My neck feels a bit swollen

Neck problems are social in nature. Many people are used to playing with their mobile phones, especially while lying in bed, maintaining a fixed posture for a long time. In addition, there are people such as white-collar workers and drivers who need to maintain a fixed posture to work, which makes neck diseases become very prominent. If you feel your neck is a little swollen, you should pay attention to it, as you may have cervical spondylosis, which requires prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Neck swelling is a typical symptom of cervical spondylosis. However, there are many reasons for neck swelling:

1. There are many other reasons that cause neck pain, such as improper head and neck posture during sleep; the pillow is too high, inappropriately soft or hard, or uneven; neck trauma; the neck is exposed to wind and cold. Neck pain is not necessarily cervical spondylosis.

2. Of course, it may also be caused by early cervical spondylosis. Therefore, if the pain just starts, you should pay attention to avoid bad postures, such as lying in bed watching TV, reading, and sleeping on one side for a long time; at the same time, pay attention to using a suitable cervical health pillow, and be sure to choose a pillow that suits your body shape. You can also seek treatment from a professional chiropractor.

What are the symptoms of cervical spondylosis?

1. Cervical type: mainly abnormal sensations such as pain in the head, neck, and shoulders, accompanied by corresponding tender points. Characterized by neck stiffness, discomfort, pain, and limited mobility, this is also the most common type.

2. Sympathetic nervous type: Clinical manifestations include a series of sympathetic nervous system symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus, numbness of hands, tachycardia, and precordial pain.

3. Radiculopathy: The patient's palms or arms experience numbness, pain, and weakened grip. Sometimes they even feel powerless to hold a cup. In severe cases, the patient suffers from pain all night long and has difficulty falling asleep.

4. Vertebral artery type: The patient's symptoms are migraine, dizziness, or chest tightness and chest pain. Each attack of vertigo was associated with a turning of the neck.

Four tips to help you identify true and false cervical spondylosis

1. Are there any signs of nerve and blood vessel compression?

Cervical spondylosis often presents with symptoms of brachial plexus compression, resulting in paralysis of the outer side of the arm, which may extend to the tips of the little and ring fingers. A simple way to check is to abduct your arms horizontally, straighten them, and pull your head outward with force in the opposite direction of your arms. If the arm paralysis worsens and extends to the fingers, accompanied by dizziness, it proves that there is compression and cervical spondylosis is likely; if the impact is not significant, the symptoms are only concentrated in the neck and shoulder areas, and there is no obvious difference during activities, a mental illness is likely.

2. Whether the symptoms persist.

If the symptoms caused by the disease persist and do not change due to the environment, weather and mood, cervical spondylosis is likely; otherwise, mental illness is likely. Because no one can change the disease that has already occurred in a short period of time.

3. Do you suffer from insomnia?

Insomnia can lead to excitement of nerves in the neck, stimulate neck muscle cells, cause congestion and swelling, and make the neck stiff and painful. This is similar to the symptoms of cervical spondylosis. If you have insomnia, you should treat it first. If insomnia improves and neck pain is relieved, it proves that it is a psychological illness; if insomnia is eliminated but neck pain remains, it is likely to be cervical spondylosis.

4. Whether the patient is sensitive and suspicious.

People who are emotionally sensitive and easily excited have high nerve sensitivity and are easily excited, causing swelling and pain. People with this kind of emotional disorder should first consider the possibility of mental illness.