EASY RELIEF FOR NECK STRAIN
Chronic neck pain can be frustrating and distracting, but there are some simple techniques to alleviate or prevent it on your own.
- Strategically place ice on certain areas of the body. Neck pain may also be joined by nagging headaches and numbness or tingling in the back of the head, neck, shoulders and hands. Ice can help relieve some of these symptoms. Try placing it between the thumb and index finger, on the bone behind the ear or on the indention between the middle of the eyebrow.
- Avoid cradling the phone in your neck. One way you may not even realize that you’re aggravating your neck is through angling it while speaking on the phone. Don’t cradle the phone between your ear and shoulder as this puts unneeded strain on your cervical spine. Use a hands-free headset whenever you can.
- Use a water pillow. Some patients note the rejuvenating effects of water pillows that allow patients to dictate the firmness of their pillow. Specifically, more water equals a firmer pillow; less water provides a softer pillow. Various water pillow products are available on the market and may be worth considering for patients who have tried more traditional neck pillows and braces to no avail.
Be certain to discuss your symptoms with one of our University Pain Medicine Center health care professionals to determine your customized treatment plan.
