What You Can Do About Your Neck Pain
By Sara Butler
Neck pain. It happens. Actually, it's such a problem in some countries that it can impact up to 75 percent of the population, especially in places where people do a lot of repetitive tasks. In the United States, neck pain is a symptom seen by the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic quite regularly. There are a variety of reasons why someone may suffer from neck pain, most often to do with posture and ergonomic. If you are dealing with a pain in your neck, then here's what you can do at home to help ease the pain before and after you begin seeing a chiropractor at The Joint for treatment.
Home Treatments
If neck pain has become a problem for you, then don't ignore it. Take steps to reduce pain and begin working with a chiropractor to identify the root cause and begin treating it. The things you do outside of the chiropractor's office can help to speed your recovery and reduce discomfort, which is why there are several things you will want to try to help.
Apply Ice or Heat
You can take turns applying ice and heat to your neck to help ease some of your symptoms. You can take a warm shower to help loosen muscles or apply a heating pad on the lowest setting for about 15 to 20 minutes every couple of hours. For ice, apply an ice pack for up to 15 minutes every two or three hours to help.
Move With Care
You shouldn't let your neck pain keep you from doing your normal daily activities. In fact, not moving can be far worse for your neck than moving, as long as you take a few precautions.
You should avoid any sports or activities that involve lifting things that can aggravate your condition and make the pain or stiffness worse. You should also avoid or alter activities that can be the cause of your neck pain such as sitting in front of your computer screen for hours at a time or reaching up above your head for long periods of time.
To help ease your neck pain, work in some movement. Gentle stretching can be quite beneficial to help prevent stiffness and increase flexibility. Just don't do anything that causes pain. You can also gently rub or massage the area to help encourage blood flow.
Practice Good Habits
Your daily habits can play a role in neck pain too, so be sure to reduce stress and tension during your day, practice some good relaxation exercises, and quit smoking if you smoke since it can decrease the blood supply to your soft tissues and delay healing.
You don't have to live with neck pain. Come see the chiropractors at The Joint today to help you start on the road to recovery.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Los Angeles, Calif.
