Do you have a sore neck? It's a rather typical occurrence. And the majority of men have neck discomfort for the same reasons they experience low back pain. Dr. Robert Shmerling, associate professor of medicine at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, notes that "in the vast majority of folks, it's ordinary muscle strain and sprain." "That big bowling ball on top has to be supported by the neck."
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| How to Get Rid of a Sore Neck? |
There are some similarities between the treatments for neck and back pain. Rest, ice, and heat should be used to relieve the initial acute pain, followed by gradual stretching and strengthening activities. Later on, avoid improper posture and other habits that could lead to another bout of neck pain.
The first steps to resolving neck pain are as follows:
Neck pain from normal strains and sprains can have a variety of causes. If you wake up with a "crick" in your neck, it's most likely spasms, which are sharp muscle contractions induced by a muscle strain. A sprain, on the other hand, occurs in ligaments, which are the tough structures that link bones. Alternatively, tendinitis can occur when a tendon—the tissue that connects muscles to bones—becomes irritated. The majority of normal neck pain flare-ups can be handled with simple self-help:
- To dull early acute discomfort and minimize inflammation, apply cold.
- Control mild to severe discomfort using over-the-counter pain medications. Acetaminophen (Tylenol, generic brands) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), and aspirin are examples of these.
- Use a neck collar for brief periods of time to relieve your discomfort and rest the uncomfortable muscles and tissues. "Collars have a poor reputation because people overuse them and develop weak muscles, but they can be quite effective if used for a few hours here and there," Dr. Shmerling explains.
- Once the severe pain has subsided, apply heat—either with a heating pad or a warm whirlpool bath if one is available—after a day or two.
Should you get your neck "cracked" at a chiropractor? Dr. Shmerling advises against abrupt, vigorous neck manipulation. "It may be great for low back discomfort, but stay away from it if you have neck pain," he advises.
Neck pain can benefit from therapeutic exercise.
Although the evidence for this isn't conclusive, stretching and strengthening the neck, shoulder, and upper back muscles can hasten recovery and possibly minimize flare-ups from a painful neck problem. Dr. Shmerling recommends that his patients contact a physical therapist for therapeutic exercise guidance. The following is what the therapist can provide:
- Isometric and range-of-motion exercises will most likely be used in therapy. You contract your neck muscles against an opposing force, such as your own hand, which you "push against" with your neck muscles in isometric training. The goal of range-of-motion stretches is to gradually relax and extend the neck muscles.
- Other therapies that physical therapists can provide, while not proved in study trials, appear to provide some people with relief and comfort. Ultrasound treatment of the painful tissues with high-frequency sound waves is one approach.
- A physical therapist can also do traction, which involves gently stretching the neck muscles using the hands or specific tools. You can also get equipment to do neck traction at home with a prescription, but make sure to follow the therapist's directions properly.
Is it a more serious matter?
Consider seeing a doctor if your neck pain is severe, lasts for weeks or months, severely limits your ability to move your head, radiates into your shoulders, or gets worse in the morning. Other "red flags" that require further investigation include fever, weakness, or numbness in the arms. An underlying physical condition, such as arthritis, infection, or a compressed nerve, could be the cause in some circumstances. To ease the discomfort and return to your typical activities, you may require additional treatments or possibly surgery, depending on the diagnosis.
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