Pains in the back of the neck are frequent during a winter illness. Especially those who already suffer from it are at risk.
Winter, humidity, cold, too many hours spent in the office in front of the computer and the lower tendency to move and perform physical activity would already be enough to aggravate the symptoms in those who tend to suffer more or less regularly from pain in the cervical spine: seven precious vertebrae necessary to support and guide the movements of the head.
Although there are no data in the medical literature that link cervicalgia with influenza, the two conditions can occur simultaneously and it is therefore useful to give some useful suggestions.
Also because the winter sickness puts its own, further favoring local inflammation and facilitating the onset of acute attacks.
We should not be surprised, therefore, if while you are struggling with the most classic of seasonal ailments you find yourself having to deal with pain in the back of the neck, between the shoulders and the nape, contractures and tingling that can extend to the fingers of the hand and alterations in sensitivity and strength, that prevent you from moving your arm in the usual way.
The different forms of cervicalgia
In relation to the origin and distribution of pain and symptoms Three variants of cervicalgia are recognized, namely the real cervicalgia, cervico-brachial syndrome and syndrome cervico-cephalic. Let’s see what the differences are.
| Form of cervicalgia | Pain site | Events |
|---|---|---|
| Real cervicalgia | The pain mainly affects the neck, especially in the region of the nape, and the upper back, between the shoulder blades | The pain is usually related to the presence of a contracture and/or inflammation muscle (in particular, affecting the splenium muscle of the head and of the neck, trapezius and levator shoulder muscle), in proportion varies from case to case. The resulting discomfort can be remarkable and can prevent all or only part from moving the neck for one or more days. |
| Cervicobrachial syndrome | Neck and shoulder pain | Neck and shoulder pain are added to sensory symptoms and loss of strength, which radiate from the cervical spine to the shoulders and to the arms, sometimes reaching up to the hands. The Events, in general, concern only one arm, in correspondence of the side most affected by inflammation, which in this Case also involves the cervical nerves markedly. |
| Cervicocephalic syndrome | Neck and shoulder pain | Distinctive neurological sensory symptoms such as headaches are present, dizziness (resulting in nausea), visual and hearing disorders, to which are added, sometimes, even swallowing disorders. These manifestations can be like this. intense and disabling to completely overshadow the pain in the neck. |
What treatments to use
The causes of cervicalgia can be many and must always be identified precisely before embarking on a specific treatment.
However, in the case of an occasional acute attack, such as the one that accompanies the flu, the remedies to be used are common to all forms and essentially aimed at alleviating pain and dampening inflammation.
Fortunately, the first approach suggested by doctors to achieve these effects involves the use of the same drugs used to lower fever and relieve common flu symptoms, namely analgesics, antipyretics and anti-inflammatories such as NSAIDs, which in many cases represent a perfect solution for both problems.
When these interventions, while improving the general discomfort associated with the flu, fail to sufficiently reduce pain in the cervical spine, the doctor may add muscle relaxant medications, which help loosen the painful muscle contracture induced by cervicalgia and local inflammation, or prescribe more powerful anti-inflammatories.
Analgesics and anti-inflammatories against cervicalgia can be applied topically in the form of creams, patches or gels, but if flu is also present it is more reasonable to opt for oral formulations and thus exploit their action on the whole organism.
Even if the fever associated with the flu passes after 3-4 days, if cervicalgia is to be counteracted, NSAIDs can continue to be taken for up to a maximum of 7-10 days.
Another useful intervention to alleviate the discomfort of cervicalgia is to apply warm compresses, to promote relaxation of the muscles of the shoulders and neck.
Although it may seem tiring and painful, then, to accelerate the resolution of the acute attack, doctors recommend movement, from that commonly carried out in the context of daily activities to the structured one, based on specific exercises suggested by the physiotherapist, orthopedist or osteopath.
All specialists who should be consulted if the disorder tends to recur with a certain frequency to plan a long-term rehabilitation program.
Joycelyn Elders is the author and creator of EmpowerEssence, a health and wellness blog. Elders is a respected public health advocate and pediatrician dedicated to promoting general health and well-being.
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