Unpleasant, sometimes painful, pain in the nape may be a signal of a serious illness, especially if the pain often occurs and lasts for a long time. If it appears sporadically and without accompanying symptoms, then certainly it is a reflection of the state of overstrain, fatigue.
Types of pain in the nape and their causes
Consider the causes of pain in the nape and possible diseases:
With osteochondrosis, there may be pulsating pain in the occiput, pressing, compressing pain. It often comes in connection with the overstrain of the muscles, the wrong position of the head. Concomitant symptoms - hearing loss, "shroud" before the eyes.
In the presence of cervical osteochondrosis, sometimes cervical migraine develops, when there is a sharp, sharp, burning pain in the nape, extending to the temples and the superciliary zone. Together with her there is a noise in the ears, a clouding in the eyes.
In cervical spondylitis (inflammation of the vertebral joints), pain predominates in the neck, shoulders, collarbones, extending to the occiput. Sharply decreases the mobility of the hands.
Cervical spondylosis - a disease associated with the degeneration of bone ligaments, proliferation of growths on the vertebrae (most often, these are age changes). The mobility of the cervical region decreases, there is a permanent or prolonged pain in the occiput, which can pass to the eye area, the ears.
Symptoms:
- The main symptom of cervical myositis - pulling, dull, aching pain in the neck and in the neck, as well as between the shoulder blades. The pain seems stronger on the one hand. Myositis (inflammation of the neck muscles) is caused by hypothermia, excessive physical exertion, etc.
- Myogelosis is accompanied by mild pain in the neck, neck, shoulders, dizziness. This disease is associated with impaired circulation in the neck muscles.
- If the pain in the nape is shooting, sharp, burning, paroxysmal, then the probability of neuralgia of the occipital nerve (inflammation) is high. She periodically turns into a dull, pressing pain in the back of the head, giving back, jaw. The cause is hypothermia, colds and diseases of the spine.
- With increasing blood pressure (arterial hypertension), there is a bursting, throbbing pain in the occiput. Sometimes reaching a value of 300, the pressure causes pain localized in the nape and passing to other parts of the head. Complaints about heaviness in the head after sleeping are especially frequent.
- Uncorrected violation of the bite in the future threatens the appearance of impaired well-being, namely, there may be dull pain in the occiput, parotid and parietal pain. Such pains are often lasting, intensifying toward evening.
- There are also professional pains, which are often observed in people performing sedentary work, being for a long time in the same position. These pains are dull, prolonged, weakened by rotation of the head, massaging the problem area.
- Pain in the back of the neck may be due to unexpected stress, especially in women over 30 years of age.
Pain in the nape - treatment
Now we'll figure out how to get rid of or ease the pain in the neck.
Specialists who will help to make the correct diagnosis - therapist, neurologist, traumatologist, cardiologist, orthodontist.
Depending on the diagnosis, treatment is prescribed, and the pain in the nape may recede after a course of massage, manual therapy, physiotherapy (electrophoresis, magnetotherapy, ultrasound therapy), therapeutic physical training. In more complex cases, medication is required.
To alleviate the pain in the nape will help the following:
- airing, humidifying the room, eliminating high noise and bright lighting;
- light massage of the occipital region;
- applying a compress from the cabbage leaf to the nape;
- herbal teas (linden, mint, sage);
- sleep on an orthopedic pillow.