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Pain in the neck: causes

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

Any pain in our body can cause concern about our state of health, but when this pain occurs in areas where we usually do not have any problems, alarms can be triggered.

While headache is a relatively common condition, pain in the back of the neck is not something that occurs very regularly. The causes that can cause it are multiple and wildly different; for that reason, we must be attentive to other symptoms to establish what is causing it, such as if there is muscle pain, fever, palpitations, stabbing, and acute or chronic pain.

In the following FastlyHealarticle, we will talk about pain in the neck: causes, and we will explain what conditions can cause it, as well as the different symptoms with which they manifest.

Pain in the neck and forehead due to sinusitis

If we talk about inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, you will surely not know what we are talking about, but things may change when we speak about sinusitis. The sinuses are the air-filled cavities inside the skull, connecting to the nasal cavity.

When exposure to irritants, viruses, or bacteria causes inflammation of the nasal membranes, they clog the holes through which the mucus must drain out. In that case, the breasts become blocked and swollen, beginning to cause pressure that can be felt all over the face. It usually occurs in the eyes and on the forehead, but it can also spread to the nape of the neck and the back of the head.

When the breasts become deflated, either due to the action of drugs or because the infection has subsided, the sensation of pressure that causes pain in the neck gradually disappears.

Nape and neck pain from stress

Stress and anxiety are states of mind that are not only problematic on a psychological level but also manifest from a physical point of view. Nervousness can appear in physical discomfort with pain in the nape and neck, with a sensation of pressure or weight in the head caused by the contraction of the muscles in that area.

When we are stressed or with anxiety levels, we unconsciously contract the body’s muscles, especially those of the shoulders and neck. These bad postures, maintained over time, end up causing that stiffness and pain in the back of the head.

If you want to end these annoying symptoms, we recommend you follow the following tricks to cure anxiety and maintain good posture throughout the day to prevent the pain from getting worse.

Head and neck pain: cervical in origin

A neck or cervical spine injury can also manifest through pressure on the nape and neck. Many problems in the spine can lead to stiffness and even pain in the neck. The interconnection between muscles and structures is such that a problem in one area can manifest itself as discomfort in another.

Here are some discomforts that can cause pain in the back of the head :

  • Arthritis
  • Stress between intervertebral discs
  • Disc herniation
  • Cervical osteoarthritis

The contractures and other problems on the muscle, such as torticollis, can cause pain in the neck that radiates to the neck or back. This pain is joint in the channel’s name on the left or right side, but rarely in both simultaneously. Generally, this pain appears when you force yourself on that area -lifting weight- or when you sleep or spend a lot of time in an inappropriate posture. One of the most effective treatments to treat this neck pain is the application of compresses moistened with hot water and not forcing the neck. If the pain is very intense, we can take an analgesic, such as Paracetamol to relieve it.

Neck pain and dizziness from brain disorders

As you have seen so far, pain in the neck can be caused by conditions that, although they require treatment, usually have a precise diagnosis. However, pain in the back of the head, if accompanied by dizziness, fever, and other symptoms, can also mean a severe brain disorder. Next, we will talk about some of the diseases that can affect your brain and that can manifest in the form of pain in the back of the head :

  • Brain tumor: a tumor that grows in the brain, whether benign or malignant, can put pressure on the brain as it grows, causing a headache, especially in the neck.
  • Brain infections: basically meningitis, it can trigger fever and cause severe pain in the neck, although it can also be meningococcemia, a spine disease.
  • Hydrocephalus: it is a disorder in which cerebrospinal fluid accumulates around the brain, causing pressure inside the skull that is felt with great pain. The following article explains hydrocephalus’s symptoms, causes, and prognosis.

You have to take special care and quickly visit the doctor if, in addition to the pain in the neck, the patient has any of these symptoms :

  • High fever
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Drowsiness
  • Fatigue and tiredness
  • Muscular stiffness
  • Other neurological symptoms.

Pain in the back of the head from aneurysm

It is known as an aneurysm, the dilation of a cerebral blood vessel. If left untreated, it can eventually rupture, causing a hemorrhagic stroke. As a general rule, before it breaks, this type of accident does not cause pain or alterations; however, sometimes, it can manifest as persistent pain in the neck.

When it breaks, this pain suddenly increases considerably and does not improve if you do not see a doctor quickly. It is a severe ailment that can have fatal consequences, leaving life-long values or putting it in grave danger. That is why it is necessary to see a doctor immediately at the slightest symptom that there may be a brain aneurysm. In the following FastlyHealarticle, we explain what the symptoms of a stroke are so that you can learn to identify them.

Stiff neck due to arthritis

Arthritis is a disease that causes inflammation in the joints, causing pain. There are several joints in the area near the neck whose inflammation due to this disease can cause stiffness and pain in the neck. One of the classic symptoms of this pain is that it is milder in the morning and increases as the day progresses or when movements are made.

The pain in the neck on the left side or the right side caused by arthritis may require medical treatment, either with anti-inflammatories or muscle relaxants. Similarly, he recommends doing exercises such as yoga or swimming to strengthen the area and prevent pain.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Pain in the neck: causes , we recommend that you enter our Brain and nerves category .

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