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Therapy for Neck Pain

Although most people have some neck pain from time to time as a result of sleeping the wrong way or staring at a computer screen for an extended amount of time, these pains can typically be remedied quickly. However, more chronic pain should be treated by therapy.

  1. Exercises and Stretching

    • Stretch and do neck exercises on a regular basis. One of the reasons why necks get stiff or sore is because they are not flexible enough. A physical therapist will give you some idea about the kinds of stretches and exercises you should do. A simple daily neck stretch can help relieve pain.

      To do a neck stretch, bend your neck so that your chin moves toward your chest. Extend your neck and move your chin upward so that it goes toward the sky. Then move your neck to the side so that your right ear moves toward your right shoulder. Hold this stretch for about 20 seconds and repeat on your left side. Your physical therapist may also recommend you do other exercises based on your specific condition.

      You should also strengthen your neck to prevent future injury. Here is one exercise: Place the palm of one hand against the side of your head. Use your neck muscles to push your head into your hand, but do not let your hand move. Do three repetitions of this exercise on each side and hold the pose for 10 seconds each time. This exercise allows you to build strength without putting a lot of extra stress on the neck.

    Injections

    • Your doctor may inject pain relief medications as a part of the therapy process if exercise and stretching alone are not enough to relieve your pain. The doctor may inject corticosteroid near the roots of the nerve in your neck muscles. This medication is designed to help decrease the pain you are feeling. The doctor may also inject lidocaine in order to numb the neck when it is in pain.

    Traction

    • Your doctor may recommend traction to help straighten your neck if the pain is related to a misalignment of bones. Traction often includes wearing a halo vest. Traction uses weights and pulleys working together to help align your neck. This therapy should always be performed under the direction of a specialist. After wearing the halo vest for a certain amount of time, your bones will get set back into the proper place. In some cases, traction isn't as needed as much as temporary immobilization is. Doctors often recommend soft collars to be worn for a few days to provide relief to persistent pain.

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