Helena's Health Care Clinic Advice Blog

Neck pain is a relatively common complaint that's often caused by muscle strain, which can occur due to poor posture or poor sleeping position. It can also be caused by worn joints in those with osteoarthritis or occur as the result of an injury or herniated disc in the vertebrae of your neck. Neck pain can reduce your ability to move your head and lead to you experiencing headaches. The pain may be intermittent or constant and can worsen when the neck muscles are held in one position for long periods.

Neck pain can sometimes go away without treatment, but if the pain has been present for more than a couple of weeks, it's best to consult your doctor. They will examine your neck and arrange for you to have an X-ray or CT scan to determine the cause of the pain before recommending a treatment plan. Here's an overview of the main treatment options for neck pain:

Medication

Medication you may be prescribed to treat neck pain includes painkillers and anti-inflammatories. Muscle relaxants can also be used, and these drugs can be useful for those with a herniated disc, as relaxing of the muscles around the vertebrae can allow the disc to move back into its correct position. Additionally, tricyclic antidepressants are sometimes used at low doses for their pain-relieving properties.

Physiotherapy

Your doctor may also refer you to a physiotherapist and they can help you develop a better posture or sleeping position and show you how to do gentle, targeted neck exercises to improve the range of motion in your neck. If required, they can also fit you with a supportive neck collar, which can help reduce inflammation and strain. Physiotherapists can also provide you with a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) machine to use at home for drug-free pain relief. TENS machines use electrical impulses that are delivered to your neck through thin wires that have pads attached to the end of them. The electrical impulses can temporality block pain signals, which can be useful when combined with other treatments.

Alternative Medicine

Alternative treatments for neck pain include massage and chiropractic adjustment. Massage can bring relief by loosening tight muscles, and the manual manipulations carried out by a chiropractor may help neck pain by freeing trapped nerves and relaxing muscles. It's best to consult your doctor before using an alternative treatment for your neck pain, as some alternative treatments may not be recommended depending on the established cause of your neck pain.

Neck pain treatment has high success rates, so there's no need to continue struggling with pain and tight muscles. If you're suffering from persistent neck pain, schedule an appointment with a doctor.