Feeling the strain of chronic neck pain? Approximately 80% of people experience neck pain at some point in their lives, and between 20% and 50% struggle with it every year. For many people, this pain stems from poor posture as most desk jobs force your neck into an uncomfortable position, leading to muscular imbalances. While you can’t always prevent neck pain, you can resolve it with the right treatment. Let’s take a closer look at common solutions and how our neck specialists in Atlanta can help you.
What Are Some At-Home Tips for Easing Neck Pain?
Woke up with a sore neck? Here are a few of our most effective and simple at-home solutions that ease neck pain. Whether it’s from sleeping in a strange position, sitting at a desk all day, or simply overexertion, these tips can provide relief and get you back to feeling your best in no time:
- Ice and heat: Ice packs help reduce inflammation, which in turn relieves pain. You can also use heating packs, which relax muscles by promoting blood flow. Together, these complementary therapies are the perfect combination for soothing your sore neck and restoring comfort.
- Neck stretches: Incorporating gentle stretches into your daily routine will increase flexibility while actively alleviating tension. A variety of effective stretches can target different areas of discomfort, such as neck rotations to improve range of motion, chin tucks to release tension in the front of the neck, shoulder shrugs to ease tightness in the upper back muscles, and side bends to stretch the muscles along the sides of the neck. Additionally, massaging your neck with your fingers can further enhance relaxation and alleviate tight knots, providing welcome relief from discomfort.
- Posture: Maintaining proper posture is crucial for alleviating neck pain and preventing further discomfort. If you’re starting to feel tension, adjust your posture. Keeping your back and neck straight (as opposed to slouching or looking down) can relieve pain.
- Supportive pillows: When it comes to neck pain relief, your choice of pillows can make a world of difference. Be sure to use pillows that keep your neck aligned with your spine. Pillows that are too high or low will strain your neck muscles.
- Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers: If the pain persists, OTC medication can help. However, it’s essential to follow the recommended dosage and usage instructions provided on the medication packaging and consult with a healthcare professional if the pain continues or worsens.
Although these tips are helpful for minor neck pain, severe pain may require professional treatment.
What Professional Neck Pain Treatments Are Available?
Looking for more advanced solutions? At Atlanta Medical Clinic, we offer non-surgical, targeted treatments designed to get to the root of your neck pain. Here are a few of our top neck pain treatment options:
- Spinal decompression: This treatment involves gently stretching the spine to relieve pinched nerves. It’s commonly used for conditions such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease.
- Chiropractic care: Chiropractic care uses hands-on spinal adjustments to restore structural alignment, mobility and overall spinal function. Not only is it effective in reducing pain, but it also helps prevent musculoskeletal disorders.
- Physical therapy: During physical therapy, patients practice several therapeutic exercises designed to strengthen the neck and supporting muscles. A typical session may include gentle neck stretches, heat and ice therapy and massage therapy.
- Interventional medicine: Used for more serious neck pain, interventional medicine encompasses a variety of minimally invasive procedures. These include nerve blocks (which involve injecting local anesthetics to block pain signals), joint injections (which target the facet joints of the spine) and trigger point injections (which directly affect trigger points, or tight muscles and knots).
Not sure which treatment is right for you? After an initial assessment, our neck pain doctors can customize a plan tailored around your unique needs. Schedule an appointment today!