Neck Pain Causing You Dread Nightmares?
Neck Pain Solutions Without Using Pain Killers
Why has Neck pain become a common problem for today's generation?
Waking up in the morning with a stiff neck has become a part of the routine. Unfortunately, instead of looking for a permanent solution, people have started living with it.
You might hear one of your colleagues complaining about not being able to turn their head, the way they should be able too.
In fact, you might also sometimes feel the tension going right up into your head, causing headache. The situations are familiar and severe; they don't need to be overlooked and should be treated immediately.
Pinched nerve and degenerative cervical disc are the most common caused of chronic neck pain
How Does Neck Pain Feel Like?
Well, neck pain doesn't feel good at all.
Indications of neck pain may vary from person to person. Generally, the pain develops in the neck area, causing difficulty in making movements. Intense pain may also lead to itchy and tingling sensation in the arms and fingers.
Stiffness in the neck muscles is also a clear indication of neck pain. Neck is an important part of the body, preventing it from serious injuries to the spinal cord. When you feel tension and soreness in your neck muscles and feel hardness when you touch them, you can be sure it is an obvious indication of neck pain.
Torticollis is a severe condition in which the head is forced to turn to one side. This is an abnormal neck posture which is caused by acute neck pain. This is the stage of pain which is often overlooked, causing difficulties in future.
Sometimes, the pain develops underneath the skull, causing weakness in the shoulders and arms. Your shoulders will feel heavy with burden and making movements with arms will be difficult. It will become impossible for you to lift heavy things with your arms being so weak.
The pain may spread out down to the shoulder or between the shoulder blades. It may also exude out into the hand, the arm or up into the head, causing a one-sided or double-sided headache.
In that case neck traction can help relieve the pressure.
How To Stretch Your Neck And Prevent Chronic Neck Pain
Top 6 Exercises to Help Cure Neck Pain
Exercise in a broad context is a perfect solution to a number of diseases and health issues. However, due to our languid and occupied routine we fail to avail the benefits from exercise. There are a number of exercises which help greatly in relieving the neck pain. These exercises are simple and do not requires hours to perform.
Neck flexion:
this exercise helps to stretch the neck muscles. It is simple and does not require much effort and time. just move your head backwards and then move it forward in such a way that your chin touches your chest. Lift you head back to the original position and repeat this exercise ten times.
Neck retraction: keep you face straight and slowly draw your head backwards. While you move your head backwards, slightly move your chin downwards. Remain in this position for few seconds and then relax, repeating the step five times.
Upper nodding of neck: lie flat on your back and place a pillow below your head. Rotate your neck forward making sure you don't lift your head from the surface. While performing this exercise you may feel tightening pull in your upper neck so do not hold the position more than a few seconds and do not push your head hard.
Rotation: turn your head slowly to the right side until you cannot move it further. Hold your neck in this position for not more than 10 seconds and return to your original position. Turn your head to the left side in the same way and repeat for ten times.
Side flexions: keep your head straight and bend your right ear towards your shoulder keeping your body still. Return to the original position. Now repeat the same step with the left ear and perform the posture 5 times on each side.
Neck extension: this exercise forces shoulder joints to extreme position at the back of the neck. Slowly move your head back and stop when you are looking at the ceiling. Hold the position for 10 seconds and return to the original position performing the posture 10 times.
What Have You Tried To Stop Your Neck Pain?
Dangerous Signals of Neck Pain
When Do You Need To See A Doctor Immediately?
Some indications when ignored do not create stern affects later. However, there are also some dangerous signals after whose occurrence you should immediately pay a visit to your doctor. These indications require urgent medical treatment and appropriate therapies.
When your neck pain is accompanied by intense headache and continuous vomiting, pain relieve tablets won't work and you are in urgent need to see a doctor. Neck pain accompanied with a prolonged fever and weariness can no longer be cured by pain killers and should be given medical treatment under doctor's assistance.
A large number of patients have reported developing a rash around the affected area. This rash does not fade away when pressed with a finger. Ointments are not the solution for these rashes; instead your doctor's assistance is the only thing which can cure these rashes.
In some situations, the neck pain becomes so tough that the patient is unable to put their chin on their chest. There are times when pain while making movements with neck is endurable and the patient can continue their daily routine without much difficulty. Though, when bending the neck forward becomes painful, the patient can no longer carry on with their regular activities.
Other signals which need medical assistance are:
- Severe vomiting
- Weakness in arms and legs muscles
- Constant headache
- Neck pain is due to recent head injury causing drowsiness to the patient
- Your eyes will hurt especially when they are exposed to light
- Your vision is affected
- Your hearing is affected
- Your taste is affected
How To Diagnose Your Neck Pain
Neck pain can be diagnosed by carrying out the following procedures.
- Muscle examination
- Testing for trapped nerves
- Examining movements of the neck, hands and joint of the spine
- Testing neck movements
- X-rays, blood tests and scans
It should be noted that no medicines should be taken without your doctor's assistance and a thorough examination.
Why Back and Neck Pain Are Related
It's Your Spine....
Most neck pain sufferers also experience upper back and shoulder pain, because those muscles and joints of the spine are closely related together. It’s not a surprise that many office workers who how have chronic neck pain also experience shoulder and upper back pain.
When you are working for long hours behind the computer with the wrong sitting posture it’s causing strain around the neck, back and shoulder muscles.
Your lower back will also experience the same problems as your neck such as:
- pulled muscles
- arthritis
- disc problems
- and other issues.
This pain won’t go away in one day. You need to change your working lifestyle.
Do You Have Neck and Back Pain?
Is Your Spine Causing Back Pain and Neck Pain?
Fortunately, most acute back pain due to muscular strain will heal within 2 weeks to a month.
Muscular strains will health itself with time because the muscle receives necessary nutrients and proteins from the blood.
But if you have low back pain that last longer than three months, the problem is more serious and you need to find the cause immediately. One of the major causes is the spine problem.
If You Are Between 20-60 Year Old
The following condition of your disc could be the cause of the pain
- Lumbar disc herniation
- Degenerative disc disease
- Isthmic spondylolisthesis
If you Are over 60 years old
The facet joints or osteoarthritis could be the cause of the pain
- Facet joint osteoarthritis
- Degenerative spondylolisthesis
In addition to the above, there are more other causes of back pain not listed her.
The Condition of Your Cervical Spine Can Cause Neck Pain
The following conditions of your cervical spine can cause neck pain, arm pain and even numbness:
- Foraminal stenosis
- Stenosis with myelopathy
- Cervical osteoarthritis
- Cervical degenerative disc disease
Additionally, there are several miscellaneous causes of upper extremity pain related to conditions of the cervical spine.
Different pain Symptoms requires Different Treatment
What Symptoms Do You Have?
1. Sharp Pain
is your pain dull, burning crampy or stabbing? Is your neck and shoulder losing range of motion and muscles getting stiff? These are signs of sharp pain
2. Numbness in your arms?
Your arms and fingers are losing feeling and you sense some tingling. In most cases this is caused by pinched nerve in your cervical spine. When a nerve is pinched it can even affect your shoulders and whole arms.
3. Feeling Coolness in Arms?
If you hand or arm is feeling cooler than normal it means that there is not enough blood streaming there, because the veins or arteries are blocked.
Self-Treatment of Neck and Shoulder Pain Caused By Injury
In most cases slight pain caused by injury can be treated at home. Rest should be your first choice. Don't move your injured body areas and take as much rest as possible.
This will fasten the recovery.
- Ice: Place the ice in a plastic bag, wrap the bag with a towel, and then apply to the injured area for 15-20 minutes every hour. Directly applying ice can damage the skin.
- Heat: Do not apply heat in the first week after an injury because it can increase the swelling in the injured area and worsen your pain.
- Elevation: Elevation of the injured area above your heart helps the swelling go down. This reduces your pain. Use pillows to prop yourself up.
- Medication to control the pain such Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) can help control swelling and pain.
If you suddenly have pain and don't even know what's the cause, you should contact the doctor.
arious qualified healthcare providers can be beneficial for effective pain management treatment.
Alternative Therapies
Therapies used in pain treatment focuses on both the body and mind. A mixture is usually most effective.
Types of therapy available include:
1. physical therapy,
2. medication therapy,
3. behavioral therapy.
4. Acupuncture
Acupuncture and other forms of alternative therapy have also been used successfully in pain management treatment
Other Back pain Treatment Methods
Various types and approaches of treatments can address both the emotional and physical elements of pain.
Emotional therapies include meditation, techniques for relaxation, biofeedback, and visual imagery.
Physical methods can include:
- heat therapy
- cold therapy
- massage
- electrical stimulation known as TNS,
- massage cupping,
- neck traction device,
- acupuncture
- TDP lamp.
For the best results several treatment modalities providing a combination approach is frequently recommended. Some of the treatments can be provided by the individual in the privacy of their home while other types of treatments may need to be provided by a qualified professional.
Pain Management treatment should be obtained when pain is affecting your life preventing you from carrying out activities of daily living.
Pain Medications Should NOT Be Your First Choice
Use of narcotics for chronic pain is not recommended and there is belief they may not benefit chronic pain suffering.
Medications used in pain management treatment include:
- Acetaminophen which is Tylenol
- Antidepressants to help relieve pain and as a sleep aid
- NSAIDs(non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen
- Anti-seizure medications are effective for injury or nerve damage related pain
- Steroids such as prednisone and dexamethasone to relieve pain and inflammation.