Did you know that over 50 million American adults struggle with chronic pain? Are you one of the millions of Americans that experience chronic back and neck pain?
If you are, you might be looking for ways to relieve the pain. This guide will provide some easy tips for you to follow. Keep reading to learn what they are.
Apply Ice and Heat
When you’re feeling pain, you can find relief with ice and heat. This hot and cold therapy works best for pain that comes from muscle strains.
You’ll want to use ice the first two days after the strain. This will reduce swelling and inflammation in the area.
After two days, you should apply heat to the area where you feel pain. The heat will increase blood flow to the affected tissues and reduce your pain.
Take Some Over-the-Counter Medicine
Your doctor may suggest taking over-the-counter pain medication when you experience mild neck or back pain. You can choose to take acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
ibuprofen is also categorized as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. This medication slows down the inflammatory process that is likely causing your pain.
Read all labels carefully since both of these medications have side effects.
Try Massage Therapy
Massage therapy can also help relieve pain in your back or neck. A massage will stimulate blood flow through the affected area and release tension. You’ll start feeling better immediately after getting a massage.
Applying gentle pressure to the pain areas can reduce the inflammation that’s causing you pain. If your pain is the result of an injury, a massage will encourage faster healing as well.
You can book a session with a professional or use a massage gun to stretch the muscles in your neck or back.
Do Some Gentle Exercise
You might think rest is all you need when you’re having back issues but remaining immobile can cause you more pain. Trying some low-impact exercises can help relieve tension in your back.
It’s best to start slowly and know your limit to avoid further injury. Yoga is a great form of exercise to help manage pain. It is gentle enough to keep you moving without causing you more discomfort.
Visit the Doctor
If none of the methods you’ve tried at home have helped with your pain, you should consider seeing a specialist. If you’ve been experiencing neck issues for more than a week and the pain hasn’t improved, you should make an appointment with a neck doctor.
If the pain is getting worse and has started disrupting your daily activities, a doctor should examine you to see if there’s a more serious problem.
Follow These Tips for Back and Neck Pain Relief
If you’re experiencing back and neck pain, the tips in this guide should help you find relief. Massage therapy can help you feel better, but worsening symptoms mean you need to schedule a visit with your doctor.
Check out some of the other health blogs on our site if you found helpful tips in this one.
