Ice is generally recommended for the first 24 to 48 hours after an injury to reduce swelling, followed by heat to loosen muscles and improve stiffness. So which one is it? The general recommendation is to use ice for the first 24 to 48 hours after an injury, which will help reduce swelling. Then use heat to loosen muscles and improve stiffness. Should I use heat or ice for neck pain? The answer is both.
The only caveat is that you should not use both at the same time. Chiropractors generally recommend using ice on a stiff, sore neck for the first 24 to 48 hours. This is because, when you suffer an injury, the soft tissues of the neck become inflamed. Applying ice helps reduce inflammation and control pain naturally.
When heat is applied, inflammation can worsen. Giving inflammation a chance to calm down for a day or two before applying heat will be the best course of action. Use ice for the first 48 to 72 hours, then use heat after that. Heat can be applied with hot showers, hot compresses, or a heating pad.
Make sure you don't fall asleep with a heating pad or ice pack in place to avoid injury to your skin. Sometimes, taking over-the-counter medications to relieve painful symptoms can provide relief as the neck heals naturally. If left unattended by a doctor with a proven history, who treats this day in and day out, neck pain usually worsens and reappears again and again with further deterioration each time. Many treatment plans for persistent neck pain include some type of physical therapy to improve neck strength and flexibility.
When driving or using your smartphone, make sure to take frequent breaks and avoid having your neck tilted forward for long periods of time, Dr. For example, if you have had dull neck pain, pain, and stiffness for a couple of weeks or months, heat can help increase circulation. To learn more about what is the best treatment for your back and neck pain, call Orthopedic Associates of Central Maryland Spine Academy at (4 644-1880), or request an appointment online. This includes what type of injury caused acute (or sudden) neck pain, such as a car accident, sports injury, or muscle strain from working outdoors, and how you respond to the injury.
Exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles of the neck, shoulders, and upper back can speed recovery from a painful neck condition and possibly reduce breakouts, although the evidence for this is not strong. Whether you book a massage at a spa, ask your partner to give you a neck massage, or buy an electronic neck massager, massages are ideal for neck pain. This site is for educational purposes only; it is not intended or implied that any information replaces professional medical advice. When you wake up with stiff neck, regardless of the reason behind it, you should go see a chiropractor at The Joint.
Skilled physical therapists have in-depth knowledge of the cervical spine, pain-related mechanisms, and exercise prescribing, making us experts in helping people with neck pain return to normal functioning. To help you avoid neck pain, place the monitor at eye level, sit upright, and avoid tilting and turning your head down or to the side while at the computer. If your neck pain is severe, lasts for weeks or months, drastically limits your ability to move your head, radiates to your shoulders, or feels worse in the morning, consider seeing a doctor. .
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