Chiropractor In Apache Junction Az | 4 Things You Can Do At Home To Relieve Neck Pain

Many things cause neck pain including bad posture, pinched nerves, and stress. No matter what the cause, you will want the neck pain gone. The faster you can relieve the pain, the better and if you can do it at home it is all the better. Therefore, here are four things you can do in your home without seeing a doctor to relive your pain.

#1: Ice the Neck -

A simple ice pack will help reduce inflammation from overworked neck muscles. If you can find one, a gel ice pack will stay cold longer. However, anything frozen will work. On a personal note, I prefer the u-shaped frozen neck pillows. You can get them in a variety of scents making them even more relaxing.

#2: Use Heat -

A heating pad will help the muscles in the neck relax. Remember; do not place a heating pad directly against the skin. Always place a cloth between you and the heating pad.

If you do not own a heating pad, you can place a towel in the microwave to heat it up. You will want to heat it for 30 seconds at a time. A small cup of water in the microwave with the towel will add some moisture and help prevent the towel from burning.

#3: Gels, Sprays and Rub-Ons -

You can find these in the pharmacy section of most grocery stores. They are good to keep around the house as they work well for minor sprains and tense muscles. Some can be rubbed on the head to help headaches.

These come in hot versions (Bengay), cold versions (Biofreeze), and cold and hot versions (Icy Hot). Many but not all of these products have a fairly strong smell. Therefore, if you plan on putting it on and going out, you will want to find one that has no odor.

#4: Try a Neck Pillow -

Most of the time, neck pain is caused by improper posture and this includes sleeping as well. If your pillow is not the right height, then you will wake up with a stiff neck. You can correct this by getting a pillow that is the right height, trying a contour or memory foam pillow, or by rolling up a towel to give your neck support.

Changing pillows may take a few days before you see results. However, if your neck still hurts after three days, then you need to seek some professional help.

When to Seek Professional Health -

Sometimes neck pain will not go away with simple at home methods. It is important to recognize the signs of when professional help is needed. As mentioned above, if your neck pain lasts more than a few days, seek out help. However, there are other signs you need to look for as well. Get help:

"If the pain worsens or does not resolve itself after a few days
"If the pain is the result of an accident or some other injury
"If you experience visual problems or dizziness
"If you notice other neurological problems

If you experience any of the above symptoms, go to a doctor or chiropractor immediately. Since some chiropractors offer same day appointments, you may wish to seek chiropractic treatment first.