Neck is a special body part, since it includes the vital arteries and blood vessels supplying blood and oxygen to the brain. In addition, the cervical spine forms the spinal canal, where the spinal cord is located. That is why one should not ignore the neck pain.
Causes of neck pain. Typically, professionals at the Institute of Vertebrology and Rehabilitation have to deal with neck pain resulting from structural changes in the spine.
The main causes of neck pain:
- Osteoarthrosis and osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. These diseases of the spine are associated with reduced physical activity and age-related changes in the body, which results in blood circulation and metabolism disorders in the cervical vertebrae.
- Spinal injuries. These include injuries of the vertebrae, their displacement, pulling of the cervical spine muscles and ligaments, as well as injuries of the intervertebral discs and joints.
- Intervertebral disc protrusion of the cervical spine.
- Disc herniation in the cervical spine.
- Muscle spasm in the neck. Sudden acute pain in the neck is a result of prolonged stress on the cervical spine.
- Referred pain, which occurs in cases of diseases and disorders of the internal organs.
- Nervous system disorders: long-term mental and emotional stress.
- Immune system disorders: arthritis and rheumatic diseases.
- Infections of the vertebrae or the neck organs. Neck pain may occur in cases the thyroid gland disorder, larynx and trachea diseases, as well as with the inflammation of lymph nodes.
Doctors at the Institute of Vertebrology and Rehabilitation recommend performing diagnosis and undergoing a full course of treatment in cases of mild neck pains, since pains in the cervical spine are easily treated in the early stages without surgical interventions.
The course of neck pain treatment at the Institute of Vertebrology and Rehabilitation includes 5-10 sessions and is aimed at complete elimination of the causes of pain in the cervical spine. The sessions are carried out consecutively. The interval between the sessions should not exceed 1 day.
Generally, patients feel a substantial decrease in neck pain as early as in 1-3 days upon beginning of the treatment and overall health improvement becomes notable after 5 treatment sessions.
1) The course of treatment may begin with the relief of acute pain and muscle spasms in the neck with special medications, when it is impossible to help the patients with non-drug therapy. For this purpose, our experienced physicians use therapeutic blockades of the spine and joints, multiple injections of nutrients and anti-inflammatory drugs.
2) Physiotherapy. Upon relief of acute pain in the neck, professionals at the Institute of Vertebrology and Rehabilitation use ultrasonic therapy and electrophoresis to stimulate muscle and tissue work, improve blood circulation and oxygen saturation of the damaged area.
3) Shockwave therapy is used by our professionals in cases when neck pain causes pain between the shoulder blades. Doctor may prescribe courses of treatment only after specialized medical consultation.
4) With the help of spinal correction our doctors eliminate dislocations and restore proper alignment of the vertebrae in the cervical spine.
5) Professionals at the Institute of Vertebrology and Rehabilitation use therapeutic massage to eliminate muscle spasms in the neck. The massage aims at relief of longtime static tension in the neck muscles.
6) Spinal traction method is used to eliminate compression of the nerve endings in the cervical spine. Numbness in fingersis the symptom of compressed nerve roots in the neck. Our doctors perform spinal traction with the help of high-tech equipment after therapeutic massages, when the neck muscles are relaxed. Spinal traction relieves the stress in the cervical and lumbar spine muscles.
7) Systematic physical exercise is mandatory for long-term retention of the effect after the main course of treatment. Training on regular fitness devices at the gym can be quite dangerous for back health, as the load on the muscles and joints should be minor and controlled for patients with a bad back. For this purpose, our Institute uses the Finnish-German David method – individual complex of physical exercises including 12 training sessions with the David professional medical training stimulators under the guidance of experienced rehabilitation professionals.
During the recovery period, the exercise routine helps strengthen the muscles of the cervical spine, distribute the load along the spine and make shoulder girdle more mobile. Such systematic training on the David stimulators prevent repeated occurrence of pain in the cervical spine and is effective for prevention of pain in the neck.
