What is a Stiff Neck?
You wake up in the morning with a stiff neck. This is characterized by pain in the neck and difficulty moving the neck when trying to move the head in any direction without pain shooting through your skull. Other symptoms of a stiff neck may include muscle spasms, numbness and weakness, or tingling. Neck stiffness may last for a few days.
STIFF NECK SYMPTOMS
- HEADACHE
- UNABLE TO MOVE THE HEAD
- MUSCLE SPASMS
- NUMBNESS AND WEAKNESS OR TINGLING
There are many ways to treat Stiff Neck.
- Use medication
- Try-self soothing
- Use heating pads
- Use ice packs
- Keep well hydrated
- Good posture
- Physical therapy
- Acupuncture
- Rest
Use medication:
Medicines like ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin, Tylenol, and aspirin relieve pain and reduce inflammation and tenderness.
Try-self soothing:
Apply the gentle massage, soothingly massage your neck and shoulders to help reduce tightness and relieve stress.
Use heating pads:
A simple way to relieve this pain is to use heat therapy, apply heat cream, or use heating pads. However, there is another alternative way to cure this pain at home. For example, you can immerse a towel in hot water, squeeze out the excess, and wrap it around the neck until it cools down. Then, repeat this process.
Use ice packs:
Another best way to cure this pain is to use ice bags or put a wet, cold towel around the neck. You can also use a plastic sealed bag. Hold the bag against the sore part of the neck until you feel relaxed.
You can also take a cold water bath at home.
Keep well hydrated:
Dehydration is a major cause of stiff necks. When the body is dehydrated, the muscles can become tense and stiff, leading to a stiff neck. To prevent this, it’s important to drink plenty of water—you should aim to intake 8-9 glasses of water in a day. Drinking more water throughout the day can help relax the body’s muscles and prevent a stiff neck.
Good posture:
Maintaining the proper posture while sleeping, especially when sitting at the table while using a phone and laptop or any other electronic devices, maintain the posture like sitting with your back straight and shoulders relaxed.
Physical therapy:
Physical therapy can be very advantageous for treating a stiff neck. Physical therapists can individualize exercise programs to maintain and strengthen the neck muscles and improve the ability to move the neck. These exercises can help to relieve pain, reduce stiffness, and improve the range of motion in your neck. By following a physical therapy program, you can significantly improve your neck’s condition and prevent future episodes of a stiff neck.
Acupuncture:
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine method. In this method, thin needles are inserted into specific points of the body, which are also known as acupuncture points. The main purpose of acupuncture is to restore balance to the energy flow in the patient’s body and relax the muscles. When it comes to a stiff neck, acupuncture can help by stimulating the body’s natural healing response, reducing inflammation, and promoting muscle relaxation. This is how it helps to cure stiff neck pain.
Rest:
Rest plays an imperative role in the healing process of stiff necks. When you rest, you allow your body to recover and heal. Rest may help in different ways, like reducing strain, muscle relaxation, and decreased inflammation. By resting, you can help avoid a higher chance of problems and give your body time to heal, which is crucial for the recovery of a stiff neck.
These are simple yet powerful natural and home remedies that can effectively treat a stiff neck, empowering you to take control of your health without the need to see a doctor.
