Living with chronic neck pain can be difficult, and common treatments such as medicines, ice, or heating pads don't always provide enough relief. To help manage neck pain, here are some lesser-known tips to consider. First, relieve severe pain early with rest, ice and heat; then continue with gentle stretching and strengthening exercises. Later, avoid bad posture and other habits that can trigger another neck pain crisis.
Ibuprofen or paracetamol can also help relieve pain. To reduce tension, try some of the best stretches for neck tension. Take an inventory of your posture or daily habits that could trigger neck pain, such as sitting for long periods in positions that strain your neck when reading, watching TV, working at the computer, or sleeping. Seeing a chiropractor for neck pain or any specialist can help relieve neck pain by treating the root cause of the pain.
Exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles of the neck, shoulders, and upper back can accelerate recovery from a painful neck condition and possibly reduce breakouts. If neck pain is severe, lasts for weeks or months, drastically limits your ability to move your head, radiates to your shoulders, or you feel worse in the morning, consider seeing a doctor. With new strategies to focus more on the positives, you may be able to better follow the treatment plan for neck pain. Depending on the diagnosis, you may need additional treatments or even surgery to relieve pain and return to normal activities.
Massages are great for neck pain; book a massage at a spa, ask your partner to massage your neck pain, or buy an electronic neck massager. Check with your doctor to see if chronic neck pain could be better managed with physical therapy. Some of the most common over-the-counter pain relievers used for neck pain are ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or naproxen sodium.
