A significant percentage of the population will suffer from neck and shoulder aches at some point in their life. The pain may be abrupt and intense but slowly subside after a few days or weeks. In some cases, your pain may persist over an extended period warranting the need to find treatment and stop ‘wishing’ it away.
Neck and shoulder pain make conducting routine tasks difficult. You might want to try any of the following pain relief techniques.
Medication
Anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and aspirin may help tone down the pain. You can purchase these pain killers from your favorite drug store without a doctor’s prescription. If the pain continues to persist, visit your doctor for a stronger alternative. For more severe cases of shoulder and neck pain, your doctor may recommend corticosteroid injections. Medication will provide temporary relief likely to wear off after a few days or weeks. You are advised to pair up drugs with another relief method.
Exercises
Tension neck and shoulder pain can reduce with stretches and physical manipulation. Roll your shoulders back and forth severally to increase mobility and ease tension in adjacent muscles. Try squeezing your shoulder blades towards each other to release the stress and pain. Visit your therapist for more guidelines on the best exercises and stretches that will help with your neck and shoulder pain. Most experts recommend controlled exercises that don’t strain the muscles. Consider yoga as one of the light stretching exercises.
Chiropractic care
Chiropractors are trained to treat neck and shoulder problems through spinal manipulation and adjustments. With a few sessions, you should find some relief in chiropractic care. They can also suggest specific muscle strengthening and stretching exercises for the neck and shoulders. Doctors of chiropractic would also advise on some of your lifestyle choices that trigger neck and shoulder pain, such as standing and sitting positions.
Ice and heat therapy
Ice and heat therapy is a remedy that can easily be applied at the comfort of your home. Apply an ice pack wrapped in a towel on the affected area. Let it sit for about thirty minutes while you dab the ice pack. Ice therapy can alleviate localized pain emanating from ligament and muscle strains in your neck or shoulders. If the pain persists, alternate with a hot pad. Wrap it in a towel and place it on the target area to allow blood flow and relax the muscles. Alternating the two methods should reduce neck and shoulder pain.
Massage therapy
Massage therapy entails applying controlled pressure to the inflamed areas of your neck and shoulder. The pressure stretches tight muscles and ligaments to reduce pain. You can benefit from asking a friend to offer the massage or go to a professional masseuse.
Rest
Some types of shoulder and neck pains are triggered by applying immense pressure and strain to adjacent muscles. It may also be a result of physical trauma. Some cases would only need you to rest and restore the normal functioning of the back and neck muscles. Consider changing your tedious sleeping, sitting, or standing postures that could be the main culprits under your inflammation. You could pair this with medication for quick results.
Treatment
If your neck and shoulder pain persists or continues to get worse, seek medical attention immediately. In some cases, these could be symptoms of severe conditions such as heart attacks or meningitis. Your doctor will offer treatment for the conditions as a way to reduce the neck and shoulder pain simultaneously.
Lifestyle changes
Many times, we are guilty of staring at the screen for too long without taking a break. Sometimes we ignore recommended sleeping positions and exercises. Your pillow or condition of the mattress could be the reason why you complain of constant neck pain. Consider adjusting these simple lifestyle habits to calm your symptoms and reduce pain.
Surgery
In the worst-case scenario, when all other pain relief remedies fail, your doctor could recommend surgery. Surgical intervention will be necessary if your neck and shoulder pain continue to get worse by the day, and no pain relief method seems to make the condition better. Your doctor will recommend further pain relief techniques even after surgery to help you get better quickly.
Don’t let the pain get in the way of your routine tasks. All these above discussed remedies should help you regain your comfort and reduce neck and shoulder pain. Call us now at 205-637-1363 to talk to our representative and book an appointment with our lead chiropractor. We are here to help you improve your quality of life.
