Winchester Chiropractor, Max Atkinson says it’s no surprise, that when the phrase “a pain in the neck” is used to describe a person or a situation, we all understand precisely what is meant – something bothersome, annoying, and to be avoided if possible!
Max sees many patients suffering from neck pain at his Bradford House practice. Some have acute neck pain, but for many patients, the problem is a recurring or even constant, chronic ‘pain in the neck’ that has become quite debilitating, spoiling the enjoyment of everyday life, restricting movement and the ability to carry out the tasks we normally take for granted.
In the acute group, the primary objective is to relieve pain and to restore mobility as quickly as possible. For patients with recurring or chronic pain, regular, ‘maintenance’ visits can help to keep them pain-free and enjoying again. Whatever the cause of your neck pain, call the practice now on 01962 861188 to book an initial assessment appointment. Chiropractic practice is low risk and can help with many causes of neck pain, so don’t feel that you have to simply put up with it or, accept it as part of growing older!
Some Self-Help Tips for Neck Pain
For acute pain, try hot and cold therapy. This is often very effective when the neck is stiff and painful after playing sport, gardening or home decorating (especially painting a ceiling!).
- Hot Therapy: Take a warm shower, apply a ‘wheat bag’ (these can be bought quite cheaply from most pharmacies and need warming in the microwave for a minute or so before use). Use heat for up to twenty minutes, several times a day and alternate with cold therapy.
- Cold Therapy: Apply a cold pack (either some ice cubes, bag of frozen peas or a cool-pack for a picnic cool-box), wrapped in a towel for up to twenty minutes at a time. This can be repeated throughout the day.
Be cautious, as although heat can be very relaxing and soothing for sore muscles, if there is any inflammation or swelling, it is best avoided as it can make inflammation worse.
For chronic and recurring neck pain, here are some tips that can prevent a flare-up and ease existing symptoms.
Try to avoid stress. Stress causes tension and the tight muscles in the neck can cause both headaches and neck aches. Learning some relaxation techniques that work for you can be very beneficial.
Adjust your sleeping position. Ensure that your body is fully supported by the mattress with your body in as straight a line as possible. Your pillow should support the curve of your neck. If you normally sleep on your side, use a pillow shaped to be slightly higher under the neck than under the head. If you normally sleep on your back, a rounded pillow or neck roll would be better for you.
Good ergonomics at your workstation can minimize the stresses on your neck that lead to cervical pain. Ensure your computer screen is at eye level when you are sitting. Your seated position should enable both feet to be on the floor or a footrest with the knees slightly lower
than the hips. Your forearms should be supported by armrests in a comfortable position while using the keyboard.
Max’s top tip? – If you are on the phone a lot, use headphones so that you can keep your head in an upright position, leaving both hands free – NEVER tuck the phone between your ear and shoulder!
Do some simple stretches and exercises. Your Winchester Chiropractor will be able to advise you on some low risk and possibly effective exercises and stretches that you can do between your Chiropractic appointments. These will help to reduce pain, restore muscle function, increase the strength of your neck muscles and improve posture. Most take only a few moments and are easy to learn, but it is important that you are taught how to perform these correctly to avoid any possibility of injury, so call us today on 01962 861188.
