Medication, ice, and heating pads are traditional remedies for persistent neck pain but don’t always cut it for some individuals. It may take some experimentation to find the best therapy regimen for your neck discomfort. Working with seasoned specialists at Expert Pain can do you a world of good. If you suffer from neck discomfort, you may want to give these suggestions for relieving it a try.
Relaxing neck stretches
When you wake up with acute neck discomfort, the first thing you should do is stretch. Increasing blood flow to a specific place might be as simple as moving your head to decrease swelling. If you want to give the impression that you agree, you might shake your head from side to side or nod a few times slowly.
Choose a chair that provides enough head and neck support
The spine’s stress increases when the person hunches forward with a forward head position. Keep your head in a neutral position over your cervical spine by practicing excellent posture throughout the day. Use a chair with a headrest to maintain a neutral cervical spine. You should rest your head on the headrest and raise your ears over your shoulders. Remember to utilize the headrest whenever you can, both at home and in the automobile. While working at a computer, your eyes should be at the same level as the top third of the screen.
Consume anti-inflammatory spices
A warm beverage containing cinnamon and turmeric may help relieve neck stiffness and inflammation if exposed to cold or wet conditions just before the onset of your symptoms. The antioxidants in cinnamon have powerful anti-inflammatory effects, and research has shown that turmeric may help reduce inflammation and muscular stiffness, which can improve recovery.
Put on a warm or cold compress
Try a hot or cold compress when you need fast relief from a tight neck. You can unwind those neck muscles with a good compress and get more blood flowing through there. You might expect some relief from the discomfort as a side effect. Use a compress, either hot or cold, for 10 minutes. To feel the effects immediately, try doing this at least twice daily.
Check-in with a physiotherapist
Most people associate physical therapy with recovery from specific injuries sustained in sports or car accidents. That being said, physical treatment for the neck may offer other advantages, including:
- It helps identify postural or behavioral factors that may be causing discomfort or stiffness.
- Assisting you in learning preventative measures to take in the event of a re-injury
- Targeted neck workouts to strengthen the area(s) of weakness
Contact your doctor to determine whether physical therapy might help with your persistent neck discomfort. Strengthening and stretching the neck may alleviate pressure on the cervical spine and improve its stability.
Get medical attention if your neck discomfort is persistent, severe enough to keep you from sleeping even with over-the-counter pain medication, or causes you to be unable to shift your head to one side. Schedule an appointment with Expert Pain and get the care your neck needs.
