Know How To Deal With Neck Pain!

The most common cause of neck pain can be cervical disc disease. It is generally caused by the abnormality of the disc that is the cushion present between the vertebrae. The disc can get damaged because of arthritis or any unknown cause. When damaged it usually leads to inflammation or spasm of the muscles leading to neck pain. There are a number of pain medications, traction exercises, and physical therapy for minimizing neck pain.

However, these home-based remedies help to relieve pain along with a speedy recovery: 

1. Take it Easy: If you have busy and hectic lives then take it easy. Living with cervical disc diseases can lead to an increase in the neck pain; thus cutting down on activities helps. A comfortable position should be observed while resting. If need be then a pillow can be placed under the neck.

2. Apply Cold/Heat Pack: There is always a confusion regarding whether a cold or a hot pack is to be used. The recommendation is to use ice or cold pack for the first 24 to 48 hours of the injury so that the swelling subsides. This should then be followed by hot fermentation in order to improve the muscle stiffness and also loosen them. But in case of cervical disc disease, neither cold nor heat penetrates the tissue to relieve inflammation, so it is best to use the one which feels better. Whichever pack is chosen it should only be used for 20 minutes and then left for 40 minutes. Take care not to use ice or heat should never be used directly against the skin. 

3. Stretch: Stretching exercises should be done in order to improve flexibility and relieve pain in the neck. Exercises can be performed once the warming up of the muscles by a warm towel or bath has been done. Here are a few simple stretches for cervical disc disease that you can do at home:

• Move the neck: As per the study by the American Medical Association, women who had neck pain got relief when they did exercises using lightweight and resistance bands. This increased the endurance and strength of the neck muscles. Also, 30 minutes of exercise in the form of biking, walking, swimming, and biking is recommended to improve the blood flow.
• Maintain the posture of the neck: A bad posture can cause neck pain. Every time while standing, sitting, walking, lifting the posture should be kept in mind. The head and neck should be kept straight and the back should be supported in order to avoid neck pains.