Neck Pain

Neck pain is pain that appears in the back of the neck, right neck, left neck and neck. Neck pain usually occurs when neck muscles are stretched, nerves are squeezed or calcified joints.

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

Neck Pain
Symptoms of neck pain

Neck pain can be mild to severe. Pain can take the form of feelings such as pressure, sharp or vibrating pain. The pain can get worse during certain movements, such as looking down, lifting eyes, turning heads, and being touched.

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

  • dizzy
  • Trouble moving your neck
  • Trouble swallowing
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Facial pain
  • Shoulder pain
  • Pain in the upper and lower back
  • Hands are numb or swollen

When to see a doctor

A medical examination must be done immediately if neck pain occurs after an injury, for example after a road accident or after a fall. Accidents can cause damage to the spinal cord resulting in neck pain.

Neck pain should also be consulted at the doctor's office if the pain worsens or does not improve with painkillers. You should also consult a doctor if your neck pain is accompanied by the following symptoms:

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Size appears on the neck
  • Arms or legs become weak
  • hard to breathe
Causes of neck pain
Some abnormalities in the neck tissue can cause neck pain. These disorders include:

1. Neck muscles tighten
Too much flexion, arching, often toothed teeth or reading in bed can cause neck muscle contractions. Over time, this condition will cause neck pain.

2. Damage to the neck joint
As a rule, joint damage to the neck is caused by osteoarthritis. This condition causes cartilage thinning and calcification. Calcification of the cervical vertebrae will disrupt the movement of the neck joints and cause pain.

3. nerve clamps
Cervical radiculopathy is neck pain caused by irritation or irritation to the neck nerves. This condition is caused by a bulging bulging between the vertebrae (hernia nucleus pulposus).

4. Injury
Injuries that cause neck pain can be caused by road accidents, falls from a height, injuries while exercising, or a direct blow to the face, head, or the back of the head. .

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

  • Neck infection.
  • Reduction of the spinal cord pathway.
  • Torticollis, a neck muscle disorder that pushes the head in one direction, for example on the side or behind.
  • Meningitis, an infection of the protective membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis in the neck.
  • fibromyalgia
  • Cancer around the neck or spine. 
Diagnosis of neck pain

As a first step, the doctor will ask about your patient's symptoms and history. Then, the doctor will do a physical examination, especially in the neck.

During a physical examination, the doctor will also ask the patient to move the head forward, sideways or backward to determine the range of neck movements. After a physical examination, the doctor can carry out several additional tests, including:

scanning
X-rays, CT scans, and MRI can be used to describe abnormalities in the neck, such as nerve clamps or porous tissue.

Electromyography (EMG)
This method will be used if the doctor suspects neck pain caused by a nerve brace. EMG is used to determine whether nerves are still functioning normally.

Blood test
If someone thinks that the neck pain that is felt by the patient is due to inflammation or infection, the doctor then performs a blood test to detect the presence of bacteria that causes the infection.

Lumbar puncture
Lumbar puncture is the process of collecting cerebrospinal fluid samples from the spinal cord, which will be examined later in the laboratory. This examination allows us to find out the possibility of viral or bacterial infection in the lining of the brain or spinal cord.
Neck pain treatment

Most neck pain can usually heal within 2-3 weeks. However, that of course depends on the cause. Here are ways to reduce neck pain:

  • Use the appropriate pillow
Avoid using pillows that are too high or too hard, because this can make your neck stiff. Some pillow materials can be used. One of them is memory foam, a material that can follow the contours of the neck and head.
  • Do some neck exercises
Move your neck up and down, right and left, and turn your head. This movement can stretch the neck muscles that stretch.
  • Neck compresses
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 pain in the neck.
  • Avoid neck movements that are too tight
Avoid sudden neck movements that are too tight to reduce inflammation and relieve neck pain.
  • Massage a sore neck
Massage can relieve neck pain and make you more relaxed. Ask other people to do a gentle massage on the sore neck.

If neck pain is felt to be severe enough and does not heal despite the above treatment, the doctor can provide or recommend the following treatment to patients:

physiotherapy

In this procedure, the therapist will correct the problem posture with certain movement exercises. Treatment can also be done with neck traction. Tools such as hangers to support the head are used to stretch the patient's neck.

In addition to physical therapy, doctors can also do nerve stimulation with electricity called TENS. This therapy involves bringing electricity to the affected area so that the pain goes away quickly.

Neck braces or necklaces can be used during daily activities other than physiotherapy. The collar will reduce pressure on the neck structure, eliminating complaints of neck pain. However, this buffer can only be used for 3 hours a day for 1 to 2 weeks.

drug
Drugs that can be used to reduce neck pain are paracetamol or ibuprofen. In addition to oral medicines, over-the-counter pain relievers can also be given.

The doctor can give other types of pain medication if the pain is unbearable or prolonged. Muscle relaxants and tricyclic antidepressants are examples of drugs that are often given in this condition.

The doctor can also inject corticosteroids into the cervical vertebra joint to relieve inflammation that causes pain.

operation

Although rarely practiced, surgery can also be an option. Surgery is performed if the focus is on the spinal cord, which does not improve with medication and physiotherapy.
Complications of neck pain

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

  • Disorders of urination and bowel movements.
  • Sexual dysfunction.
  • Sensory disorders, for example, cannot feel touch, heat or cold.
  • Orthostatic hypotension.
  • Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

Prevention of neck pain

We can avoid neck pain by adopting a good posture for the head, which is the position of the head that is not too advanced. In addition, stretch your neck and shoulders regularly. The trick is:

  • Turn your shoulders 10 times back.
  • Lift and press your shoulders 10 times.
  • Tilt your head for 30 seconds.
  • Stick ear to shoulder, do 10 times on each side.

Besides the usual neck stretches, there are certain routines and other ways to prevent neck pain, namely:

  • Maintain body posture to remain stable. For example, when standing or sitting, position your shoulders perpendicular to your hips.
  • Stretching or stretching routine, especially when traveling long distances or working at a computer.
  • Do not pin the phone or handset between your shoulder and ear when calling. It's better to use a headset or turn on the speaker.
  • Do not smoke, because this habit can increase the risk of neck pain.
  • Adjust the height of the desk and chair so that the computer screen is at eye level. Also make sure your knees are lower than your hips.
  • Sleep on your back with thighs with a pillow.
  • Use a pillow that is not too high or too strong.
  • Avoid using a mattress that is too soft because it cannot support your neck properly.
  • Don't use a shoulder bag to carry heavy loads because this can make your neck tense.

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