10 Ways To Treat Neck Pain

If you suffer neck pain (which you most likely do), you understand how inconvenient it may be. Neck injuries can occur as a result of sports injuries, vehicle accidents, whiplash, falling, aging neck arthritis, and sometimes for no apparent reason at all! Neck injuries can prevent you from working, exercising, or participating in your favorite hobbies. Millions of Americans suffer from this condition daily, but what are the best remedies for neck pain? In truth, numerous things may be done to cure cervical pain effectively.

1. Rest

It is critical not to overdo anything, especially while dealing with acute neck pain, so rest as much as needed!

2. Heat & Ice

Is it better to treat neck pain with heat or ice? That's an excellent question, and the answer is yes to both! To reduce the inflammatory cascade in the early stages of a neck injury, apply ice for the first day or two. When it has been more than 48 hours since your injury, you should use heat to promote blood flow, wash out any inflammatory chemicals, and optimize healing.

3. Anti-inflammatory Medications 

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and Aleve, as well as prescription anti-inflammatories such as Naprosyn, Mobic/meloxicam, Celebrex, and Voltaren/diclofenac, all act by reducing acute inflammation. They do not heal your ailment, but they can assist in reducing inflammation and, hence, speed up your recuperation. Anti-inflammatories may be especially beneficial during the first 48 hours of acute neck pain.

4. Muscle Relaxers

These drugs, which include baclofen and cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), function at the spinal cord level to relieve muscle tension in your neck. Their advantage is somewhat limited and contentious.

5. Stretching

If muscle spasms are causing your lower neck pain, stretch therapy of those spastic muscle groups may help. It's ideal to start with stretches under the supervision of a certified expert until you're confident enough to undertake the home physical therapy exercises for neck discomfort on your own.

6. Physical Therapy

There is no doubt that physical therapy may help you improve your posture, fitness, body awareness, and spinal awareness. To address neck discomfort, find the best physical therapists near you.

7. Chiropractic Therapy

It's not just the cracking (high-velocity, low-amplitude) spinal manipulation that's important. Soft tissue mobilization is also used in chiropractic therapy, and the adjustments are often focused on treating the cervical facet joints and capsules, which are common sources of neck pain.

8. Acupuncture

Acupuncture is useful in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain for up to 6 months, but the therapy appears to become less effective beyond that. Research has even shown acupuncture therapy to modify the proteins in the spinal space!

9. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) allows doctors to see within your neck to determine the source of your neck pain. If the preceding therapies do not relieve your neck pain after a few weeks, or if your neck discomfort radiates into your arm, shoulder, or upper back, you might consider having an MRI. There is undeniable value in being able to image cervical discs, facet capsules, and other "softer" structures that X-rays or CT scans would not reveal!

10. See a Top Rated Neck and Spine Specialist

An evaluation by a neck pain doctor, such as an interventional pain physician, orthopedic neck and back specialist, neurosurgeon spine specialist, or other spine and orthopedic physician, for an appropriate diagnosis and workup, as well as additional therapy alternatives will help you get the best treat for your neck pain. Treatments require specialized expertise and skill, so seek out the greatest spine doctor.