Neck pain is one of the most common types of physical pain, experienced by millions of people all over the world and brought on by any number of reasons. Some of the most common causes for neck pain, or a stick neck, include a physical injury, poor posture, lack of exercise, stress or any combination thereof. Not often, but at times, neck pain can be a symptom of another potentially more serious condition. It’s important to take the following steps to both identify and get rid of neck pain.

Home Remedies for Neck Pain

If your neck pain has been brought on by a physical injury, poor posture, or stress, there are some great home remedies that will help you on your path to being pain-free. The neck is a delicate part of the human body, and because of the everyday stress on it (both physically and mentally) it is very prone to injury. Follow the home remedies below to get rid of neck pain:

Heating Pad

Using a heating pad to heal stiff or sore muscles is one of the oldest and most effective remedies out there. Take a load off, lay down in your bed or on the couch, and place a heating pad beneath your neck. Adjust the temperature to what you’re comfortable with and relax. Let the heat take effect – it works by loosening up your tense muscles, and relieving some of the pressure that is to blame for your neck pain.

Ice/Cold Compress

Using ice or a cold compress is a similar treatment to a heating pad, but it’s best for neck pain that is caused strictly by a physical injury. With a physical injury to the neck, it’s often the swelling that is causing pain. Try putting some ice or a cold compress on your neck and relaxing. If the pain still subsists after a few days, you should see a doctor.

Exercise & Posture

If you’re like me and you spend most of your time at a desk and get little exercise, your poor posture could be to blame for your neck pain. Pay more attention to your posture and focus on standing up straight. Get up from your desk (at home or the office) at least once an hour and stretch. Simply paying attention to exercise and posture has done wonders for my own personal neck and back problems.

Non-prescription Pain Relievers

When in doubt, grab a bottle of Tylenol, or similar non=prescription pain reliever, and take the recommended dosage. This will help to temporarily relieve your pain. It’s not a permanent fix, but rather a temporary one that will help ease your pain for the time being.

Relax: Get Rid of Stress

Stress is another big cause of neck pain. Stress at home, work or in any part of your personal life is notorious for bringing on physical problems, neck pain being one of them. Make sure to focus and take time out of each and every day to relax and do something that sets your mind at ease. This may be a little walk around the neighborhood in the morning, during your lunch break or in the evening. It can also be just kicking back and watching a little TV or reading a book. Do what makes you relax and sets your mind at ease.

Get a Therapeutic Massage

Massage is another excellent solution to get rid of neck pain. It’s also done wonders in getting rid of back pain for me. Get a recommendation from a friend and visit a local masseuse. If you don’t know any, do some research online or visit a few places and pick the one you’re most comfortable with. Talk to your masseuse and tell him/her your issues and where to focus. The effects of massage are exponential and have done wonders for me over time with both neck and back pain, particularly the kind caused by stress and poor posture/lack of exercise.

Visit the Doctor

If the home remedies aren’t doing anything for you, or your neck pain is chronic, you may have a more serious problem. I’m not trying to scare you, just inform you. It’s always better to address any sort of medical issue as soon as possible. Here are the steps I recommend:

Family Doctor

Start out with a visit to your family doctor. Explain your pain and any other symptoms you may be experiencing. It’s very important to be specific with doctors – use powerful adjectives such as “consistent”, “sharp” or “throbbing” to describe your pain to give them the best possible chance of figuring out your problem. In some cases, they may be able to help you out themselves; in others, they may refer you to a specialist.

Chiropractor

A chiropractor specializes primarily in the treatment of back issues. However, the back and neck are closely related, and one can be causing pain for the other. I would leave it up to your family doctor to decide whether or not you should see a chiropractor so you don’t waste a trip, and potentially a costly medical bill.

Rheumatologist

Rheumatologists treat specific back and neck problems, such as muscoskeletal issues and arthritis. I would again leave it up to your family doctor to determine whether or not you should seek out a Rheumatologist.

Neurologist

Having to visit a neurologist or similar specialist would only be if your neck pain was brought on by a more serious issue, such as a tumor or a glandular problem. Don’t panic: this doesn’t always mean it’s a life-threatening problem or untreatable, it just means that your pain may be caused by an underlying medical condition.