How to Manage Your Neck Pain
According to research, 20% to 70% of people globally will experience neck pain at some point in their lives. Neck pain can be caused by muscle strains, pinched nerves, joint irritation, or herniated discs. Although the pain might be constant, most patients’ condition will worsen with certain movements like flexion, side bending, rotation, or extension, especially if it lasts for more than 24 hours.
Basically, you can’t live a normal life when your neck is in pain, can you? All the activities that were once so easy – like playing with your children or even grocery shopping – are now distracting and painful.
Thankfully, Thrive Family Chiropractic is here to help. We will address even the most complicated neck pain issue with the most scientific and non-invasive approach. Book an appointment with our chiropractor in Rapid City, SD, today and say no to painful life!
We also take the initiative to educate you on managing various chronic conditions such as neck pain. So in this blog, we wanted to focus on various ways in which you can manage your neck pain in the meantime.
Use of Ice Packs
The use of ice packs is a great way to alleviate neck pain. Ice therapy works by reducing the severity of inflammation and swelling around the injured area, which helps reduce pain and discomfort. It also helps reduce muscle spasms and increases blood circulation in the affected area.
You can do ice therapy at home by simply placing an ice pack on your neck (specifically where there is pain) for 10 minutes several times.
Massage Therapy
You can have your neck massaged using techniques like trigger point therapy and myofascial release. Massage involves applying pressure to specific points on your body with your fingers or hands (in this case, the neck area) until the muscle relaxes enough to move freely. Ultimately, massaging the muscles reduces inflammation and increases relaxation.
Exercising – Walking, Swimming, etc.
Exercise, in general, strengthens body muscles and improves flexibility. But in the case of managing neck pains, choose exercises that don’t aggravate the pain or make it worse.
For example, avoid exercises that may require you to hold your head in an awkward position for a long period, such as certain yoga poses or crunches on an exercise ball if they cause neck pain.
Warm Compression
A warm compression will help relieve muscle tension and spasms in your neck area. And making a warm compression is a walk in a park – soak a washcloth or towel in hot water (but not boiling) and wrap it around your neck gently enough to be comfortable. This should provide relief within minutes of application.
Generally, do not do this if it is a new injury, but rather a chronic problem as this will bring blood flow to the area. We recommend pairing warm compression with ice therapy. Ten minutes of ice, and ten minutes of heat. Repeat.
Reach Out for Neck Pains, Chiropractic Care in Rapid City, SD
At Thrive Family Chiropractic, we believe everyone deserves to live a pain-free life. Everyone in our clinic is committed to helping you achieve optimal health and wellness in a professional, friendly atmosphere. We provide chiropractic care for chronic conditions, including neck pain, headaches, back pain, and more.
If you’re suffering from neck pain, visiting our chiropractor will be a worthwhile step towards getting your health back on track. Reach out to us today.
