What Helps Stiff Neck – 7 Proven Remedies

One of the most common aches to wake up with is a stiff neck or muscle aches and pains in the neck area, this is usually just due to the position in which you slept the night before. Here are some simple non-invasive tips which should help ease the stiffness and muscle pain in your neck. (Please note: if the pain is chronic, long-term or extremely intense, it is best to consult your doctor.)

Stiff Neck Remedies

Here are some steps to help you know stiff neck remedies:

You can do some exercises to relieve the muscle spasm. You should move the chin to your chest and then to the side. Do it slowly to avoid causing too much pain. This will help you to relieve some of the pain. Your neck also relaxes and this gets rid of the stiffness.

Make sure that you stay in the well-heated house. A stiff neck can get worse if you expose yourself to cold. You can also take a hot shower to relieve the muscles of the neck. Allow the hot water to run on your neck for like five minutes. Then use some anti-inflammatory medications to relieve the pain if it is too severe.

If you use these simple methods, your neck will be fine in a few days. If you do not want to have a stiff neck in future, make sure that you use a pillow when you sleep. You can buy a pillow that is made to support the neck. It is comfortable than the feather pillow which is very soft.

After using the stiff neck remedies to make your neck better, you must do something to ensure that you do not suffer again. Do some exercise to keep your neck muscle fit. You can also give it a message. Make sure that you have a good posture and you will stay away from a stiff neck which can be very painful.

When working on your computer, make sure that you move your neck in various positions. You can stand up and stretch yourself. Take a short walk if you can and you will not have a stiff neck.

Heat eases pain

Heat packs are an effective way of relieving stiff neck muscle pains, they are available in most pharmacies and supermarkets. However, if you don’t have one to hand using towels is equally effective and better yet it’s free! Simply soak 3-5 small towels in a basin of warm (not very hot or you will burn your skin!) water, next ring out the first one allowing all of the excess water to drain off, twist it and place on the afflicted area. For example, the left side of your neck, relax and let the warmth of the towel relieve your stiff neck. When the towel is no longer warm simply ring out the next towel, twist, and repeat, continue with this until pain relief is achieved.

Exercise to release the tension

A common exercise you can do to help release the pain is to gently push your neck in the opposite direction while using your hand to push in the direction of the pain. So, if your pain is on the left-hand side, gently push your head to the right and use your right hand to gently push your head to the left at the same time. Keep this position for 10 seconds and then relax for 5. Repeat this process a few times but be careful not to overdo it.

You can also try moving your head from side to side, left to right, up and down and rotate your head in a circular motion. Gently moving your shoulders can also be good to help relieve neck pain.

Make motion your lotion

Gentle stretching and movement can help restore flexibility to a stiff neck, says Blackburn. “If you can move the neck gently four or five times a day, it’s literally like pouring lotion on it,” he says. He recommends carefully turning the head from side to side. Look over your right shoulder for a count of five, then look over your left shoulder for a count of five. Repeat the movement three times.

Try a topical

Rubbing ointments on a stiff neck doesn’t treat the cause of the problem, but it can help relieve pain, says Blackburn. Over-the-counter topical ointments like Icy Hot and Tiger Balm contain ingredients that make the area feel warm. Other ointments are made with salicylic acid, the pain-relieving ingredient in aspirin. (Those who are aspirin-sensitive should check with their doctors before using these ointments.) But no matter which kind you choose, nothing beats the therapeutic value of having someone rub on a topical ointment for you. “There’s something about the laying on of hands that’s soothing and relaxing,” says Karl B. Fields, M.D., associate professor of family practice and director of the Sports Medicine Fellowship at Moses Cone Memorial Hospital in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Shut that bedroom window

A cold breeze blowing on you may force you to snuggle in an awkward position just to stay warm, resulting in a stiff neck, says Dr. Fields.

Get a proper pillow

Propping yourself up on two or three pillows may be comfortable, but your neck doesn’t appreciate all that padding. A single soft feather pillow or one made with barley hulls is easily manipulated to provide gentle support for the neck—rather than pushing your head forward. Also helpful: orthopedic pillows. Most have their centers hollowed out so your neck is supported and your head lies flatter, says Blackburn. You can buy an orthopedic pillow at some pharmacies and medical supply stores.

Read: Best Rated Pillows for Side Sleepers in 2018

Reserve the couch for sitting

Nothing beats a Sunday nap, but next time, steer clear of the couch. Couches usually don’t provide enough room or support for sleeping, says Blackburn. If you can’t bring yourself to go to bed for 20 minutes in the middle of the afternoon, try stretching out on the floor to catch those Zs.

If you have a fever and a stiff neck, you should see a doctor immediately. This is a sign of meningitis which is a dangerous disease. It could also be a sign of a tumor in your spinal cord. You need to see a doctor for proper diagnosis. Sometimes stiff neck remedies will not work and you need to see a doctor as soon as you feel other symptoms.

What Helps Stiff Neck, Last Update: 14/3/2018