Neck Pain Home Remedies
For neck pain suffers, medical treatment such as prescription medicines may be a good option. In addition, proper home remedy may accelerate healing. It includes:
For sudden (acute) neck pain:
Ice pack is an ideal option. Get in a comfortable position and place an ice pack on the sore for 48 to 72 hours. Your pain, muscle spasm, or swelling will be relieved greatly. If the affected area is near the shoulder or upper back, put ice on the back of the neck. In addition, ice massage is also found to be beneficial. Massage the sore with ice for 7 to 10 minutes, your pain will be relieved. Ice frozen in a paper cup proves to be very effective. Beware lest it cause harm to your skin (frostbite).
Use heat with caution as this can increase swelling. Avoid things, such as hot showers, hot tubs, hot packs, or alcoholic beverages, for the first 48 hours after an injury. After 48 to 72 hours, if swelling has gone done, you can use heat. Use a warm pack or heating pad set on low. Alternate use of heat and cold treatment is recommended by some experts.
Resume your normal daily activities as soon as possible. Normal activities is of great help to elimination of some symptoms after a neck-strain injury. It had been proved to be more effective than resting in bed and using neck immobilization.
Gently massage or rub the affected area to lessen pain and speed up blood circulation. Stop massaging the injured area if the pain is increased. Nonprescription creams or gels, such as Bengay, may help to alleviate your pain.
Take analgesics. Acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) may be helpful in alleviating your pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including aspirin (such as Bayer), ibuprofen (such as Advil), or naproxen sodium (such as Aleve), is helpful in relieving pain and reducing inflammation. Be careful not to use aspirin if you are below 20 years old or you are at the risk of Reye syndrome.
Neck Pain Home Remedies
Neck Pain and Injuries
Whiplash Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Home and Medical Treatment for Whiplash
Neck Exercises for Neck Pain Relief
Neck Pain Treatment Options
How is the Neck Pain Diagnosed?
Neck Pain Symptoms and Signs
Surgery for Neck Pain Relief
Medications for Neck Pain Relief
Neck Pain Prevention and Relief
Physical Therapy for Neck Pain Treatment
Home Remedies for Neck Pain
Effective Neck Pain Treatment Options
Causes of Neck Pain
Long-lasting (chronic) pain
For long-lasting (chronic) pain, you can use the same neck pain relief measures used for acute pain, but you do not have to worry about swelling.
You can get a quick recovery from acute and chronic neck pain and avoid further injury by:
Doing stretching and strengthening exercises for your neck can increase its flexibility and strengthen and avoid rigidity.
Stopping carrying on any activities that may be resulting in your neck pain, such as long-term computer work or overhead work.
Keep good health habits. If you are under great pressure, try to relax yourself at work and home. Quit smoking. Smoking will exert a negative effect on your treatment. It results in slow healing and insufficient blood supply and slow issue repair. Exercise regularly, including aerobic exercise such as walking.
Proper movement and body mechanics can assist you in avoiding future neck pain. This includes:
Do not keep slouching gesture and bend your head forward. Sit straight in your chair with your lower back supported, feet planted on the floor, and shoulders relaxed. Do not sit for long periods Take short rests several times per hour to have your neck muscles stretched.
Changing you sitting gesture will benefit your whole body when working at the computer. Make sure that the top of the screen is at the same level of your eyes. Ensure that your document is at the same level as the screen. If you want to know more, please consult the topic Office Ergonomics.
Using a headset or speaker phone if you have many telephone calls. Avoid holding the phone on your shoulder.
Adjusting your car seat to keep you sit straightly with your head and lower back supported. Make sure that you are not approaching the steering wheel while driving. Your arms should flex comfortablely.
Using a proper pillow and keeping proper gesture when resting. Your pillow should be in a proper height, neither too high nor too flat, to keep your neck straight. Cervical pillows or rolls are found to be efficacious in pain relief. If you don’t have a cervical pillow use a feather pillow with a small towel roll tucked in to support your neck. Sleep on your side or back without bending or twisting your neck. Look at a picture of proper sleeping positions.
Keeping proper posture when reading in bed. Make sure the book is kept at a right height so that you don’t need to use your arms to hold it up and bend your neck forward. You are recommended to use a wedge-shaped pillow to support your arms and keep your neck in a proper position.
Keep proper gestures when lifting something. Raising things by the efforts of knees, not you back, can also assist in avoiding neck pain.
Your doctor may suggest that you wear a cervical collar to have your neck supported. Cervical collars may relieve neck pain, but they should not be used for long periods., when you feel relieved, begin to do proper exercise to speed healing.