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Pain in the neck
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
A typical pain syndrome in rheumatology and traumatology is pain in the neck. About 30% of the population of developed countries have chronic neck pain, the number of such patients has been steadily increasing in recent years, and huge funds are being spent on treatment and rehabilitation.
Pain in the neck at least once in a lifetime is experienced by more than 80% of people of different ages (more often from 30 to 60 years). 90% of patients who first felt pain in the neck, do not require medical supervision. Among patients who have lumbar pains for the first time, 40-50% will be treated within 1 week, 50-80% within 1 month, and 92% within 2 months. Only 2-10% of patients with lower back pain take more serious forms.
The way of life is of great importance in the development of the pain syndrome in the neck.
Minor injuries while working and playing sports become the leading cause of neck pain, however in these cases the pain passes by itself or after the application of local (systemic) analgesics.
Examination of the neck. It is necessary to pay attention to the general position of the neck and to the soreness of its bony formations. It is important to investigate the mobility of the cervical region: flexion and extension (mainly in the atlantooccipital junction), rotation (atlantoaxial articulation) and lateral flexion (depends on the cervical spine as a whole). Rotation is most often disturbed. Examination of the upper extremities is performed to reveal in them a muscle weakness, depending on the lesion of the nerve roots [shoulder leaning - C5; Elbow bending - C5-6; Extension of elbow - C6-7; wrist extension - C6-7, wrist flexion - C7-8, squeezing the hand into a fist and spreading (finger retraction with resistance) - Th1. Reflexes are studied: from the biceps - C5-6, from the instep - C5-b; with triceps - C7. In case of suspicion of compression of the spinal cord, it is necessary to examine the lower extremities to identify the corresponding symptoms).
The main causes of neck pain:
Spasmodic torticollis. In an adult, spasmodic torticollis can occur suddenly. There is a sharp pain in the neck, it becomes fixed in a certain position, which is caused by a spasm of the trapezius or sternocleamus-mastoid muscle. Usually this condition passes by itself, but relief can bring heat, careful manipulation on the neck, wearing a hard collar, muscle relaxants and analgesia.
Babes babies. This condition is the result of damage during the delivery of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. In young children aged 6 months to 3 years, the disease manifests itself by the fact that the head is tilted to the side (on the affected side the ear is close to the shoulder). On the affected side, the growth of the face slows down, as a result of which there is some asymmetry of the face. In the early stages of the affected muscle, a tumor-like formation is found. If these signs are fairly stable, then physiotherapeutic procedures aimed at lengthening the affected muscle may prove to be effective. When treated at a later date, the muscle is dissected (divided) at its lower end.
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