From Surgery to Serenity: The Ultimate Guide to Managing Neck Pain
A network of muscles, bones, and nerves makes up the structure of the neck and plays a crucial role in giving the head support. However, there are several issues that can result in chronic or temporary neck discomfort and pain, and too many people these days suffer from that. While most cases of neck pain resolve in a few days or weeks, discomfort that lasts for months may indicate an underlying medical condition. In these situations, it is best that you visit a doctor so that early intervention is possible. Keep reading to learn about the best neck pain relief treatment you can opt for if you experience neck pain.
What is Neck Pain?
Neck pain, also referred to as Cervicalgia, affects your cervical spine. It causes moderate to severe pain and discomfort in the area surrounding your spine and is one of the most prevalent signs of a wide range of illnesses and injuries. One can experience axial neck pain, which causes pain only in the neck, or radicular neck pain, which radiates into other parts of your body like your arms or shoulders. Depending on the type of neck issue you have, you can experience a dull aching that never goes away, sudden sharp aches, or a sharp pain radiating down your arms or shoulders from your neck. Other symptoms that accompany neck discomfort include rigidity in your shoulders, not being able to tilt your head or turn your neck, and numb arms and shoulders.
Neck pain can be chronic (lasting more than three months) or acute (lasting a few days to six weeks). You should know that if left untreated, it can make it difficult for you to go about your everyday activities and significantly lower your quality of life. However, the majority of neck pain types are not serious and respond well to simple therapies, including painkillers, and physical activity. Almost twenty percent of adults suffer from neck pain, and it affects more women and people assigned female at birth than men and people assigned male at birth.
How to Manage Neck Pain?
A few days of self-care and rest are usually sufficient to manage neck pain, but that may not work if the neck pain is being caused by serious health issues. If your neck pain is persistent, a medical expert might suggest therapies and other neck pain relief treatments that should be helpful. Your doctor might also recommend medicines if your pain isn't going away, although not everyone will benefit from painkillers.
Take a look at the treatment options that are prescribed for neck pain management.
1. Medications
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, acetaminophen, etc. are some examples of common neck pain relievers but always remember to use these drugs just as prescribed. Your doctor may recommend prescription NSAIDs or muscle relaxants if over-the-counter pain medications are ineffective in managing your neck pain.
2. Self-Care
Self-care can be an effective neck pain treatment if the pain is not brought on by trauma or underlying health issues. When neck pain occurs, one should avoid physically demanding activities that worsen pain, although some mobility is usually advised by doctors to keep the neck from getting weaker or stiffer.
Your doctor may also recommend cold and hot therapy as well. Ice can lessen the intensity of the pain, and heat can assist relax muscles by bringing increased blood flow and healing nutrients to the affected area. Applications of cold and hot therapy should always be restricted to twenty minutes and should be separated by at least a 2-hour interval to allow the area to heal.
3. Exercises and Stretches
Neck, shoulder, and upper back exercises can be used as neck pain treatment. Proper alignment, posture, and exercises to strengthen the neck can be taught to the patient by a physical therapist.
- Isometric exercises- During an isometric workout, your own hand is the opposing force that you "push against" with your neck muscles while contracting your muscles. These stretches that increase the range of motion aim to gradually loosen and extend the neck muscles.
- Traction - Traction is another method a physical therapist may use to gently stretch the muscles in the neck, and they can use their hands or specialized equipment for this. Prescription equipment is also available for doing neck traction at home, however, it is very important to closely adhere to the therapist's advice.
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) - Tiny electrical impulses are delivered by electrodes applied to the skin close to the painful region, and these impulses reduce pain.
- Soft neck collar - By relieving pressure from the neck, a soft collar that supports the neck may help reduce pain. Nevertheless, a collar may cause harm if worn for more than two weeks or more than three hours at a period.
4. Manipulation
Manipulation is used to relieve neck pain by adjusting certain body components, and it's critical to comprehend the effects because it might feel unsettling at first. Make sure you tell your therapist about your condition in detail and the symptoms you have because this will help them decide which therapies are most likely to be beneficial for you. Before attempting manipulation, it's also a good idea to see a healthcare provider because, while some individuals claim to have benefited from this technique, not everyone is a good candidate for it.
5. Injections
In rare situations, a steroid injection or long-acting local anesthetic may be helpful, particularly if you experience persistent pain in your arm or the back of your head.
6. Surgery
In cases when a pinched nerve or spinal cord is producing excruciating pain that won't go away, neck surgery could be beneficial. The surgeon will request a scan to examine the bones and nerves of your neck before weighing the benefits and drawbacks of neck surgery for pain management. Surgery for neck pain is rarely done because of various complications that may arise and is only performed in extreme cases.
Final Remarks
Your neck supports the weight of the head and provides motion, a task that sounds easier than it actually is. A human head typically weighs ten pounds, and this weight must be supported properly by your neck in order to maintain your head's alignment with the rest of your body. People with certain types of jobs are more likely to get neck pain, however, as we age, neck pain can become almost inevitable. Usually, it can be treated at home with simple therapies, but you must always see a doctor first to make sure you receive the right treatment.
