Neck muscle pain, or cervicalgia, is localized exclusively in the cervical region and does not radiate to other parts of the body; it occurs due to damage to the cervical spine or muscles in this area.

If pain in the neck muscles radiates to the arm, most likely, a disease such as cervicobrachialgia occurs – the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc loses its elasticity and gradually disintegrates into separate fragments. Pain in the neck muscles, radiating to the forehead, temples, shoulders, arms, may be a sign of cervicocranialgia. Increases with palpation of the cervico-occipital muscle fibers.

The main causes of pain in the neck muscles

  • hypothermia
  • uncomfortable position while sleeping
  • staying in the same position for a long time, for example, when working at a monitor
  • overload of muscle fibers during sports training or when lifting weights
  • cervical spine trauma
  • tumor or infectious processes in the tissues of the spine.

The main symptom is pain, accompanied by tingling, pulsation, and shooting. When coughing or the slightest attempt to strain, the pain increases and may be accompanied by a feeling of tinnitus, dizziness, limited mobility of the cervical spine, pain in the occipital region, and numbness of the upper extremities.

How to recognize pain in the neck muscles

  • X-ray examination of the cervical spine.
  • X-ray contrast examination of the spinal cord (myelography).
  • Computed and magnetic resonance imaging methods.
  • Electromyography is a hardware research method that helps determine the degree of conductivity of nerve endings and electrical activity.
  • Analysis of the conditions under which pain first appeared.
  • Electroneurography – using this method, the speed of electrical impulse transmission through the nerves is determined.

How to treat neck muscle pain

  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – tablets, ointments, intramuscular injections (diclofenac, finalgon, finalgel, fastumgel, apizartron, movalis, revmoxicam, etc.)
  • Muscle relaxants. It may be advisable, for example, to use the drug Mydocalm, which reduces myohypertonicity. The daily dose of the drug for adults is 150-450 mg, divided into three times. Intramuscular injections are prescribed twice a day (100 mg each), and intravenous injections are prescribed once a day (1 mg).
  • Local injections of anesthetics – novocaine, lidocaine (if the paravertebral muscle bundles are very tense).
  • Wearing a special cervical collar during treatment (from one to three weeks). Such a collar can only be selected by a doctor.
  • Traction or traction. The mechanism of action is to increase the diameter of the intervertebral segments, as a result of which the swelling and pressure of the nerve roots and nearby tissues are neutralized. As a result of traction therapy, tension in ligaments and tendons and excessive excitability of parts of the central nervous system, formed due to impulses supplied from the muscular-articular apparatus of the spine, are reduced.

Therapeutic exercises for pain in the neck muscles

For moderate pain that is not accompanied by additional symptoms, you can perform the following simple exercises for which you need:

  • Lie on your stomach, put your head on the side, inhale, press your cheek on the surface of the bed, exhale.
  • Take a sitting position, put your hands on the back of your head, inhale, hold your breath, press your hands tightly to the back of your head, exhale, slightly tilt your head down. Repeat three to four times.
  • In a sitting position, place your palms on your forehead, inhale, press your palms to your forehead, exhale and relax.
    • Physiotherapeutic methods involve the use of local thermal procedures (mud baths, compresses), massage procedures (in the acute stage, massage is contraindicated), and posture correction.
    • Using an orthopedic pillow.

If you experience pain in the neck muscles, consult a traumatologist or neurologist.

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