Hot Cold And Electrotherapy
Heating pads, ice or cold packs, and electrotherapy are natural ways to get relief from neck and shoulder pain. A general rule of thumb suggests choosing different therapies based on how long youve been experiencing pain.
Use cold for recent neck or shoulder pain
During the first six weeks after a fresh injury, experts recommend applying ice to help reduce inflammation and pain. Ice packs, cold sprays, and/or cold gels are great options to relieve acute swelling.
Use heat for chronic aches and pains
Heat encourages blood flow and helps relax tight muscles. This type of therapy can be introduced six weeks after an injury, and also works best for lingering aches and pains. Make sure your heat therapy isnt too hot. Try:
- Heating pads
- Warm baths, whirlpools and saunas
- Warm baths with Epsom salts
Try electrotherapy for short and long-term neck and shoulder pain
TENS, or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, is a drug-free alternative to pain relief that works for both short- and long-term pain. TENS units use mild, pain-free electrical currents to disrupt pain signals.
Make sure you dont place the TENS unit pads too close to your head or sides of your neck and spine. Please follow the manufacturers directions for the best and safest pad placement.
Best Treatments For Neck Pain Relief
Cervical epidural steroid injection: As the name suggests, this is an injection that is given to the epidural space of your spine and it involves a steroid like cortisone. The specific spinal space consisting of irritated nerves is the epidural space. This injection is given to minimize pain and inflammation in your neck, arms and shoulders. People who receive these shots normally have arthritis, spinal stenosis and/or herniated discs that exert pressure on their nerves, causing pain, swelling, inflammation and discomfort. When a cervical epidural steroid injection is provided, these symptoms can disappear.
Cervical facet block injection: This is a good spinal treatment for neck pain as it is less invasive and quick. It is normally picked for sufferers of arthritis. The doctor targets certain facet joints in your cervical spine and injects them with a tiny amount of local anesthetic drug and steroid medicine. A pain management expert must use a fluoroscopic guide for proper imaging and after the shot, the facet joint is numbed and the pain is blocked. About one or two cervical facet block injections are enough in most cases.
Pulled Neck Muscle Same As A Neck Strain
A pulled neck muscle is a common term for a simple neck strain, involving the muscles and tendons that support and move the neck and head. There are four primary reasons the cervical spine is so susceptible to develop a strained or pulled muscle in neck:
- The bones of the neck are the smallest of the spine, offering the least stability and support.
- The muscles of the neck are long and thin, and do not have the bulk found in other areas of the spine making them proportionately weaker than they need to be to hold the head up.
- The weight of the head sitting at the top of spine presents a mechanical disadvantage. With this heavy weight at the top of the thin neck, it takes a lot of effort to hold the head up during the course of the day and nearly impossible during a violent impact.
- The neck is a structure designed to offer flexibility that allows the head to turn rapidly through a large range of motion. But this flexibility adds to the vulnerability of the neck to injury and the ease of misalignment during trauma. A small amount of spinal misalignment can cause a pinched nerve in the neck that can cause pain, numbness, tingling and other health problems. This is why the neck can be strained while simply staying in an awkward posture for a prolonged time.
A neck strain or pulled muscle in neck tissue by definition is usually not a serious injury, even though it can cause a great amount of neck pain.
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Make Your Work Station Ergonomic
While many of us sit at desks looking at computers all day, most of us can make some simple, posture-friendly adjustments.
Choose a chair-desk combo that promotes good posture by allowing you to sit with your feet firmly planted on the ground, elbows at a 90-degree angle when you rest your arms on the desk.
Position your computer screen 18-24 inches from your head , with the top of the monitor at eye level so you dont constantly look down to see your screen content.
Is It Something More Serious
If neck pain is severe, lasts for weeks or months, drastically limits your ability to move your head, radiates into the shoulders, or feels worse in the morning, consider seeing a doctor. Fever or weakness or numbness in the arms are other “red flags” that warrant additional evaluation. In some cases, an underlying physical problem, such as arthritis, an infection, or a compressed nerve, may be the cause. Depending on the diagnosis, you may need additional treatments or even surgery to relieve the pain and get back to your normal activities.
Simple neck stretchLook straight ahead. Tuck your chin in slightly and move your head backward, slowly and smoothly. Be sure to keep your head level you should be gliding your head backward, not bending or tipping it. Hold for five seconds. Repeat five times. Additional exercises for neck pain are available in Neck Pain: A troubleshooting guide to help you find relief, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School. /NK Illustrations: Alayna Paquette |
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If You Slept On Your Neck Wrong Try These Stiff Neck Remedies
- In Conclusion
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Waking up with a stiff neck can ruin your entire day. You wake up with a pain in the neck and its a terrible feeling all day. If you suffer from chronic neck pain, its important to figure out the cause and how to fix it.
From the way youre sleeping to what youre sleeping on, there are a few main causes of neck pain that can be easily remedied. There are also a few natural ways to relieve the pain and get your neck feeling better.
Prevention Of Shoulder Pain
- If you have previously suffered from any shoulder injury or ailment, it is well advised to regularly perform a few simple range-of-motion exercises to keep your shoulder muscles and tendons properly stretched and flexible to avoid recurrence or a frozen shoulder.
- If you are prone to shoulder issues, it may be a good idea to follow up your regular workouts with 15 minutes of massaging your shoulder area with an ice compress.
- Drink a few glasses of warm lemon water daily to prevent mineral deposits in the joints that can cause pain in your shoulder and other body parts.
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Invest In New Bedding
It might be time to upgrade your bedding. Your mattress and pillows can all affect your neck. If youve had the same mattress for the past 30 years, its probably time for a new one. If your mattress doesnt have enough support, your body and neck wont get the proper support they need either.
When pillow shopping, consider one with a blend of memory foam shreds. These tend to be a medium stiffness that wont be too high or too low. A removable filling is another thing to look for. A pillow with adjustable filling will help ensure you have the right amount of filling for you. You can easily remove or add filling to the height that is right for you.
Although its at the opposite end of your body, a knee pillow between your legs may also reduce neck pain. A knee pillow can help align your spine nicely while you sleep. This can reduce the pain that finds its way into your neck.
What Are The Causes Of Crook In Neck
HOW TO GET RID OF NECK AND SHOULDER PAINMedically crook in neck is referred to as neck stiffness. Crook in neck is usually the result of sleeping in an improper posture at night.
Cervical spondylosis is second most common reason for crook in neck. The condition is associated with problem in cervical spine. The nerve fibers originating from the cervical region of spinal cord are compressed due to reduced space between two cervical vertebras. This pinched nerve in the cervical region causes neck pain and stiffness.
Injury in the neck region, prolonged use of computer, osteoporosis, and arthritis are other triggering factors for pain and restriction of neck movement.
Though the exact reason for crook in neck is not clear on many instances, the above causes are well accepted by medical fraternity.
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How To Treat Frozen Shoulder Fast And Easily At Home
When there is too much of a pain, then doctors often recommend taking the help of steroids, painkillers or other numbing medicines. But, as you know taking all of these medicines is not good for your health in the long run. These may give you quick relief but in most cases the relief is temporary. You need to think of remedies that are safe for your health in general and help you treat frozen shoulder fast and easily at home. And, thankfully, there are natural remedies and practices that can help you in treating frozen shoulder naturally.
The process of recovery may be gradual, but it helps you to recover completely from the frozen shoulder and that is very important.
Listed below are some of the easiest remedies to treat frozen shoulder fast and naturally.
Take a look and use it your advantage.
Heating and stretching the shoulder
Heating and stretching is one of the most effective practice that can help you treat frozen shoulder fast and give quick relief from the pain. It, in fact, is the first step that you need to take before you take up the other ways .
Listed below are a few of the simplest shoulder stretches that you may like to practice.
- Lie down or simply sit and lift the arm straight above you.
- Open and close a door or cabinet. This will help to rotate the arm externally.
- Lie down and make a shape of T using your arms. You need to just bring them outward and to the floor.
Exercises
Pendulum stretch
Towel stretch
Finger walk
Cross-body reach
Armpit stretch
Massage Therapy: A Caring Career Path
If you enjoy learning about how to relieve tension in the muscles and could envision yourself stepping out of the office or traditional work environment into this caring career path, you may want to consider becoming a massage therapist. Massage therapists enjoy helping people feel better on a daily basis. Whats more, many professionals are able to find positions with flexible schedules in settings that promote relaxation and well-being. To learn more about entering this rewarding industry, contact Carrington College today.
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Various Stages Of Frozen Shoulder
In most cases, the individuals develop the frozen shoulder in stages. Mainly there are 3 stages which are as under:
- Freezing stage in freezing stage, you generally experience a pain in your shoulder when you move it. Slowly the pain increases mostly during the night. Your shoulder movements become very restricted in freezing stage. This stage can last for up to 6 or 9 months.
- Frozen stage Here, there may be improvement as far as the pain in the shoulder is concerned but if you consider the stiffness factor then it actually worsens. You will find it too hard to move the shoulder and hence there will be lot of problems doing your daily activities. Frozen stage may last for 4 to 12 months.
- Thawing stage This is when you slowly recover. You will be able to move your shoulders better than before but the full recovery process may take a span of 6 months to as long as 2 years in some cases.
The number of frozen shoulder cases is increasing on a steady pace with the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons estimating around 2 to 5% of the adult population suffering from this health concern at any given time. So what are the main causes of frozen shoulder?
Sleeping With Hand On Forehead
Research published in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science in June shows that pain in the upper trapezius and scalene muscles of the right side of the neck was significantly greater when the persons dominant hand was placed on their forehead while sleeping. That is why keeping the hands by your side is better.
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How Do I Get Rid Of Gas Pain In Chest And Shoulder
Pain in the shoulder due to gas can be annoying and even disabling sometimes. Taking a muscle relaxant might not do the trick. So, how to get gas pain in shoulder relief.
There are multiple strategies that you can try. The goal of these strategies is to prevent the accumulation of gas in your abdomen. Some of the techniques also help to reduce the gas that is already trapped in your gut.
The strategies that we share here can be used for trapped gas even if it does not affect your shoulders. For example, they can help if you have upper back pain due to gas.
Can Gas Cause Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain is a common irritation to almost anyone. Some studies suggest that more than 70% of people around the world experiences shoulder pain at least once in their lifetime.
When you have pain in your shoulder, it usually comes with muscle or joint problems. In most cases, these are the reasons responsible for the pain. But sometimes it can be something else.
If you experience shoulder pain where a movement of the arms does not make any difference, then it is time to ask can gas cause shoulder pain. It may be surprising for many that gas in the gut can result in shoulder pain. But its true and you can get pain in other parts of your body too.
Table of Content
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How To Soothe A Sore Neck
Neck pain essentials include icing and heat, gentle therapeutic exercise, and good posture.
Sore neck? It’s pretty common. And most men get neck pain for the same reasons they suffer low back pain. “In the vast majority of people, it’s routine muscle strain and sprain,” says Dr. Robert Shmerling, associate professor of medicine at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. “The neck has to support that heavy bowling ball on top.”
The remedies for neck and back pain also have some things in common. First, ease the early intense pain with rest, ice, and heat then move on to gentle stretching and strengthening exercises. Later, avoid bad posture and other habits that could trigger another neck pain crisis.
How To Get Rid Of Neck And Shoulder Pain
Treat Your Own Neck Pain Fast Fix – ExercisesNeck and shoulder pain is one of the most common types of pain experienced by people. According to statistics, around 80% of people experience neck and shoulder pain at some point in their lifetime. And given the rise in the use of smartphones, the number is ever-increasing.
Neck and shoulder pain is most often caused due to lifestyle factors, including bad posture, sedentary lifestyle, and poor diet and stress. However, it can also result from osteoarthritis, neck or spinal injury, or repetitive motion of your neck.
Fortunately, there are several ways to get rid of neck and shoulder pain. This post looks at how you can ease the bothersome neck and shoulder pain and enjoy a pain-free life.
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Trigger Point Release Of The Levator Scapulae Using A Manual Massager
Targeted muscle: Levator scapulae .
How to do it:
Begin by palpating with your fingers to locate the trigger points in the area.Use the Manual massager/Theracane, with both hands, to apply downward pressure to the middle trigger point at the top of your shoulder blade and hold for 20 to 60 seconds.Move to the trigger point that is located lower in the muscle and apply the same pressure for 20 to 60 seconds.Finally, use the straight part of the Theracane to apply pressure to the highest trigger point for 20 to 60 seconds.
Signs Of Neck And Shoulder Pain
Dr. Delavaux says that individuals should pay attention to the following signs of neck pain:
- Pain thats often worsened by holding your head in one position for a prolonged period
- Muscle tightness and/or spasms
Additionally, he notes that you should be aware of the following signs of shoulder pain:
- Inability to use the shoulder or move your arm away from your body
- Intense pain
- Sudden swelling
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should call your doctor immediately and see if they offer in-person or virtual visits, advises Dr. Delavaux. Dont wait too long, as this may worsen the underlying problem of the pain.
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Take Care When You Sleep
Dr. Bang says if your neck is bothering you, you also should pay attention to your sleep positions. Sleep only on your side or on your back never on your stomach, he says.
When you sleep on your stomach, often you will end up twisting your head one way or the other for hours at a time, Dr. Bang says. Sleeping on your stomach also can affect your low back because your belly sinks in to the bed if you dont have enough support.
For minor, common causes of neck pain, try these simple remedies:
- Apply heat or ice to the painful area. Use ice for the first 48 to 72 hours, then use heat after that. Heat may be applied with warm showers, hot compresses or a heating pad. Be sure not to fall asleep with a heating pad or ice bag in place to avoid skin injuries.
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
- Keep moving, but avoid jerking or painful activities. This helps calm your symptoms and reduce inflammation.
- Do slow range-of-motion exercises, up and down, side to side, and from ear to ear. This helps to gently stretch the neck muscles.
- Have a partner gently massage the sore or painful areas.
- Try sleeping on a firm mattress without a pillow or with a special neck pillow.
- Ask your health care provider about using a soft neck collar to relieve discomfort. Dont use the collar for a long time. Doing so can make your neck muscles weaker.
If the pain gets in the way of your daily activities, Dr. Bang says to call your doctor.
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