Are You Making Your Neck Pain Worse?
By Sara Butler
If you suffer from neck pain, you’ve probably looked up a lot of information online or gotten advice from friends on how to treat it. You and everyone in your life who gives you advice have the best intentions since chronic neck pain can be debilitating. But you may be making your neck pain worse without realizing it. Here are some mistakes the chiropractors at The Joint see quite a bit and what you can do that will really make a difference.
Mistake No. 1: Applying Heat Liberally
You should only be using heat for chronic pain. If what you’re experiencing is acute, then heat will probably help. But if you’re experiencing inflammation, then heat will only make your symptoms worse. This is because heat increases blood flow to an area and if inflammation is present, it will only cause the inflammation and pain to be much worse.
To deal with flare-ups or recent injuries, you should always use ice. You don’t have to get fancy with it, either. A bag of frozen vegetables will do in a pinch or throwing a few ice cubes in a plastic bag. Just make sure you put something between your skin and the ice to protect it. Apply for 15 to 20 minutes once an hour.
Mistake No. 2: Ignoring the Pain
Pain is your body’s signal that something's not right; it’s an alarm system that you need to heed. If you ignore pain, then you are taking the risk that the pain will return and only be much worse when it does. While it may be normal for some pain to come and go, if you haven’t addressed it and found the reason for the pain, then it will be harder to treat when you do decide to seek chiropractic treatment. So, get in as soon as your body’s alarm system starts to go off!
Mistake No. 3: Stopping All Activity
Resting is necessary for some injuries, but staying inactive for a long time will most likely only end up making the pain worse. If you are having pain in your neck and shoulders, then it becomes important to keep your muscles strong and flexible. This can help prevent future injuries and help to keep your spinal joints mobile.
If you are suffering from neck pain, discuss it with your chiropractor at The Joint!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.
