You may feel pain in your neck resulting from sprains and routine strain due to bad posture. However, Memorial Area neck pain might result from trauma and spinal issues, making it hard to support the head. Acute or chronic neck pain makes completing everyday activities a task, and the first approach might be erasing the pain and treating the underlying causes. You may apply heat and cold therapy on the neck; engage in exercises and surgery to alleviate neck pain. These are tips to treat and prevent neck pain.
Use Cold and Hot Packs
Heat therapy can relieve neck pain, but you should know when the cold or hot pack is ideal. For instance, after a traumatic accident, you would apply the cold pack, which numbs the area reducing swelling, redness, and inflammation. However, the heat pack on the neck will increase blood flow to the neck increasing oxygen and glucose supply to the area while eliminating toxins.
Use Neck Collar
The neck collar is ideal for people who have been through a traumatic accident that left acute pain and injuries. The neck collar will keep the neck on the right, reducing unnecessary movement, which causes further damage to the delicate neck. Moreover, it aligns the discs on the neck, which support the rest of the spinal cord promoting better alignment and healing. The doctor will customize the ergonomic neck collars to support weak muscles and dislocated bones. You can buy the over-the-counter neck collars which support the neck when you are working, especially if you are prone to overuse the neck at work.
Opt for the Over-the-Counter Medications
Over-the-counter pain medication will work for neck pain but is suitable for mild to moderate pain. You should not resort to these medications if you have a serious injury to the neck which requires immediate medical attention. It is better to seek urgent care physicians if you fall and sustain injuries to the neck.
Nerve-Blocking Epidural Injection
An epidural injection to the neck and other areas of the spinal cord can reduce pain. The epidural injection is made of steroids which block nerve function, making it hard for the brain to sense the pain around the neck. However, it is a diagnostic tool that helps doctors determine the cause of the pain and find the appropriate treatment. You should avoid prolonged use of the epidural injection to numb the neck pain, as it leads to muscle and ligament weakness resulting in further neck deterioration. This injection will delay or prevent further treatments like surgery and works well for all patients.
Neck Surgery
You may resort to surgery to deal with neck pain and trauma if the other remedies do not improve the pain. The surgery will correct herniated discs, reduce pain and align the neck. It may result in correct posture and correct any issues which could occur in the future.
The neck plays an important role in controlling head movements. Thus, pain and injury to the neck can impact everyday activities, and you should find the right remedies to overcome the pain and treat the injuries. You can opt for heat therapy, which numbs swelling, reduces inflammation, and promotes better healing. Most home remedies and behavioral changes will alleviate chronic neck pain. However, you should see a spinal doctor who offers the right therapies, medications, and surgeries which correct neck pain.
