What Are the Treatments for a Pulled Neck Muscle?

Pulled neck muscles can be caused by a variety of reasons, although most are caused by sudden, jerking movements of the neck. The pain and irritation can range from mild to severe and last for several days or more. A number of effective treatment options are available for reducing the discomfort caused by a pulled neck muscle.

Rest

• Resting a strained neck muscle and simply avoiding any unnecessary neck movements can be an effective treatment to help reduce pain and speed healing. Pulled muscles generally develop significant muscle irritation and, in severe cases, swelling. Allowing the muscle to rest and protecting it from use helps the swelling and irritation to go down, which reduces pain and improves function.

Ice Treatment

• Applying ice directly to a pulled neck muscle helps reduce swelling and pain of the affected muscle. You can apply ice using ice cubes wrapped in a plastic bag or an ice pack. To maximize the effectiveness, ice should be held directly against the inflamed neck muscle area for several minutes, a procedure than can be repeated numerous times over the course of a day. In general, ice works best when applied to treat the initial pain and swelling of a fresh muscle pull.

Heat Treatment

• In addition to ice treatment, applying heat to a pulled neck muscle can help increase blood circulation to the affected muscle, which in turn helps to increase muscle flexibility and prevent cramping. Use an ectric heating pad or a microwaveable heating disc. For maximum results, apply heat for 15 to 20 minutes at at time, several times per day as symptoms warrant.

Massage

• Using the fingers and hands to gently massage the neck can help to relieve muscle cramping and tightness and promote muscle pliability. Pulled neck muscles, especially severe ones, can cause small tears and abrasions to develop within the muscle fibers, which contributes greatly to muscle inflammation and pain. Massage can be an ongoing form of treatment to help speed healing of a pulled neck muscle.

Pain Medication

• A short course of treatment using over-the-counter pain medications can help reduce the pain and inflammation of a pulled neck muscle. Medications such as Tylenol or Advil, which are two popular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, or NSAIDs, help reduce soft tissue irritation and inflammation and reduce pain levels, making them effective treatments. You can take these medications on an as-needed basis.