Features of the treatment of inflammation of the neck muscles: how and what to treat

Symptoms of myositis

The symptoms of myositis are varied. The main symptom of the disease is pain. The appearance of pain is a sign of a process that has already begun. It is intense and can wax or wane. The patient cannot turn or tilt his head or palpate the site of inflammation. A person limits movement and tries to prevent pain from occurring. Irradiation to the upper half of the body is characteristic of myositis; pain often bothers one side of the cervical region, but can bother both.

If the condition worsens, the person begins to feel heaviness in the neck and observes swelling in the vertebral area. Some patients report a headache radiating to the temple or back of the head, difficulty chewing and swallowing food, and therefore often refuse to eat.

As the disease progresses, fever, cough appear, and in severe cases, even attacks of suffocation occur.

When becoming chronic, the pain intensifies at night or when the weather changes. Periods of exacerbation go into remission, when nothing bothers the patient, but the disease may reappear.

Treatment of myositis with folk remedies

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Compresses

To relieve muscle pain in folk medicine, the following is used:

• cabbage compress;
• boiled potato compress;
• compresses using plants such as chamomile, sweet clover, linden, horsetail.

Cabbage compress Boiled potato compress Herbal compresses

Oils

Pepper oilHerbal oil To prepare herbal oil you will need:

• 700 milliliters (three cups) unrefined vegetable oil;
• 2 tablespoons of birch mushroom;
• one tablespoon each of such plants as calamus root, adonis grass, immortelle, St. John's wort, lemon balm, yarrow, plantain, string, mountain ash, oats, celandine.

Causes of inflammation

Now let's look at the main reasons why cervical myositis may occur:

• Some diseases of an infectious nature: ARVI, tonsillitis, rheumatic disease, decreased immunity.
• Musicians and office workers are susceptible to the disease. That is, those people who constantly keep their neck muscles tense.
• Often neck injuries: sprains, fractures of the upper limbs can cause the muscles to become inflamed.
• Prolonged stress, depression, hypothermia reduce immunity, so the risk increases.
• Parasites, when releasing their toxins, damage the neck muscles.
• Diseases of the musculoskeletal system, as a person can find himself in an uncomfortable position for a long time.
• Various poisonings, bad habits and concomitant diseases (diabetes mellitus) affect the body.

Diagnostics

To diagnose myositis, a blood test is prescribed, thanks to which it will become clear whether any inflammatory process is present in the patient’s body. There are specialized studies, in particular electromyography, which confirms the presence of damage to the neck muscles. In the most extreme situations, a morphological examination of tissue is carried out.

Using an x-ray, you can accurately determine whether myositis is present, because damaged muscle fibers are accompanied by characteristic darkening. X-ray examination makes it possible to distinguish myositis from all possible manifestations of osteochondrosis.

Types of cervical myositis

• Purulent cervical myositis. The causative agents are staphylococci, streptococci, which release toxins when they enter a wound;
• Infectious cervical myositis occurs after acute respiratory viral infection, during systemic lupus erythematosus;
• Neuromyositis. In addition to the neck muscles, nerve bundles are affected, thereby affecting new areas of the body;
• Myositis ossificans. In addition, the cervical vertebrae are affected;
• Dermatomyositis occurs due to changes in hormonal levels. Most often it is a hereditary disease.

How to treat neck myositis?

Cervical myositis is treated with medications. A diet and a course of therapeutic massage are recommended. The use of traditional methods of therapy is allowed.

• Related articles: cervical myositis in children

Drugs

Medicines are used to reduce inflammation, relieve pain and destroy pathogenic bacteria. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs will be needed to relieve pain. They are prescribed until the inflammation can not be relieved. For intense pain, swelling, and fever, NSAIDs can be taken intramuscularly. It is necessary to take Diclofenac, Ketorolac.

You can use combination drugs Ibuprofen in combination with Paracetamol, Diclofenac with Paracetamol. To relieve spasms and muscle tension, muscle relaxants are suitable: Hydroxyzine, Baclofen, Tizanidine and others.

If cervical myositis is of autoimmune origin, then you should take corticosteroids: Hydrocortisone, Methylprednisolone. They reduce the activity of the autoimmune reaction and alleviate the condition. Glucocorticoids have many side effects, so you should not take them yourself. It is better to consult a doctor who will help you prescribe the correct dose.

If myositis is caused by bacteria, broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs are used. But under no circumstances should you use warming ointments, as they will accelerate the growth of bacteria and aggravate the condition. Antibiotics from the penicillin group are quite suitable for successful treatment.

• Interesting read: what is myositis and how to treat it

An ointment can be included in the treatment of cervical myositis. Ointments are used only if there are no contraindications. Rubbing helps improve blood supply to the area and eliminates pain and inflammation. You can use Fastum Gel ointment. It will easily relieve tension, pain, and improve your well-being. This therapy is used in the absence of bacterial infection.

Diet

Diet for illness is just as effective. It is necessary to remove fried, spicy, and salty foods from the diet. When you have a fever, you need to drink more fluids (more than 2 liters per day). To relieve inflammation, it is worth consuming more polyunsaturated fatty acids, which fish is rich in. So if your neck hurts or you feel weak, stock up on fish.

Massage

Consult a doctor, he will be able to prescribe a therapeutic set of exercises for the neck muscles. Massage is important for the treatment of myositis. With the right approach, you will get rid of blood stagnation in the muscles and relieve pain.

• The doctor must correctly calculate the time of work and rest;
• Do not force yourself to exercise if you feel discomfort;
• Exercises will strengthen the muscles of the back and neck, increase tone, and relieve tension.

Successful treatment of neck myositis is possible by combining medications with diets and massage.

• We advise you to read: if you have a cold neck, what to apply to sore muscles

Folk remedies

• Warming ointment can be made from lard, first grind it with horsetail powder. Then gently apply to the skin;
• To relieve pain, bay oil is mixed with water. Then gauze is soaked in the solution and applied to the affected area;
• To reduce the inflammatory process, drink Adonis tincture, first pour boiling water over the herb and leave for about an hour;
• Copper coins can relieve pain. They need to be applied to the affected area for a day, and then simply cleaned;
• Preparing a bandage with honey, which is applied to the neck, can relieve heaviness. Just first you need to wrap yourself in a warm woolen scarf.

• We recommend reading: ointment for neck pain

Features of drug treatment

Only a doctor has the right to treat cervical myositis, who will refer the patient for the necessary examinations, the results of which will become the basis for making a final diagnosis. The principle of treatment will depend on the root cause of the disease, but in any case, therapy will require an integrated approach, including a combination of medications and physical therapy. The general characteristics of treatment boil down to the following measures:

• rest of the cervical spine is ensured, loads and sudden movements are prohibited;
• following a diet aimed at consuming fiber and avoiding sweet and salty foods;
• anti-inflammatory therapy;
• ointments and compresses with a special composition;
• use of antibiotics.

Even when cervical myositis progresses, treatment is delayed for no longer than two weeks. During this time, the patient is guaranteed to receive all the necessary assistance. The main drugs fighting the disease are non-steroidal antiviral drugs. Medicines from the NSAID group can relieve acute inflammation and relieve pain.

The use of anti-inflammatory drugs is not compatible with the consumption of alcohol and spicy food - the formation or exacerbation of a latent gastric ulcer is possible.

The advantage of drug treatment is that the drugs can get rid of the manifestations of the disease and completely eliminate the cause. However, NSAIDs have a number of features that you need to familiarize yourself with in advance:

1. Peptic ulcers, diseases affecting the stomach - gastritis, enterocolitis - are reasons for refusing to use non-steroidal antiviral drugs.
2. NSAIDs should not be taken longer than prescribed; long-term treatment has a negative effect on the digestive system and liver.
3. You can take the tablets only with water and at least one glass. All other drinks can adversely affect the ability of the drug.
4. It is forbidden to combine anti-inflammatory drugs; there is a risk of heavy stress on the liver and stomach.
5. You cannot drink alcoholic beverages.

The latest generation of NSAIDs have fewer side effects and contraindications and are considered safer for the body.

If neck myositis occurs, treatment should be comprehensive; local treatment using ointments and gels will be a good help. They have additional benefits:

• improve blood flow;
• promotes muscle relaxation;
• speed up metabolism;
• reduce the intensity of pain.

The effect of ointments is determined by the components contained in the drug.

In addition to drug treatment for myositis and topical ointment treatment, another innovation is available in the form of NSAID patches. The adhesive plaster is designed for 12-24 hours, does not require much care or medical care, the medicine enters through the skin in small doses, is not absorbed into the blood, and does not damage the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum.

Applying a pepper patch helps treat myositis. It is a cotton fabric that is soaked in hot pepper extract.

Due to the irritating effect, pain is diverted from the source of inflammation. It warms up and gives a hot spot effect, however, if the skin is damaged, the patch is prohibited. The pepper patch has no age restrictions, but not every child is able to tolerate itching and burning; the patch is preferably prescribed to adults.

Disease prognosis

• Recovery. If you consulted a doctor on time, followed his recommendations correctly, and treated diligently, then cervical myositis will quickly go away without complications;
• Transition to chronic form. Most often it occurs in the absence of proper treatment: categorical refusal to take medications, reduction of doses, constant overwork and lack of rest;
• Development of complications: systemic inflammation, purulent inflammation and others.

Myositis of the neck muscles is a serious disease, so do not delay treatment.

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Traditional methods

Treatment of cervical muscle myositis can be carried out at home, using traditional medicine recipes in tandem with anti-inflammatory drugs.

Compresses

1. A compress made from white cabbage leaves has proven itself well. They need to be lightly beaten, soaped with laundry soap, sprinkled with baking soda and applied to the affected area, securing with a warm scarf. It is advisable to do the procedure at night. In the morning, the pain becomes less pronounced and muscle spasm decreases.
2. It is useful to make a compress from potatoes boiled in their jackets. Hot tubers need to be mashed into a puree, placed on plastic and placed on the inflamed muscle. After cooling, you need to remove the bandage and rub your neck with vodka.
3. Horsetail copes with inflammation and soothes nagging pain that radiates to the shoulders and lower back . Dry herbs are good to use as the basis of a healing ointment. You should melt the lard, wait until it cools, and mix with ground horsetail in a 4:1 ratio. Lard can be replaced with unsalted butter.
4. If myositis has caused muscle weakness, honey ointment helps. You need to combine 400 ml of liquid honey and 20 grams of sulfur, rub the mixture into the sore spot, doing a light massage with your fingertips. The neck needs to be insulated and the patient wrapped in a woolen blanket. When he sweats, take off the wet clothes, put on dry ones and go to bed. The ointment is safe and effective, so it can be used for auxiliary home treatment of myositis in children.
5. It is easy to relieve pain caused by overexertion with fresh pine needles. You need to take a few young branches. Cut, measure out 2 large spoons, add water (0.5 l) and cook, stirring constantly, for 10 minutes. Infuse the medicine for 24 hours, avoiding exposure to sunlight. Then strain, add a spoonful of bran or oatmeal into the liquid. After 15 minutes, place the slightly swollen pulp on cellophane and place it on your neck. Tie a scarf on top and do not remove for 3 hours. The compress should be done once a day for a week.
6. Bay leaf essential oil quickly dulls pain and alleviates the general condition of myositis . You need to boil a liter of water, cool to 60 ºС and pour in 12 drops of oil. Soak a terry towel in the liquid, apply it to the sore neck and hold the lotion until the fabric cools down.

Herbal ointments

Traditional medicine stores in its arsenal numerous anti-inflammatory recipes for herbal ointments.

1. You need to prepare marshmallow rhizomes, lavender, horsetail, cloudberry pericarp, yarrow, and dandelion root. Combine ingredients in equal proportions. Take 20 g of raw materials, pour 100 ml of boiling water and simmer in a water bath for a couple of minutes. After half an hour, strain and mix with 75 g of vegetable oil or pork fat. Rub into the skin 3 times a day until the symptoms of the disease disappear. Store the medicine in a cool, airtight glass container.
2. To prepare the ointment, you can use a set of other medicinal herbs. A collection of the following components relieves pain and relieves swelling: poplar buds, lemon balm, dandelion roots, chamomile and lilac flowers, burdock roots and birch leaves, mint, violet and pine. The method of preparing the product is identical to the previous one.

To quickly cure myositis at home, the use of herbal ointments can be combined with compresses. Rub in the medicinal mixture, then cover the area of ​​inflammation with peppermint or sage. Secure the top with burdock or cabbage leaves, put cellophane, tie a scarf and leave for several hours.

Recipes for external and internal use

Regular rubbing helps eliminate pinched nerve endings caused by myositis. There is an effective folk way of preparing tincture. Should be crushed:

• anise fruit;
• burdock leaves;
• dandelion and elecampane roots;
• rose petals;
• juniper needles;
• thuja;
• pine nut shells;
• eucalyptus;
• snake mountaineer.

The ingredients mixed 1 spoon at a time should be poured into a paper bag. Take 30 g and pour in 250 ml of vodka. Leave in the dark for 2 weeks, shaking regularly. Then filter and rub your neck 3 times a day until complete recovery.

When treating chronic myositis, herbal infusions for oral administration are useful . Willow leaves and buds in the amount of 1 tablespoon should be poured into 250 ml of boiling water. After an hour, strain and take throughout the day, dividing the resulting infusion into 6 equal portions. Instead of willow, you can brew 1 spoon of adonis leaves or gimlet flowers. It is recommended to prepare and drink the infusion for a month.

To prevent myositis of the neck muscles, regular exercise and uniform load on the back are necessary. Doctors recommend swimming, light jogging, and aerobics. Myositis, not complicated by other diseases, ceases to bother you after 7-10 days, subject to regular, proper treatment.