Vertebrae that goes from your skull to your upper torso makes up your neck. The shock between the bones is absorbed by cervical discs. The muscles, ligaments and bones of your neck provide support to your head and also enable motion. Any abnormalities, injuries or inflammation can lead to stiffness in the neck, pain and can even extend to other areas of the body like your arms and back. A lot of people may occasionally experience neck pain and stiffness. Sometimes, it could happen due to contact sports, a fall or injury, or whiplash. In most cases, it is not a serious condition and can be relieved in a couple of days.
But, there are also cases where this cervical pain can get worse and can result in other problems as well. You need to learn some good tips for managing it effectively and a few of them are mentioned below:
Take it easy
These days, everyone has a hectic and busy life, but when you are dealing with cervical pain, you need to ease back on some intense activities temporarily. When you are resting, you need to find a comfortable position to lie down. Sure, you can crawl in bed, but this doesn’t mean that you should be absolutely still. Don’t stay immobile for long because this can actually increase your pain in the long run.
Apply some cold and heat
Should you go with hot? Or opt for cold? It is a common enough conundrum and generally, the best approach is to use ice for a day or two, as this can reduce swelling, if any. Then, you can switch to heat because it will help loosen the muscles and improve some of the stiffness. Whatever you use, don’t keep it on for more than 20 minutes.
Stretch
Once you feel well enough, you should practice some stretching exercises as these are good for your neck and spine both. They can help in improving your flexibility in the long run. You should perform these exercises after you have warmed up the muscles, which can be done with a bath, warm shower or towel.
Fix your posture
One of the major contributors to cervical pain and other neck and back problems is bad posture. Every time you stand, sit or lift anything, you should always think about your posture. Try to keep your neck and head straight and make sure your back is properly supported. For instance, when you are sitting at your desk, your computer needs to be at your eye level and the chair should be straight up against your back. Your mouse should be easily accessible, which means you shouldn’t have to reach for it every time. Here you can find out the best emg machine.
See a doctor
If the aforementioned tips don’t help in reducing and managing cervical pain, it might be time to see a doctor. They will perform a full assessment by conducing x-rays, blood tests, MRI scans, CT scans, lumbar puncture and electromyography. Depending on the results, you will be recommended to see specialists like vertosmed.com, where you can find appropriate treatments that can help you in dealing with your problem.
Keep moving
Last, but certainly not the least, it is important to remember that you have to stay active in general. A lot of people who suffer from cervical pain and other neck and back problems tend to have an inactive lifestyle or don’t exercise regularly. You don’t have to join the gym for this purpose; any kind of exercise like walking, swimming or biking will do. The key is to get moving and keep doing so.
