Home Remedies for a Stiff Neck

“These articles are meant for general education and are not intended to diagnose, prevent or treat a specific disease. Please see Dr. Sharma for questions regarding the specific treatment of your symptoms.”

While not every instance of neck or back pain warrants deep medical attention, most often these occurrences can be inconvenient or a major annoyance. One particular situation where this applies is when one suffers from a stiff neck. Usually caused by poor posture, a stiff neck won’t imply any major underlying condition but can have an impact on daily routines like sleep or exercise.

 

If you suffer from a stiff neck, consider a few options when searching for a cause. Muscle and joint stiffness is usually caused by bad posture while asleep, not properly stretching before working out or some type of work-related injury. There are several ways you can go about treating this discomfort in your home, such as:

 

1) Try a Cold Pack of Ice for immediate relief. The pack should be situation between your shoulders and the base of neck, no higher than your hairline. Leave it on for approximately 20 minutes.

 

2) Be Your Own Massage Therapist, as massages are known to be great treatment option for back and neck pain. Grab the back of your neck with one hand, keep your fingers on end and your thumb on the other, and start gently, but firmly kneading the stiff areas for several minutes.

 

3) Use Topical Analgesics like ginseng and eucalyptus oil for a cool, soothing relief. These oils can be purchased over the counter at many drug and pharmacy stores, or at your local supermarket. Please note that these solutions are very strong and should be diluted appropriately before topical use.

 

4) Stretch Your Neck even though it may seem like a strenuous idea, often times simple neck rolls and stretching techniques can loosen up stiff muscles. Start off slowly, and begin rolling your neck from side to side and front to back for about 15 minutes. While this may cause some initial discomfort, feel free to stop anytime the pain begins to worsen, as the stiffness may be caused by a strain.

 

It’s always important to know when is the appropriate time to seek medical attention when pain and discomfort is involved. If your stiffness turns into acute pain or doesn’t subside after a few days; if you begin to vomit or incur a fever; or if you experience trouble with mobility, you should see a doctor immediately. Taking your spinal health seriously includes awareness of common injuries and maladies, and knowing how to effectively treat them. While doctors will always be around to treat you for any serious condition, knowing how to treat and prevent the common ones will improve your overall quality of healthcare!