Neck Pain — Is There Any Relief?
I know you’ve had neck pain — hasn’t everyone? Even my three year old grandchild has asked me to rub her neck because “it hurts, Gams.” Having a pain in the neck is no fun. Your head feels like a ton of bricks bearing down on your neck and you feel helpless to do anything about it. It doesn’t matter how you got your neck pain; what matters is that you have it and you just can’t seem to function in your life with it. So how do you go about finding neck pain relief? Having been on the receiving of end of chronic neck pain I’ve discovered a few things that I’d like to pass on to you.
Determine the Cause of the Pain
The best place to start in managing your neck pain is to determine the root of your pain. Even though it won’t make your neck stop hurting to find out why it is hurting, it’s the first step to recovery because you won’t do that – whatever that caused it – again. For example, if you have slept in the wrong position, you can adjust how you sleep the next night so that you don’t have to deal with it. Or, in my case just yesterday, I won’t scrub the tile in the kitchen with clorox again! My counter top was pristine but, oh, what a headache I had a few minutes later.
Break Habits That Cause Neck Pain
On another occasion I found myself on the chiropractor’s table getting an adjustment because I had worked too long, sitting in a strained position, in front of my computer. Another time I discovered that my favorite handbag was the culprit. No longer do I carry a heavy purse on my shoulder.
Now, that was a hard habit to break I can assure you. However, my chiropractor told me in no uncertain terms if I wanted to help my neck I should change my purse. I also stopped holding the phone against my shoulder, a habit a bit easier to break because of the pain generated when I forget. Yes, it’s hard to break such habits; however, to make sure that you are doing things that aren’t going to lead to more pain, change is necessary. This is perhaps the hardest part.
Another way you can alleviate some neck pain is to adjust your sleeping position. Our necks are very sensitive when it comes to how we sleep. Be sure that you are always sleeping in a way that doesn’t cause your neck to hurt. Take precautions to make sure that your head is fully supported as you sleep as some neck pain occurs because your neck has to work too hard to hold up your head as you sleep.
Apply Heat and Stretch Those Neck Muscles
So, what’s the best way to treat neck pain? I’ve found that applying heat to the area of my neck that hurts offers soothing relief. Stretching is also good. Many times the key to neck pain relief is to make sure the muscles that have been affected have a chance to get stretched out. A good method I’ve used is to lie in a tub of hot water first — then stretch my neck while it is warm from the hot water. The hot water and the steam help the muscles in your neck to uncoil. I have found it feels better quickly when I do this.
To your health!
~Linda
