What To Do If You Have Consistent Neck Pain

By Marina Turea / Contributor

If a part of your daily routine is feeling pain, a lifestyle change is likely a necessity. There is no reason to suffer from daily aches and pains when there could be a solution that helps you!

A common source of pain in many individuals occurs in the neck. There can be many reasons for this depending on the person, but it is typically due to some form of strain.

Experiencing neck pain can make even the simplest of daily activities more challenging. Working long hours in a desk chair or carrying your children around are all so much harder when pain is added into the mix.

Trying to reduce the constant aches you feel is the first step to a more positive lifestyle. There are a few methods you can try that might help you minimize the neck pain that plagues you.

If you have consistent neck pain, consider trying these six methods to help you feel stronger and more comfortable.

Try to Stay Active

Neck pain can stem from a variety of causes, but everyone who has it can agree it is not comfortable to live with. Feeling pain could keep you from wanting to exercise, but it could actually help the way your neck feels.

During a busy work week, it might seem impossible to get in those steps or find the time to exercise. While a full, daily exercise would be ideal, even just a few moments of activity can help reduce the tension in your neck.

If you sit in front of a computer for long periods of time, it is a great idea to make an effort to take breaks as you can. Walk around a little and talk to coworkers or fill up your water bottle to find some relief.

You can also try to take morning walks or do a daily stretch to keep the neck muscles loose and reduce the weight they support.

Don’t let consistent neck pain keep you from staying active. Working those muscles every day can make a real difference in how you feel.

Add a Mild Pain Reliever to Your Routine

There are many natural methods to reduce neck pain, but when it inhibits your ability to complete daily tasks, a pain reliever might be necessary.

Taking a mild pain reliever every morning could help you get a jump start to your day. It can make you feel better right off the bat so you can start off on a more positive foot.

When you are taking any form of pill or medication, be sure to take it with food and a copious amount of water. This will keep you from causing internal damage, which would be counterproductive to reducing neck pain.

In combination with a healthy amount of physical activity and a well-balanced diet, pain relievers could significantly decrease the daily pain you feel in your neck.

See a Chiropractor

Since neck pain can come as a result of many different challenges, it can help to get a professional opinion about how to help reduce it.

Chiropractors are great resources for those who have neck pain and don’t know where to start with reducing it. They can help work out the neck muscles and give some useful techniques for relief at home.

Whether you have neck pain from trauma or just experience a lot of tension in that area, a chiropractor might be able to help.

They can effectively reduce inflammation throughout the body with the right exercises and can ultimately offer more benefits and relief for days at a time.

It is worth seeking professional help if you are unsure about what else you can do to make a difference.

Use the Right Pillow

Believe it or not, the quality of sleep you get has an impact on how your neck feels during the day. Your mattress as well as your pillow contribute to the sleep you are able to get each night.

While getting a new mattress is not feasible for everyone, a small change to make could be finding a pillow that suits your needs best.

It is also a good idea to sleep with only one pillow to make sure you are not putting too much strain on your neck while you sleep.

Read reviews to find a pillow that seems to work best with how you tend to sleep. You should also feel the pillow you want to buy in person to make sure it is the right firmness for you.

A pillow could be a small change that could have a big impact on how your neck feels daily. 

 

Try a Neck Hammock

Physical therapy is not ideal for everyone because of the constant commitment it involves. A good idea is to do some activities that a physical therapist might offer in the comfort of your home.

Using a neck hammock is a great way to reduce the tension in your neck from home. It lifts the head up and away from the spine to promote better blood flow in the area.

Neck hammocks are easy to use because they simply attach to any knob you have at your disposal. Using it for even ten minutes a day could make a significant difference in how your neck feels.

Since there are so many types of neck hammocks, CoolThingsChicago.com created a list of some of the best ones to choose from.

Find the support you need with a neck hammock that could make you feel better.

Ask for Help with Heavy Lifting

If you have neck pain, you should not overdo it. Lifting heavy objects can only aggravate your pain and make you feel worse for a longer period of time.

Before picking up a heavy box or moving a bulky piece of furniture, think about how it might affect you in the days to come.

Phone a friend to help you move any objects that could cause you more pain. Don’t put yourself in a position to hurt yourself more!

A good friend will be willing to help when it comes to keeping you safe, so don’t be afraid to reach out and ask.

 

Living with neck pain could be a thing of the past if you have the right strategies to reduce it. Try some new methods to see what works best for your situation.

Image Credit: Kitz Corner