Muscle spasms in the neck are a common complaint in the doctor's office, this ailment is widespread due to the peculiarities of the anatomical structure of the neck. The high motor activity of this zone, the abundance of nerves, blood vessels and muscles - all this periodically provokes the occurrence of spasms and pain, a rare person manages to avoid them.
What is a neck spasm?
The concept of "spasm" involves the process of squeezing nerves, blood vessels and muscles. The nerve bundles take the first blow, then the vascular tone decreases, as a result - blood stasis. Violation of blood circulation entails even greater compression of blood vessels, the transmission of nerve impulses to the muscles of the neck is disrupted. There is severe pain, often radiating to the shoulder.
Causes of neck muscle spasms
Provoking factors for spasms are:
- Hypercooling of the neck area. Most often, the symptoms of neck muscle spasms appear in early spring, when, at the first warming, people tend to take off their winter clothes. It is important to remember that this period is very deceptive. Pair-threegoing outside with an open neck will provide a high likelihood of spasms.
- Long stay in one position, sudden movements. In people who lead a sedentary lifestyle, the cervical vertebrae take on additional stress. Stagnation of blood in this area inevitably leads to vasoconstriction and spasms and pain in the neck. Sudden movements also lead to poor blood circulation and muscle spasms.
- Sodium deficiency in the body. Sodium is needed to keep muscle tissue in a relaxed state. With its lack, the muscles begin to contract involuntarily.
- Prolonged physical activity, including static.
- Existing diseases: cervical sciatica, cervical osteochondrosis, myositis, spinal injuries, neoplasms, hypertension, dysfunction of the thyroid gland, cardiovascular system, intervertebral hernia.
If spasms of the neck muscles are regular, you should consult a doctor to avoid negative consequences for the body.
Symptoms of neck muscle spasms
The symptoms of neck muscle spasms are pronounced: severe pain and limitation or inability to turn the head.
It is important to determine the exact localization of the pain syndrome and its degree - this will help to identify the causes of spasms.
For example, the appearance of discomfort in the neck, turning into pain in the back of the head, shoulders and temples, indicates the presence of osteochondrosis. The spasm of the muscles of the neck and shoulders gradually intensifies and leads to a severe limitation of motoractivity.
Headache of a different nature with a feeling of pressure on the eyeballs, severe weakness and dizziness indicate problems with the vessels of the neck.
If spasms of the neck muscles occur frequently, treatment should be started immediately. Stagnation of blood in the vessels leads to disruption of the normal functioning of the brain.
Tinnitus, blurred vision and memory, insomnia - only a small part of the consequences. Lack of attention to the problem can cause a stroke. At best, a person will remain disabled, at worst - a fatal outcome.
Diagnosis of the patient's condition
Treatment begins after the exact cause of the symptoms of neck spasms has been identified.
Diagnostic measures include:
- Examination by a neurologist in order to detect the exact localization of the pain syndrome and areas of muscle tension.
- X-ray examination to exclude the presence of spinal injuries, neoplasms, inflammation of the skeletal system, etc.
- If the diagnosis is difficult, magnetic resonance and computed tomography may be required. They allow you to detect neoplasms in soft tissues and intervertebral hernia.
If the detected disease is not infectious, then standard tests (blood, urine) are usually not taken.
First stage treatment for muscle spasms in the neck
Actions to eliminateor reduce pain and relieve muscle tension.
Baclofen is most commonly prescribed to relax muscles. Instructions for use (the price is indicated below) positions it as an effective drug for this disease. Taking "Baclofen" involves increasing the dosage every 3 days until a therapeutic effect is achieved, its price varies depending on the dosage - from 200 to 500 rubles.
In order to anesthetize the affected area, drugs belonging to the pharmacological group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed. Basically it is "Ibuprofen" or medicines based on it. Ibuprofen instructions for use (price 50-150 rubles) recommends taking as directed by a doctor. The tablets are taken 3 times a day for no more than 5 days. It also comes in the form of an ointment that relieves pain in the neck in a short time.
"Baclofen" instructions for use (the price of the drug is indicated above) also does not recommend prescribing yourself. Any medication must be prescribed by a specialist. No matter how well it has proven itself, for example, "Ibuprofen", instructions for use (the price is quite low for a medicine) cannot replace a full consultation and doctor's recommendations. If there are contraindications, the above drugs are replaced by others with a similar effect. Self-medication is unacceptable!
Additional measures in the treatment of spasms
If on thisAt this stage, pain in the neck persists when the head is turned - the treatment is supplemented by physiotherapy, while the patient is recommended to wear a special orthopedic collar. It reduces the load on the cervical vertebrae, and due to the forced restriction in movements, the pain recedes.
If the diagnosis reveals more serious causes of neck muscle spasms, such as torticollis or visible degenerative changes in the cervical vertebrae, then surgery is performed.
In order for the treatment to give a quick and effective result, it is recommended, along with taking medications, to engage in physical therapy and undergo a course of manual therapy.
Treatment of spasms with folk remedies
Currently, folk remedies are very popular among all segments of the population, they quickly relieve the symptoms of neck muscle spasm.
Despite the fact that the components used are of natural origin, they also have their contraindications. You can resort to folk methods for first aid, not forgetting the need to visit a doctor, only he must decide how to relieve neck spasm, it is important to discuss with him the use of folk methods so that they do not cause even more harm, but complement the effect of medicines.
Folk remedies to help fight the disease
Effective Recipes to Eliminate Neck Muscle Spasms:
- Regular use of a decoction of herbs mixed in a ratio of 1:1: valerian, wild rose, motherwort and yarrow. The decoction has a beneficial effect on the nervous system as a whole, relaxing it and improving it.conduction of impulses to muscle tissues.
- An infusion of plantain, St. John's wort and dandelion is used as a compress on the affected area - it helps to reduce pain.
- Neck massage, including self-massage. Rubbing the diseased area activates blood circulation. The procedure is recommended to be carried out before going to bed.
- Essential oils of lavender and jasmine have an antispasmodic effect. The aromatherapy process takes about 30-40 minutes.
- Wet a cloth in vodka or other alcohol-containing liquid, leave the compress overnight, wrap your neck with a warm woolen scarf over it. This method, used for decades, has not lost its relevance in our time.
- Compress of white cabbage leaves sprinkled with soda will relieve pain. You also need to tie a warm scarf on top.
Folk treatments in combination with traditional ones give a positive result in the fight against muscle spasms in the neck, if they are agreed with the attending physician.
The importance of exercise
Exercises to relieve spasm of the neck muscles will provide powerful support for the cervical vertebrae and muscle tissue. Charging for the muscles of the neck is shown to everyone in order to prevent the occurrence of spasms. It is mandatory for people leading a sedentary lifestyle - office workers, truckers, etc.
Contraindications to therapeutic exercises
Before starting the exercises, it is important to make sure that:
- There is no strong pain syndrome. Classes with a feeling of unbearablepain will not bring benefit, but harm is easy.
- Exercising is not carried out at the time of exacerbation of diseases (for example, cervical osteochondrosis or sciatica), it will not have a positive effect, only worsening of the course of the disease is possible.
- Before gymnastics, pain blocking medications were not used.
In the presence of serious pathologies of the cervical region, all actions must be agreed with a specialist.
Effective set of exercises
The set of exercises is not difficult, it can be performed by people with any level of physical fitness:
- Head tilts. You need to tilt your head back and forth with maximum stretching of the muscles. Do 8-10 repetitions.
- Rotation of the head. Rotational movements are performed alternately from one shoulder to the other. During rotation, the chin should be pressed to the chest, or reach for it. Repeat 8-10 times. Make the same movements, throwing your head back - in this case, the back of the head reaches for the shoulder blades. Do 8-10 repetitions.
- Head tilts left and right. Tilt your head alternately to the left and right shoulder. Repeat 15-20 times.
- Circular hand swings. Exercise is good for the shoulder joint. Mahi must be performed with the greatest amplitude. Do 10 reps.
- Head tilts with counter force. The most effective exercise for strengthening the muscles of the neck. It is necessary to tilt the head to the shoulders alternately, while counteracting with the hand (with the right hand when tilted to the right shoulder, with the left hand - to the left shoulder). When tilting forward and backward, you canuse both hands. Repeat 8-10 times.
- Shoulder raise. Starting position - standing, arms lowered along the body. Slowly raise and lower your shoulders at the same time, then in turn. Repeat 8-10 times.
- Raising the head from a lying position. Starting position - lying on the floor or any hard flat surface. Slowly lifting your head off the floor, fix your eyes on your toes for 5-8 seconds, then just as slowly lower yourself. Do 10 reps.
Attention! All exercises should be done only at a slow pace. There should be no abrupt, jerky movements!
With regular gymnastics, the muscular frame of the cervical zone is strengthened and blood circulation improves, which contributes to the normal conduction of nerve impulses to the muscles.
Lifestyle as a prevention of neck spasms
After the spasm of the neck muscles has been relieved, it is important to rethink the lifestyle and regularly take preventive measures:
- perform a set of exercises to strengthen the cervical region, if possible, engage in any sport for the overall he alth of the body;
- visit a massage therapist once every six months for a preventive course;
- annually undergo a medical examination in order to timely detect pathological processes;
- avoid stress, often arrange a good rest;
- reconsider the diet: give up fatty, fried and smoked foods, carbonated drinks, limit consumptionsweets; nutrition should be balanced, including fish, meat, vegetables, cereals (boiled, baked or steamed), and consumption of at least 2 liters of pure water per day will cleanse the body, free it from harmful substances;
- give up bad habits;
- when sedentary work, warm up every hour, change body position as often as possible.
Following these recommendations will significantly reduce the incidence of symptoms of muscle spasms of the neck and contribute to the improvement of the condition of the whole organism as a whole.
This article is not a guide to action, if spasms occur, you do not need to postpone a visit to the doctor and self-medicate, all actions must be coordinated, and medication is taken only with his permission!
