Causes of neck pain when turning the head and methods of treatment

Intervertebral hernia is a common pathology associated with the musculoskeletal system. With this disease, protrusion or prolapse of fragments of intervertebral discs into the spinal cavity occurs. The danger of this condition lies in its practically asymptomatic occurrence at an early stage of development. However, if treatment is not started and care is not taken, the disease begins to progress rapidly. You can make an appointment for treatment of a cervical hernia at ArthroMedCenter.

Where does neck pain come from?

The occurrence of painful manifestations in the neck area is most often noted against the background of:

• pathological changes in the spinal column - osteochondrosis, osteoarthrosis, scoliosis, neuralgia, intervertebral hernia;
• injuries associated with vertebrae, discs, joints, ligaments and muscle tissue;
• immune diseases of the ridge;
• infections of the musculoskeletal system;
• neoplasms of benign and malignant nature;
• intracranial hemorrhages, tumors and abscesses;
• physical activity, overwork during training, lifting heavy objects.

Back pain when tilting head forward and down

Most often, acute back pain occurs when the head is tilted - this indicates excessive tension in the muscles starting in the scapular area and ending in the occipital area.

When bending, these muscle fibers begin to stretch and numerous microscopic tears occur within them. This provokes back pain when tilting the head forward, which goes away after returning to the starting position. In this way, a variety of diseases can manifest themselves. But most often, during the initial examination of the patient, osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic region, curvature of the spinal column or spondyloarthrosis is diagnosed.

Note that back pain when tilting your head down can be a sign of a stiff neck. This is a symptom of very serious damage to the central nervous system. This is how meningitis, encephalitis, acute cerebrovascular accident, etc. manifest. There is no way to independently exclude the possibility of developing these pathologies. An urgent consultation with a specialist – a neurologist is needed.

Types and causes of discogenic pathology in the cervical spine

Any problems with the integrity of the intervertebral disc with the contents moving beyond its boundaries is considered a disease. Protrusion and hernia form against the background of a critical increase in mechanical pressure on a certain area of ​​the disc. As a result, the nucleus pulposus, located inside, protrudes. The nucleus puts pressure on the annulus fibrosus tissue, which can lead to its rupture.

Doctors distinguish the following stages of the disease:

• A slight protrusion of the disc without damage to the fibrous ring with a displacement of a maximum of 2-3 mm. The clinical picture is mild.
• Development of disc protrusion, which is accompanied by more pronounced protrusion of the pulp up to 3-5 mm. The patient begins to complain of periodic pain. Most often, the ability to work at this stage of the disease is preserved.
• The formation of the hernia itself, which is also called prolapse or extrusion. At this stage, the fibrous ring in the intervertebral disc ruptures with the pulp falling out beyond the boundaries of the disc tissue, for example, into the spinal canal. This is due to the localization of the damaged area.
• At the last stage of pathology formation, the prolapsed fragment of the nucleus pulposus is separated from the disc tissues with possible displacement under pressure. The separated element can move along the spinal canal. This leads to damage to the nervous structure and serious complications in the form of compression of the spinal canal. This condition is called sequestration.

Naturally, as the pathology progresses, each of the listed stages is not always observed. Sequestration develops quite rarely, although the mechanism of formation of the pathology is the same. In any case, the producing factor is increased pressure, leading to the destruction of the discs. This is most often associated with injuries, falling in slippery weather and hitting the head.

The most common cause of herniated intervertebral discs in the cervical spine is an accidental blow to the head in a low doorway. Healthy discs will not erode immediately. This will require prolonged exposure to negative factors or a sharp increase in pressure, for example, when hitting your head. This can cause a severe “explosive” fracture of the spinal elements in the neck, damage to the spinal canal, leading to disability of the patient.

Back pain when turning head left and right

A nagging or dull pain in the back when turning the head is a clinical sign of damage to the muscle, ligament or tendon fiber. Very often it appears after severe physical exertion or prolonged stay in one static position.

Young and active people often experience massive scar changes in muscle fiber due to sports and household injuries. Scar deformities do not allow the electrical impulse to be fully transmitted and myocytes contract at different times. This provokes constant pain.

The second common reason for back pain when turning the head to the left or right is displacement or instability of the position of the vertebral bodies. They can slide relative to each other as retrolisthesis or antelesthesis. This provokes compression of the radicular nerves and their branches. The conduction of the nerve impulse is disrupted. Muscles become overly tense for compensatory purposes. All this causes a feeling of muscle tension in the cervical-collar area. The appearance of pain is a reason for an emergency visit to a doctor. Severe displacement of the cervical vertebrae can lead to impaired cerebral circulation.

Risk factors for exacerbation

The formation of an exacerbation during protrusion and hernia in the cervical spine is most often observed against the background of:

• Poor posture, stooping, flat feet or walking in uncomfortable shoes. The spinal column has a powerful compensating mechanism that protects the brain from shock during walking and running. However, any uncompensated shock is transmitted upward with amplification. The occurrence of the greatest amplitude and traumatic potential is observed at a considerable distance from the place where the vibration is localized. As a consequence, poor posture, dehydration in the intervertebral discs with possible destruction form in the cervical region.
• Tonic tension in the deep muscles of the dorsal and cervical region, which is accompanied by muscle spasm with the formation of a protective posture. Due to the increased load on the head and neck muscles caused by wearing high hairstyles in women and heavy winter fur hats, blood circulation in the muscle tissue of the cervical region is impaired. As a result, the nutrition of the intervertebral discs deteriorates and their tissues become dehydrated.
• Over time, osteochondrosis develops and progresses, and osteophytes appear on the elements of the spine. This causes poor blood circulation and the development of muscle spasms with limited motor function in the neck.

As a result, a rapid increase in pressure on the spinal tissue leads to its transmission to the intervertebral disc. Against the background of uneven, eccentric and undistributed pressure, a destructive process in the disc begins. This provokes the formation of a protrusion or a hernia itself.

How to treat back pain when moving your head

Before you treat back pain when you lower your head down or when making any other movements, you need to understand that this is just a symptom. It is not productive to use symptomatic methods of influence. There is a group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They do not have any therapeutic effect, but simply relieve pain for a short time. Meanwhile, pain is a protective reaction of the human body. The elimination of this protective mechanism leads to the fact that the process of tissue destruction is accelerated. Therefore, take painkillers opano for the health of the body.

For most diseases of the musculoskeletal system, in which back pain occurs when lowering the head, manual therapy is an effective treatment method. In our clinic, doctors have accumulated a wealth of practical experience in helping patients with various diseases of the spinal column and surrounding tissues. We develop a course of treatment for each patient individually.

The course of treatment may include the following types of therapeutic effects:

• manual retraction of the spinal column - allows you to restore normal spaces between the vertebral bodies, eliminate pressure from the radicular nerves and start the process of straightening compressed discs;
• reflexology - influencing biologically active points on the human body triggers the process of regeneration of all damaged tissues;
• massage increases blood circulation, restores the natural elasticity of soft tissues, eliminates excess muscle tension;
• osteopathy restores microcirculation of blood and lymphatic fluid in the affected area;
• therapeutic exercises and kinesiotherapy restores the performance of muscles, ligaments and tendons, restores the disturbed process of diffuse nutrition of cartilaginous tissues;
• physiotherapy accelerates cellular metabolism.

Laser therapy, electrical myostimulation and much more can also be used. If you need an effective and safe course of treatment, make an appointment for a free appointment with a vertebrologist at our manual therapy clinic right now.

Symptoms of exacerbation of hernia

Uncomplicated cervical hernias are often accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Shooting pain in the upper extremities, similar to an electric shock, increasing with coughing, moving the arms and sneezing, sometimes radiating to the elbow, wrist or fingers. This is due to the infringement of certain nerve endings, their swelling and inflammation.
• Impaired sensitivity in the form of numbness or hypoesthesia, formication or a sensation as if goosebumps are crawling. Such symptoms often appear at a significant distance from the intervertebral disc, for example, in the area of ​​the fingers of the upper extremities.
• Constant aching pain in the cervical region associated with a muscle reaction. This phenomenon is called secondary myofascial syndrome. The pain syndrome sometimes radiates to the back of the head and manifests itself in the form of cephalgic syndrome - persistent pain in the head.
• Secondary symptoms of a hernia in the form of progressive weakness and muscle hypertrophy in the arms and shoulder girdle on the side where the damage is localized. Peripheral or flaccid paralysis (paresis) may develop.

Due to the close proximity of a large neurovascular network, as well as the autonomic nervous structure, the formation of so-called neurovascular symptoms is possible.

Results

Neck and head pain are one of the most common problems in the modern world. There are many causes for the disease, and they all negatively affect the general condition of the body.

The disease develops rapidly, and the pain becomes more intense and even unbearable over time. For this reason, at its first manifestations, it is better for the patient to immediately consult a doctor.

Treatment of pain in the neck and head is complex and requires an integrated approach to the situation. In this case, medicines or folk remedies are taken in combination with physiotherapeutic procedures and exercises.

With timely measures taken, pain in the neck and head will never bother a person.

Possible complications

Long-term progression of cervical intervertebral hernia can cause the appearance of radicular symptoms, which are accompanied by sensory and motor disorders. It can also cause compression of the spinal canal. As a consequence, compression myelopathy and sometimes tissue necrosis in the spinal cord may develop. This may lead to disability for the patient.

There is information that the development of such a pathology in some cases contributes to compression of the vertebral arterial vessel on the right or left side. This is an auxiliary source in which ischemic stroke can form, especially at a young age.

Often, protrusion and hernia in the acute stage due to sudden movements of the head and neck lead to a significant narrowing of the walls of the vertebral arterial vessel. As a result, an ischemic focus develops in the brain area. The likelihood of the formation of such a condition increases significantly if the patient has a congenital anatomical feature in the structure of the circle of Willis. This is accompanied by its openness and absence of posterior communicating arteries.

With a closed circle of Willis, increased blood flow can be quickly redistributed from the posterior vertebrobasilar bed to the anterior (carotid) or in the opposite direction.

In cases where the posterior communicating arteries are completely absent or are underdeveloped, it will not be possible to quickly redistribute blood flow. This often ends with the transformation of the ischemic focus into a necrotic area, and as a result, the development of a stroke is noted.

Diagnostics

The doctor conducts a visual examination of the patient to identify problems with posture and lack of sensitivity in the area where the nerve is pinched. By palpating the spine, the doctor will identify the level of spasm and soreness in the muscles and the location of the disease. The patient may be required to bend and stand to assess for limited mobility. Next, the reflexes of the knee and Achilles tendons are assessed.

To accurately determine the size and location of an intervertebral hernia in the cervical spine, the doctor prescribes a CT, MRI and radiographic examination in 2 projections.

Therapy methods

Typically, patients diagnosed with cervical intervertebral hernia suffer from the pathology for more than one year, and exacerbations and remissions are regularly observed. Often, painful sensations weaken over time or disappear on their own a couple of weeks after a subsequent exacerbation.

Conservative methods of therapy will not help to completely get rid of the problem; it helps to cope with the consequences of the hernia’s impact on the soft tissue, muscles and nerve endings. Often, as a residual phenomenon, the presence of a vegetative reflex effect on the tone of vascular tissue - neurovascular symptoms - is observed.

Complex therapy involves taking the following pharmaceuticals:

• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (COX-2 inhibitors);
• muscle relaxants with central action;
• As auxiliary methods, medicinal electrophoresis using vitamins and aminophylline is prescribed.

When the exacerbation subsides, the use of physiotherapeutic procedures is indicated. To activate blood circulation in muscle tissue, it is recommended to perform physical therapy and massage of the cervical-collar region (movements must be extremely careful).

Treatment of cervical intervertebral hernia with relatively crude methods, such as manual therapy, traction, can cause a significant aggravation of the condition. This will lead to the development of serious negative consequences.

As an emergency measure, it is recommended to wear a Shants collar if pain occurs. The device is used to support the head and helps prevent sudden bending and turning of the head, which can lead to the development of compression symptoms and sometimes fainting.

After the collar is applied, it is better to immediately consult a neurologist and have an MRI of the neck performed; then you may need to consult with a neurosurgeon. This will help to assess the possible risk for a similar location of the pathology and determine the choice of treatment regimen.

Treatment

Having found out the cause of the pain in the head and neck, the doctor prescribes a course of treatment for the patient. It is based on the diagnostic results, structural features of the body, and the patient’s condition at the time of the examination.

Treatment of pain in the head and neck requires certain measures

It may include the following items:

• taking medications;
• physiotherapeutic procedures;
• sport.

Below these points will be discussed in detail.

Medicines

Conservative treatment always begins with taking medications. For pain in the neck and head, doctors prescribe medications, the choice of which depends on the root cause of the pain.

For example, the most effective medications are:

• "Diclofenac";
• "Ibuprofen";
• "Ketoprofen";
• Meloxicam.

Medicines always help to cope with head and neck pain

If, in addition to pain in the head and neck, there are problems with the intestines, then the following medications are prescribed:

• "Diacerin";
• "Aceclofenac";
• "Celecoxib."

For persistent pain, the following is prescribed:

• "Flupirtine";
• "Carbamazepine";
• "Pregabalin".

To protect the nervous system, the doctor says to take the following vitamins:

• "Milgamma";
• "Berocca".

Medicines, when taken correctly, relieve pain in the head and neck within a short time.

Interesting! For neck and head pain caused by stress and bad emotions, painkillers most often do not help the patient. For this reason, doctors prescribe antidepressants and sedatives. Among them may be Corvalol, Valocordin, tinctures of motherwort and valerian, etc.

"Ketoprofen"

Folk remedies

Treatment of pain in the neck and head with folk remedies is useful for humans, since various decoctions and tinctures are prepared based on plants. Both adults and children can take them.

Below are several recipes for potions that can help solve the problem of neck and throat pain.

Recipe No. 1. Medicine made from apple (grape) vinegar.

Ingredients:

1. Apple (grape) vinegar – 2 tablespoons.
2. Cotton fabric – 1 pc.
3. Water – 1 l.

What to do: first add vinegar to cool water, then wet a cloth and apply it to your feet. Hold for 5-10 minutes. Oddly enough, this method helps get rid of headaches. You can also apply a dampened cloth to your temples.

Recipe No. 2. Medicinal gruel

Ingredients:

1. Garden parsley - a bunch.
2. White lily - a pinch.
3. Lemon (with peel) – a quarter.
4. Honey - 1 tbsp. l.

What to do: throw a bunch of parsley, a pinch of white lily and lemon into a blender. Grind. Bring to a paste. Pour in honey. Place in a dark and cool place for a week. Take 2 teaspoons before meals.

Folk remedies are remarkably helpful in the fight against this disease.

Recipe No. 3. Mint infusion.

Ingredients:

1. Mint leaves – 1 spoon.
2. Boiled water – 300 ml.

What to do: add mint leaves into a cup, then pour boiling water over it. Leave for several hours. Then strain and drink 2-3 glasses a day.

Recipe No. 4. Lavender decoction.

Ingredients:

1. Dry lavender – 2-3 spoons.
2. Boiled water – 0.5 l.

What to do: pour lavender inflorescences into a glass, fill it halfway with boiling water and leave for a quarter of an hour. This decoction relieves pain in the back of the head and is considered the best dehydrative. Drink up to four times a day.

Recipe No. 5. Baths with pine needles.

Ingredients

1. Needles.
2. Water.

What to do: fill the needles with water and boil for a third of an hour. After this, wrap the resulting broth and leave for half a day.

How to take: on average, one bath requires about one and a half liters of decoction. After adding it to warm water, you need to lie in it for about half an hour. The bath is known for its pain-relieving and relaxing effects. It should be taken every day in the evening or every other day. At the end of the procedure, take a shower and wipe the body dry. Course – twenty baths.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapeutic devices

To treat pain in the head and neck, doctors recommend undergoing physiotherapeutic procedures that are aimed at getting rid of the root causes of the disease.

Doctors recommend the following procedures:

• manual therapy;
• ultra-high frequency therapy;
• therapy using sinusoidal simulated currents;
• massotherapy;
• acupuncture.

Physiotherapy can speed up recovery

Before starting a course of physiotherapeutic procedures, the doctor will study the anatomical and physical characteristics of the patient and take into account contraindications. This is required to ensure that the treatment is not harmful to health.

Exercises

Treatment of pain in the neck and head, in addition to medications, folk remedies and physiotherapeutic procedures, includes physical exercise.

For example, to restore blood circulation in the neck and relieve pain, most people only need to perform two light exercises. They can be easily done at home as they do not require any equipment.

Exercise to increase neck mobility

The first neck pain relief exercise will help restore neck mobility. It also directly contributes to improving a person’s condition by relaxing muscles and relieving pain.

Steps to perform the exercise.

1. Wrap a towel around your neck.
2. Take the right side of the towel with your left hand, and the left side with your right.
3. Raise your front hand so that the towel is at the same height as your cheek.
4. At this height, you need to pull your head to the side with your hand and a towel. Do this 10 times.
5. Change hands.
6. After completing this, you need to grab the towel with both hands and pull its ends up. At this time, the head tilts back and the gaze is directed upward.

You need to do this entire exercise twice a day - morning and evening.

Important! In the first days of performing this exercise, the muscles will be very sore, but then the discomfort will decrease and the tension will subside.

Neck muscle stretching exercise

The second exercise is designed to stretch the neck muscles. The main focus is on the trapezius muscle, problems with which become the main cause of headaches.

Steps to perform the exercise.

1. Place your hands on your head.
2. Tilt your head to the side. When bending, support your hand.
3. After bending over, turn your head to the side. At this point, the trapezius muscle will stretch.
4. Fix in this position for ten seconds. You need to do the exercise three times in each direction.

This exercise should be repeated twice a day.

As a rule, these two exercises are enough to get rid of neck and head pain, as well as stiff neck muscles.

However, in order to maintain the improvements made through exercise, you need to get rid of all the risk factors that caused the disease. Otherwise, the pain will return very soon.

Exercises help restore neck condition and improve overall well-being

Exercise to improve posture

One of the things you can do to relieve neck and head pain is to improve your posture.

In more detail, incorrect posture and posture create conditions when the neck muscles must overstrain to prevent the head from tipping over. This leads to pain and discomfort.

By regularly performing the following exercise, the patient can quickly correct his posture and get rid of pain in the back, neck and head.

Steps to perform the exercise.

1. Starting position – feet shoulder-width apart, standing firmly on a support.
2. Bend your knees slightly.
3. Pull in your stomach.
4. Straighten your chest and push it forward.
5. Head up. Fix in this position for 30 seconds and repeat 10 times with breaks of 10 seconds.

At first there will be a strange feeling because the body will tell you that this is wrong. But after two weeks of practice, the patient will feel much easier. Also, in the first days, doing the exercise will be tiring, but this will also pass with time.

Prices for posture trainers, hanging horizontal bars, gymnastic boards

Exercise to relieve neck and head pain

To solve the problem of neck and head pain, it is necessary to restore the mobility of the upper neck.

This can be done thanks to the following exercise, specifically designed for this.

Steps to perform the exercise.

1. Place the towel at the level of the back of your head.
2. Hold both ends of the towel in front at a horizontal level.
3. Pull the towel forward.
4. At the same time, point your chin closer to your neck.
5. Maintain this position for five seconds.
6. Repeat this action ten times.

Do this exercise twice a day. Over time, neck mobility will increase and the headache will disappear.

For greater effectiveness, this exercise can be performed in combination with those previously described.

Orthopedic devices

To support the neck and improve its condition in case of cervical osteochondrosis, doctors prescribe wearing a neck brace (Schanz splint) or a cervical collar (Philadelphia collar).

They create relief for tense neck muscles by fixing and limiting movement. This helps you recover faster during treatment for neck and head pain.

Orthopedic devices can greatly help in the fight to improve health

For each patient, they are selected in size and shape for effective use. In the future, if symptoms of cervical diseases recur, the neck brace or collar can be used again.

The duration of wearing is determined by the attending physician. They depend on the patient’s condition at the time of starting to wear the orthopedic device. On average, it lasts from several days to several weeks or months.

MBST therapy

This modern technique is used for joint pathologies to restore cartilage tissue and discs. The treatment mechanism is based on high-pulse magnetic resonance at the cellular level.

The procedure promotes:

• increasing the volume of cartilage tissue due to cell restoration;
• increased cartilage density due to increased collagen levels;
• relieving pain.

You can treat a hernia of the cervical spine in Moscow at ArthroMedCenter. MBST therapy will help eliminate pain and spasm, as well as the underlying causes of the disease.

Prevention

To prevent the formation of a cervical hernia in patients at risk, you should adhere to these simple rules:

• Avoid forced, uncomfortable head positions.
• If possible, do neck exercises frequently, especially if your job involves spending a lot of time at the computer.
• Walk and sit straight, do not slouch.
• For rest, use a hard mattress and a small, medium-firm pillow.
• Do not overload the spinal region, regardless of which area the load falls on.

A cervical hernia is a rather dangerous disease; it is difficult to treat. You can count on a positive result using only conservative treatment methods only if the patient promptly seeks help from a specialist. In addition, it should be taken into account that for a cervical hernia larger than 6 mm, surgical intervention is required.