly.

neck brace or neck collar can be used during daily activities as a complement to physiotherapy. The neck collar will reduce the pressure on the neck structure, thus relieving the complaint of neck pain. However, this buffer can only be used for a maximum of 3 hours per day for 1-2 weeks.

Drugs

Drugs that can be given to reduce pain in the neck are paracetamol or ibuprofen. In addition to oral medications, topical pain relievers can also be given.

Doctors can give other types of pain relievers if the pain is unbearable or prolonged. Examples of drugs that are often given in this condition are muscle relaxants and tricyclic antidepressants.

Doctors can also inject corticosteroid drugs into the joints in the cervical spine, to relieve inflammation that causes pain.

Operation

Although rarely done, surgery can also be an option. Surgery is performed if there is pressure on the spinal cord that does not improve with medication and physiotherapy.

Although it seems mild, the problem of neck pain can require a lot of treatment costs. Therefore, you can consider choosing a trusted health insurance to help reduce these costs.

Complications Neck pain

Complications from neck pain vary, depending on the cause. You need to be aware of the complications of neck pain caused by spinal cord injury, including:

  • BAK and CHAPTER disorders.
  • Sexual dysfunction.
  • Sensory disturbances, such as not being able to feel touch, hot or cold temperatures.
  • Orthostatic hypotension.
  • Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

Pain Prevention Luhr

Neck pain can be prevented by getting used to good posture for the head, namely a head position that is not too forward. In addition, do neck and shoulder stretches regularly. The method is as follows:

  • Rotate your shoulders back 10 times.
  • Lift and squeeze your shoulders 10 times.
  • Tilt your head for 30 seconds.
  • Glue the ears to the shoulders, do it on each side 10 times.

In addition to routine neck stretches, there are several other routines and ways you can do to prevent neck pain, namely:

  • Maintain a stable body posture. For example, when standing or sitting, keep your shoulders perpendicular to your hips.
  • Regularly do stretching or stretching, especially when traveling long distances or working at a computer.
  • Do not squeeze the phone or WL between the shoulder and ear when making a call. Better use headset or turn it on speaker-his.
  • Do not smoke, because this habit can increase the risk of developing neck pain.
  • Adjust the height of the table and chairs so that the computer screen is at eye level. Also make sure your knees are lower than your hips.
  • Sleep on your back with your thighs propped up with a pillow.
  • Use a head pillow that is neither too high nor too hard.
  • Avoid using a mattress or mattress that is too soft, because it can not support your neck well.
  • Do not use a sling bag to carry heavy loads, because it can strain the neck.