How to Relieve Neck & Shoulder Pain?

Nowadays, neck and shoulder pain is quite common among individuals. It is usually linked with poor lifestyle, underlying health conditions, and several other factors. If left untreated, it can prevent you from living a happy, healthy life. Of course, you don’t have to live with neck and shoulder pain for your life. You can always start from home solutions like investing in a shiatsu neck massager with heat that helps you loosen up your stiff muscles and joints for quick relief.

If you are interested in knowing more ways to relieve neck and shoulder pain, keep reading this article!

Ways for Treating Neck and Shoulder Pain

If you have been trying several different methods to treat neck and shoulder pain, it’s better to visit a doctor. They may be able to diagnose the underlying health condition by X-rays, MRIs, and CT scanning.

However, we have mentioned different ways below to help you treat your neck and shoulder pain.

Stretching

In case your neck and shoulder muscles feel stiff and achy, doing some stretching exercises on a regular basis can help you relax them.

You can try gently rolling your shoulders back and forth, slowly turning your head from one side to another, squeezing your shoulders closer to your body, and gently releasing them to their normal position.

OTC Painkillers

Over-the-counter painkillers don’t require you to have a prescription, and they can be easily bought whenever you need them. However, you should keep in mind that they are only a temporary solution.

The most common painkillers are acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen. It’s still better to ask your doctor before taking any kind of pain-relieving medications.

Ice or Heat Therapy

At times, muscles get stiff around the neck and shoulders due to poor blood circulation. In order to facilitate smooth blood circulation, you should try taking hot showers or use a heating pad on the affected area.

In case you observe inflammation in your neck or shoulders, it’s better to opt for ice therapy. Applying an ice pack for 10 to 20 minutes on the affected area every day can alleviate your problem.

Massage

Massages are a great way to stimulate your pressure points and send signals to your nervous system that help you overcome pain and release happy hormones. You can always look for a professional massage therapist to overcome pain. They may ask you about your condition first and then tailor massage sessions accordingly.

If you find it a bit expensive, you can invest in massage machines that help you relax your sore muscles right in the comfort of your home.

Neck Braces

In case you went through a traumatic neck injury recently, your doctor may prescribe you to wear a soft neck brace around your neck for a few weeks. This will prevent unnecessary movement of the neck and the possibility of damaging your cervical spinal cord.

Steroid Injections

Your doctor may inject steroids in the affected area if your inflammation isn’t going away. This will help you numb the neck and shoulder pain for a while, so you are able to cope with it better.

Surgery

If all other treatment methods have failed and you are still suffering from neck and shoulder pain, the last solution maybe surgery. The physician will diagnose the issues and may recommend surgical procedures like cervical spinal fusion, laminectomy, discectomy, and laminoplasty.

How to Prevent Neck and Shoulder Pain?

It’s better to be safe than sorry. If you eliminate the root cause for neck and shoulder pain, you won’t have to deal with the issues later on.

Ensure ergonomic posture – A lot of neck and shoulder pain issues arise from a wrong sitting position. If you have a desk job, it’s better to take care of your posture and sit ergonomically.

Work out regularly – Working out will make your neck and shoulder muscles stronger to minimize the risk of injury to them.

Sleep well – Your sleeping posture is also essential, and you should invest in comfortable and supportive bedding.

Limit stress – Stress contributes towards stiff muscles around your neck and shoulders. Therefore, you should meditate, do yoga, or journal to limit stress in your life.