Picture courtesy medicalanatomy.net

Neck Pain Remedy

It came as quite a surprise to learn that neck pain in women and office

workers is more prevalent, with office workers apparently more at risk.

Chronic neck pain has side effects such as anxiety, depression and fatigue

which obviously prevent employees form delivering to their full potential; at

a cost to the employer naturally. As such, there now is a need to educate

people in general and workers particularly, about the causes, treatment and

prevention of neck pain.

Courtesy www.gulfportchiropractic.com

When severe or permanent neck pain is the order of the day, the individual

needs to seek urgent medical advice for proper examination; it probably is

much more serious than neck pain caused by stress or bad posture. When

stress or bad posture is the culprit, there are neck pain relief exercises; pain

due to spinal injuries or disorders needs medical attention.

Neck pain causes:

Diseases: Neck pain is caused by a variety of conditions; most dangerous is

a disease such as meningitis. It usually starts with neck pain and is an

infection which causes inflammation of the membranes which cover the brain

and spinal cord. It causes severe headache and fever. Other diseases are

cancer and rheumatoid arthritis.

Muscle strains: As mentioned, bad posture is one of the minor causes of

neck pain. There is too much strain on the muscles. Neck pain from

computer use as we sit in the same position for extended periods of time

without moving our neck, sleeping in a position where the pillow cannot give

sufficient support for the neck and not standing up straight, but rather with

a bent back, are common reasons. Here I particularly think of low counters

in shops where people tend to lean on their elbows and lift their heads to

look around or tend to customers rather than straightening their backs.

Picture credited to saveyourself.ca

Injuries: What most people consider minor occurrences can actually cause

injuries accompanied by severe pain caused by inflammation in the muscles.

Coming to mind are those instances where a) we slip and fall a short

distance and b) whiplash injuries which typically occur when you sit in a car

involved in a rear-end collision. The soft tissue in the neck is stretched when

the head is jerked backward and then forward.

Picture credited to www.r2hcc.co.uk

Nerve compression: Neck pain from bone spurs: herniated disks in the

vertebrae of the neck take up too much space; press on the nerves of the

spinal cord and cause what is known as nerve compression.

Courtesy www.neckpainsupport.com

Joints: All joints in the body undergo wear and tear; those in the neck are

no exception unfortunately. A condition known as osteoarthritis develop with

worn joints, causing neck pain.

Picture credited to wisegeek.com

Neck pain symptoms:

Neck pain typically displays some of the following symptoms:

Knots or stiffness in the neck

Severe pain which may spread to your arms, shoulders or upper back

Neck pain causing headaches is quite common

Inability to move or turn your head and neck with ease

When pain shoots down your arm, causing a tingling feeling,

numbness or weakness it may be a sign that there is pressure on the

spinal cord or nerve roots. Pressure is from bone spurs which is the

result of degeneration of the discs of the spine.

How is neck pain diagnosed?

When severe neck pain demands medical intervention, your medical

professional will ask questions pertaining to any activities, ailments or

injuries which may be the cause of the neck pain you’re experiencing.

Tests such as X-rays, MRI scans, or CT scans may be conducted. These tests

show the muscles and tissues in the neck; making a proper diagnosis

possible.

Picture credit www.kenaispine.com

Neck pain treatment:

Neck pain treatment at home can effectively get rid of neck pain due to bad

posture. Try some of these neck pain relief home remedies:

Take the load off your neck – lie down so the muscles can recover

Bring relaxation to stiff muscles by administering some heat to your

neck. Use a hot water bottle, heat pads, stand in a hot shower or wrap

a wet, warm towel round your neck. Be careful to not overdo the

treatment, too much heat may cause more pain

Picture courtesy www.ebay.co.uk

Anxiousness (emotional stress) cause muscle stiffness. Identify the

causes of stress in your life, i.e. driving to work, getting kids ready for

school, meetings at the office, etc. Manage stress through relaxation

techniques such as abdominal breathing and progressive relaxation

Massage the muscles with a neck pain cream such as Rub on Relief,

Bengay or Tiger Balm Neck & Shoulder Rub Pain Relieving Cream.

Apply it with gentle pressure and in circular movements as indicated

on the packaging

For some the preferred neck pain remedy is over the counter (OTC)

neck pain medication. These typically include Tylenol (reduces pain),

anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin (not to be given to people

under 20 years of age), Advil and Aleve, etc. For severe neck pain and

spasms you may need prescription drugs such as muscle relaxants

(Valium, Flexeril and Soma), for short-term acute neck pain strong

pain killers (Vicodin, Lortab, Percodan and Percocet) and anti-

depressants (Silenor and Zonalon) for chronic (long-lasting) neck pain.

Improve your posture. If your job is a pain in the neck because you sit

behind a desk, working on a computer, get moving. Walk around for a

minute or so every hour, and get into the habit of sitting and standing

up straight at all times.

Courtesy stratagus.org

Sleep on a firm mattress and use feather or crushed-foam pillows.

Invest in a cervical pillow for neck pain relief.

Neck pain prevention:

Many of the preventative measures are also ways in which to cure neck pain.

Do not ever slouch in a chair. Whenever you sit, ensure your lower back is

well supported, shoulders are relaxed and both feet are flat on the floor.

Take short breaks every hour to get the blood circulating and prevent

muscles form getting stiff.

When working on a computer, make sure the top of the monitor is at eye

level.

When you use the phone, hold it in your hand, or use the headset or speaker

facility. Cradling the phone on your shoulder is a surefire way to hurt your

neck.

Credit www.chiropractic-help.com

When driving, adjust the seat such that it supports your head and lower

back. Arms should be in a slightly bent and comfortable position on the

steering wheel while driving.

When you read in bed, make sure the book is well enough supported so you

do not have to use your arms to hold it up:

The right way… The wrong way…

Courtesy www.brookstone.com Picture courtesy rollingout.com

Do neck exercises. Stretch neck muscles by slowly turning your head to the

right as far as possible without hurting yourself and hold for a few seconds.

Turn head back to the front, now turn your head to your left side and hold

for a few seconds. Repeat these movements 5 times per session, 3 times

daily.

Keep your body healthy and your weight down.

My name is Sonia and I do research on minor ailments which plague a large

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