Is neck pain becoming a constant burden in your life? Unfortunately, it is for many and it leaves you unable to enjoy your new favourite book or even continue work because of the pain.
Although there are so many tips and tricks out there that you can use to help your neck pain, some of them will not provide you with a permanent solution, or they may even make your condition worse!
In this blog post, we give you an idea of what won’t help your neck pain so that you can focus your efforts on solutions that have a greater chance of getting you permanently out of pain and back to enjoying your hobbies without neck pain hindering you.
#1 Ignoring it
It’s vital to stress the importance of taking neck pain seriously as ignoring it won’t help.
Even if the discomfort is a minor twinge every now and then, it could escalate into a much more serious issue.
Ignoring the pain won’t help your neck in any way.
Instead, it could actually worsen the situation. Over time, the pain could become more severe and lead to other symptoms such as headaches and numbness in the arms or fingers.
Therefore, if you are experiencing neck pain, don’t be afraid to seek help from medical professionals to determine the underlying cause and get proper treatment.
#2 Holding Your Neck In One Position
I’m here to share with you the importance of avoiding the common misconception that holding your neck in one position for an extended period of time will help alleviate pain.
In fact, doing so won’t help your neck pain at all.
This includes attempts to rest by ceasing all activity, which may actually make the pain worse.
The reason is simple: the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in your neck become stiff and weak when held in one position for too long.
This can result in increased pressure on the nerves and exacerbate any existing pain. Instead of immobilizing your neck, try gentle movements and stretches to keep the area limber and encourage blood flow.
This will not only provide relief but also help prevent future neck pain.
#3 Painkillers
Are you wondering if painkillers are the answer to your neck pain?
Unfortunately, although an easy solution, it’s not long-term or effective.
Although they may provide temporary relief, painkillers only mask the real problem causing your neck pain.
Plus, over time, your body may become tolerant to the painkillers, making you need to increase your doses to achieve the same relief. This can lead to a vicious cycle of dependence on painkillers without addressing the root cause of your discomfort.
Instead, it’s important to seek out the underlying issue and address it directly for long-lasting relief.
#4 Heat/Cold Packs
As someone who has treated countless cases of neck pain, I can confidently say that heat and cold therapies alone won’t help relieve your symptoms.
While they can provide temporary relief and reduce inflammation, they’re akin to painkillers in that they address the symptom without addressing the underlying problem.
Neck pain can be caused by a variety of issues, such as poor posture, muscle imbalances, or even stress.
Instead of relying solely on heat or cold therapies, it’s important to address the root cause of your pain through a combination of corrective exercises and posture improvements.
#5 High-Intensity Exercise
If you’re experiencing neck pain, you might be tempted to power through a high-intensity exercise session, thinking that breaking a sweat will help alleviate your discomfort.
Unfortunately, this approach is unlikely to provide the relief you’re hoping for. In fact, it could actually make things worse.
High-intensity exercises such as burpees, jumping jacks, and sprints can put an incredible amount of strain on your neck, exacerbating pain and potentially causing further injury.
We recommend taking a measured approach to exercise when dealing with neck pain.
Focus on low-impact activities that won’t put undue pressure on your neck like pilates, a walk or even swimming.
Is Your Neck Pain Becoming Unbearable?
Here at Focus Osteopathy, we know how daunting it can be for our patients to take their health into their own hands especially when they’ve been living with the problem for a long time.
However, we’re always here to answer your questions and help you get back to good health and enjoy your hobbies again without pain and discomfort!
So this month, we’re offering you the chance to take the first step to a pain-free future with us by arranging a free neck pain assessment. During your free neck pain assessment, you will be able to speak to one of our resident osteopaths who have years of experience behind them and find out the actual cause of your neck, and the best treatment options to suit you and your recovery.
If this sounds like the answer to the pain that you’ve been searching for, arrange your free back pain consultation by filling in our simple web form or call our Mount Waverley or Murrumbeena clinic at 1300 003 007 and a member of the team will be happy to help!
Other Free Resources For People With Neck Pain
Why not download our free back pain report to ease daily annoying neck and shoulder pain naturally before it gets any worse?
Download Your Copy Of Our FREE Neck And Shoulder Pain Report HERE!
Read Our Blog – When Your Shoulder Is Really A Pain In The Neck…
