People who experience neck pain do not necessarily have to take medication. In fact, there are many natural ways to relieve neck pain, including joint mobilization, exercises, and physical therapy. The latter includes a physical examination by the therapist, who will measure your range of motion and determine whether you have any tender points in your neck, usually through a palpation test. It will be determined what would be the best gentle stretching exercises for you, helping to reduce muscle tightness and spasms, which strengthening your muscles at the same time. Through exercise, your core muscles will become stronger as well. Common forms of exercises for neck pain include using the cross country ski machine, swimming laps, walking on a treadmill, and using a stair stepper.
Natural Ways to Relieve Neck Pain:
There are a number of things you can do at home yourself to relieve neck pain, including:
1. Stopping to engage in daily activities that cause neck pain and taking precautions. Pain is the body's way of telling you that you're doing something wrong and you must listen to it.
2. Properly supporting the neck when sleeping, on a mattress that is just right as well. A high pillow may feel more comfortable but it is likely to cause disruption to the alignment of the spine.
3. Not slouching
4. Using headsets or speaker phones if you spend a lot of time using the telephone.
5. Using neck traction devices to control spasms.
6. Losing weight, which is one of the best natural ways to relieve neck pain
7. Changing diet to include higher levels of vitamin D and calcium, thereby avoiding bone thinning and osteoporosis.
8. Avoiding prolonged bending of the neck. Change position often, even when you lie down or sit comfortably.
9. Making sure you always use the proper lifting techniques. Always lift with the knees by bending them while holding the spine straight.
10. Making sure you take plenty of breaks, regardless of the work that you do, and using that time to perform neck mobilizing exercises and deep breathing techniques. Do this every 30 minutes to reduce stress and the associated tension.
11. Use ice packs, wrapped in a suitable cloth, for vasoconstriction on the area where the pain occurs. Keep the pack in place for no less than 15 minutes, and no more than 20. This helps to significantly reduce pain.
12. Using jet streams in a jacuzzi or hot shower against the painful muscles of the neck, which can help reduce swelling.
13. Opting for massage therapy, which is relaxing and beneficial in the treatment of pain. This is particularly true if the massage therapist also uses essential oils such as capsaicin creams, sandalwood oil, lavender body massage oil, naga champa ayurvedic oil, rumatone gold oil, and arnica oil. There is some scientific evidence to suggest that these oils in particular are beneficial for those with neck pain.
14. Taking herbal supplements like devil's claw, cayenne, and eucalyptus, which all help to reduce pain sensations and inflammation. Do make sure, however, that they do not have counter-indications to any medication you are already taking.