Neck pain:7 Simple Home Remedies, Causes & Symptoms

Are you suffering from Neck pain? Don’t bother about it.

Nowadays, Neck pain or Cervical pain or Neck stiffness is a common medical problem. But, the pain that it causes can be more devastating.

What Causes Neck Pain?

There are many causes for the neck pain which includes,

• Muscle strain
• Abnormalities in the bone or joints
• Poor posture
• Trauma or Accidents
• Tumors
• Degenerative diseases, etc.

Symptoms of Neck pain

Here we list some common symptoms of neck pain

• Muscle pain
• Stiffness or tenderness
• Muscle spasm
• Reduced range of movement
• Headaches
• Nerve pain

Note: If you meet with an accident or Trauma, first consult a health professional for a full health, because it may cause severe problems.

Fast Facts about Neck Pain

• 1 in 10 Adults is suffering from neck pain. ^[1]  
• 7 out of 10 people will be troubled by neck pain at some point in their lives. ^[1]
• Neck pain is reported more frequently by females than males ^[2]
• 4 out of 5 neck pain diagnoses are for persons between the ages of 18-64. ^[3]
• 49.5 is the average age for neck pain patients at a physician’s office. ^[3]
• 15.1 percent of the American population reported that neck pain was their most common pain complaint. ^[4]
• Neck pain affects 10% of the population each year.
• Most individuals with neck pain are between the ages of 18-64.
• Neck pain is a common illness that affects 50-70% of people sometime in their lives.
• 85% of the time, the pain is coming from the muscles, joints, or ligaments.
• Neck pain is commonly caused by repetitive strain from prolonged sitting postures.

Home Remedies for Neck Pain Relief

Mostly, minor pains heal in one or two days without any treatment. The remedies given below would relieve pain and boost up the healing process.

1. Ice Treatment

Generally, cold or ice is used to relieve pain. When a part of your body is injured, the damaged tissues become swollen. This can cause pain or swell in that affected area. The ice helps reduce swelling in that affected area, which in turn reduces the pain.

      Ice Healing Methods

• Apply an ice pack or a cold gel pack to the painful area.
• You can prefer using an ice massage. You can also use an ice towel (a damp cloth, wrapped in plastic and placed in the freezer for around 20 minutes) for a faster result .

      Tips

• Apply Ice immediately after the injury.
• Always wrap ice or cold packs in a cloth before applying to the desired or affected part.
• Try Ice packs for 10 to 15 minutes in every 2 hours for instant relief.
• Don’t use ice for more than 15 minutes at a single affected part.

 Note: Excessive use of Ice can cause damage to the tissue.

2. Heat Treatment

Lactic acid accumulates in the muscles when they are put under stress. When there is decreased blood flow to an injured area, the lactic acid gets stuck. This process creates severe muscle pain. Heat can remove the lactic acid from that place and helps to restore blood flow. It also reduces soreness and stiffness from the muscle to bring relief.

      Heat Healing Methods

• Apply heating pad to the painful area.
• Hot water bottles are preferred instead of heating pads.
• Most people prefer moist heat (damp cloth) since it reduces direct contact with the body.
• Steam bath/sauna may give you instant pain relief
• A Hot bath is always a good treatment.

      Tips

• Keep yourself away from direct contact with heating devices.
• Wrap heat sources within a cloth to prevent yourself from burns.
• Avoid extreme heat exposure, since it causes other harms.

3. Yoga

Balasana relaxes the neck and relieves the pain efficiently. This yoga poses stretches the thighs, ankles, and hips. Balasana not only gives relief from neck pain but also from back pain. Balasana makes you feel fresh like a kid! The video below shows how to perform Balasana in a proper way.

Note: Avoid Balasana if you are pregnant or you have knee injuries.

4. Epsom Salt

• Buy Epsom salt in your nearby shop.
• Mix 2-3 teaspoons of Epsom salt with your bath water.
• Take a relaxing bath.
• That’s it! Epsom salt regulates enzymes in your body and relieves pain in few hours.

5. Use Apple cider vinegar

• Take a paper napkin and soak it in apple cider vinegar.
• Then apply it on your neck.
• Just leave it for 1-2 hours.
• Then repeat it for 3 to 4 times a day.

Since apple cider vinegar is a wonderful remedy for pain, you can feel good in few hours.

6. Neck Massage

Massaging is one of the best pain-relieving treatments. You can gently rub your neck with empty hands.

• Also, you can use Lavender oil for it.
• Take a warm bath
• Gently rub your neck with Lavender oil for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Repeat 4 to 5 times daily.

Note: Don’t massage the affected area if you feel severe pain.

7. Turmeric

Turmeric is an important anti-inflammatory product. From olden days, it was used as a pain reliever in Ayurveda medicine. It helps speed up the recovery process

• Take one teaspoon of turmeric powder
• Mix it with a small amount of water.
• You can now get a turmeric paste.
• Just apply it on your pain area.

Turmeric reduces the swollen area and thereby relieves your pain in few hours.

Medical Remedies

      Anti-inflammatory Tablets

• Ibuprofen (e.g. Advil)
• Naproxen (e.g. Aleve)

      Pain relievers

• Acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol)

How to prevent Neck pain?

• Always sleep in a proper position.
• Avoid pillow while sleeping or use a proper pillow.
• Reduce your stress.
• Use Lumbar support chairs.
• Practice yoga and swimming.
• Always sit on a comfortable chair while working.
• Stop drinking alcohol. Since it can delay the healing process.
• Take a 5 minutes break from your work every one hour and go for walking.
• Practice relaxation exercises to keep your neck more flexible and strong to avoid stiffness.
• Neck movement can help your muscles to stay strong.
• Avoid vigorous activities that cause pain and stiffness.
• Smoking slows down the healing process because it decreases blood supply and delays tissue restoration. So stop smoking to rejuvenate the healing process.

If neck pain continues for more than a week, then you must seek medical attention.

References:

1. Neck Pain: A troubleshooting guide to help you find relief, Harvard Medical School Special Health Report, 2013.
2. U.S. adults:National Health Interview Survey, Department of Health and Human Services,2010.
3. The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) from Healthcare cost and Utilization project, Conducted by AHRQ, 2007.
4. Chartbook on Trends in the Health of Americans, National Centers for Health Statistics, 2006.