Neck Pain – Management of Neck Pain Without Medication
Neck pain has the potential of bringing our daily lives to a halt. It hinders our ability to carry out regular daily activities that are often taken for granted such as bending over, reading a book or looking out of the window. Neck pain causes a lot of discomfort and may sometimes be unbearable. Many people often turn to medication to manage the pain. These drugs are often anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen. They reduce the discomfort by easing the pain and reducing the symptoms of inflammation. Plain painkillers may also be administered to manage the pain including acetaminophen.
Pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs have several side effects some of which may make the patient feel worse than when they only suffered from neck pain. These side effects include nausea, drowsiness and dizziness. Many people would rather not take the pills but lack alternative treatments. The good news for people who don't want to take medication for neck pain is that there are various alternatives for its management.
The methods you use to deal with this pain will depend on the cause of the pain. Neck pain may be a result of diabetic nerve damage, injury or the presence of an infectious disease such as meningitis. If you have ruled out diabetic nerve damage and physical injury, you ought to seek a professional diagnosis to ensure that the pain is not as a result of an infection. This would require the immediate attention of a professional medical doctor.
Having established the cause of the neck pain you may proceed to administer an alternative method of managing the pain after consultation with your physician. Applying heat to the sore area is one of the most common methods of dealing with neck pain. You can use a hot water bottle or a towel dipped in hot water and wrung to leave a hot damp towel. Heat application encourages the flow of blood to the area therefore accelerating the healing of tissues in the area. It also prevents swelling as liquids forming within the injured area are quickly taken away by the fast flowing blood. This method also helps relax tensed muscles that may be aggravating the problem.
Physical therapy is also a common method of dealing with neck pain without using medication. Physical exercises specially designed to target the muscles in the neck help to strengthen the neck muscles. These exercises also strengthen the tendons in the neck. The overall strength and support in the neck is therefore greatly improved and the pain is reduced as a result.
Other alternative methods may be used to manage neck pain such as acupuncture and neck massages. These help relax muscles and soothe nerve endings. Aromatherapy is also increasing in popularity and may be used in combination with other alternative treatments to manage the pain.
Before you attempt to deal with your neck pain using an alternative method of management, ensure that you consult a qualified medical doctor to avoid making the situation worse.
Discuss different recovery methods with a doctor at Pain Physician Specialist.
Sources of pain and the various types are detailed at http://painandinjurydoctors.com along with the different types of doctors that can treat these injuries and pain.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Vreugde
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8 Responses to “Neck Pain – Management of Neck Pain Without Medication”
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And I thought I was the sensible one. Thanks for setting me sritaght.
Posted by Nelly | July 1, 2011, 2:39 amwhy would the two be related, ulenss your going into anaphylacitic shock caused some muscle sprains more likely it is pure back. have you also considered a chiropractor? I had back problems, and the pt certainly helped strengthen it, but did nothing for the pain. have you ever done yoga? a highly trained teacher may show you things to help stretch and also to relax. are you on any muscle relaxants? I would think that would be of use also I wish you good health.
Posted by Meriem | April 6, 2012, 12:36 amI hope she’s better soon Amy.Also, what a thhugotful post! You’re obviously a very good sister- I know if my sister was poorly I’d be just as upset as you are. I’m sure the hospital will give her the best possible care.Miss Witham
Posted by Rizwan | April 6, 2012, 9:08 amFirst and foremost, blaromyfigia IS a real illness. There is at least one specific test that is used as part of making a differential diagnosis. I’m shocked that the first respondant here doesn’t want to understand and accept this for a fact. Further, although it wouldn’t be used simply because of it’s cost, there are specific tests that can be done during a functional MRI that shows the differences in pain responses between an FM patient and a non-FM patient.Have you ever seen a chiropractor for an evaluation and help? It is possible to get some help from a DC, but it’s not for everyone. I have other types of arthritis, in addition to FM, so it may be that I would get more relief from a chiro than does someone else. But it’s something to try.Have you been referred to a pain clinic? This would be a way for you to get a more updated combination of meds and to help to find other specific management methods that will also be of assistance to you.And when did you last see a rheumatologist? Yes, FM exists, but there are a few other types of arthritis that can mimic some of the effects of FM and that are more easily dealt with. This doesn’t mean that you don’t have FM or that you’re not in pain, it’s just a way of checking that there isn’t anything else going on. Having any one chronic illness does not make you immune from any other type of medical problem, inlcuding other chronic illnessesMake certain that you stretch and exercise (to tolerance) every day. Doing all of this in heated pool, as a part of an arthritis aquafit program, can do wonders to help relieve some of the pain, and to increase flexibility. It’s also a way to get out on a regular basis, and that helps greatly, too.
Posted by benjamin | April 6, 2012, 6:17 pmI have just for a week ago been orapeted for a herniated disc between L4 and L5I had pain going from my bag and down my in my right leg for 2 months before I was orapeted. 6 weeks before I got the herniated disc i gave birth to a little baby girl. And I had to stop my breastfeeding since I had to take highdosis painkillers
Posted by Ashish | February 5, 2012, 4:44 pmMy job has me sttiing 10 hours per day and my hobbies on the weekend have me sttiing as well. I found much relief by turning my treadmill into a stand-up desk. I used a wire cooling rack from Wal Mart as a holder for my laptop. The cooling rack is lashed to the magazine holder on the treadmill and the laptop is held by the cooling rack so that the screen is at eye level. I lay a pre-cut wooden shelf from Home Deopt across the treadmill handrails. I connect a wired keyboard to my laptop so the keyboard is at a comfortable level.With this setup I can use my laptop for long periods while I walk on my treadmill. I set the treadmill speed slow enough that I can read, talk on the phone, and even eat comfortably. I can spend the majority of a day walking which does wonders for my back and allows me to get things done as well.My dad gave me a cheap inversion table that allows me to "hang" on it from a flat level up to a full upside down position. It only takes a little bit laying with my head below my feet to also help my back. Even a 10-20 degree declination is helpful. Don't do this after eating.
Posted by Fransshiwu | February 6, 2012, 10:07 pmHello Amy,I was very sad to read about your sister being in tpaoihsl. It isn’t nice to be in pain and wanting it to stop.I hope Katie is able to feel better soon so she can be home with the people she loves. That would be a wonderful Christmas gift.Ross Mannell (teacher)NSW, Australia
Posted by Tasneem | April 5, 2012, 3:50 pmPlantar fascitis comes 1st then you get a heel spur. I naigmie you have fascitis. Before you get out of bed in the morning, do calf stretches for a couple minutes before you get out of bed. Wear a to bed. It will help.
Posted by Akio | April 7, 2012, 11:59 am