Neck pain can strike you off guard, and it doesn't discriminate. This type of pain can affect both adults and children. The tired, stiff, burning, aching sensation neck pain causes can make it hard to concentrate on everyday tasks.
Neck pain can be caused by a number of things, including poor posture, impact injuries (whiplash), awkward sleep positions, pent-up tension, slumping over a computer screen, and weak core muscles that help support the spine. Age-related conditions such as degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis can also be the culprit of neck pain.
Treatments for Neck Pain
There are several ways to treat pain in the neck. You can use over-the-counter pain relievers (OTC) and anti-inflammatory drugs such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen to manage neck pain. If neck pain is severe, your doctor may consider prescribing prescription pain relievers to manage the pain. Both OTC medicines and prescription pain relievers can have side effects that include liver damage, stomach bleeding, ulcers, addiction (Prescription drugs), and dangerous interactions with other medications.
Medications are not the only way to deal with neck pain. There are several non-drug options to treat this condition including massage therapy, neck manipulation, acupuncture, herbal remedies, and exercises.
Massage increases the blood flow, releases natural pain-killing hormones in the body, and relieves built up tension that can contribute to pain in the neck. A pain relieving massage can be successfully performed by a licensed massage therapist. Pregnant women or people with blood clots, cancer, or ulcers should talk to their physician before getting a massage.
Neck manipulation is a method chiropractors use to improve the function of the spine. Neck manipulation can be dangerous if it's done by inexperienced hands, so if you are considering this method to treat your neck pain, get a licensed chiropractor with a proven track record to do it.
Acupuncture has been practiced in Chinese cultures for centuries. During acupuncture, needles are inserted at different points in the body to improve the flow of energy and release natural pain-killing hormones. A trained acupuncturist can administer your acupuncture for neck pain. Other than slight bruising, soreness, and bleeding at needle injection sites, acupuncture rarely has any serious side effects.
Exercises such as yoga and Pilates can ease tension, improve posture, and strengthen the muscles in the midsection that help provide support and stability to the spine.
Herbs such as camphor and menthol can be applied directly to the area of pain to relax the muscles, and relieve neck discomfort. Camphor warms the skin, increases circulation, and relieves pain. Menthol cools the skin and provides an analgesic effect.
There are also herbs such as Devil's Claw and St. John's Wort that can be taken orally to reduce neck pain. However, these herbs are not appropriate for everyone and may have dangerous side effects if they're not used properly. So before you take oral herbal remedies for neck pain, talk to your doctor first.
If your neck pain is chronic or severe, contact a doctor to rule out more serious health conditions.
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