It seems as if almost everyone has had some experience with neck pain at one time or another. It might be from the way you slept the night before, the aging process, overusing your muscles, or an accident of some sort. No matter the cause, the end result is often pain and stiffness. So, is it a good idea to apply heat or ice to the sore area?
Ice: This is a good place to start. Ice is recommended for the first 24 to 48 hours. New injuries tend to be hot and swollen. Icing can help reduce the pain from the body’s natural response to injury: inflammation. Icing the area helps calm the tissues down. This is vital in the first stage of the healing process.
Heat: Heat is the next step in the process. It is good for relieving chronic muscle aches and stiffness. This is also appropriate if you have had a long day at work, and your neck muscles feel sore and achy. Heat can bring some well-needed relief.
Both heat and ice can play a vital role in your recovery. However, you may get to the point of needing professional help. If heat and ice do not give you the relief you need, you may consider visiting us here at Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California.
The neck is made up of seven vertebrae surrounded by ligaments, muscles, and tendons to stabilize and move the neck. Any of these can become irritated and inflamed. The atlas bone -- the top bone of the spine -- is the most freely moveable bone of the spine, allowing the head to move in various directions. The atlas also protects the delicate brainstem. If it becomes misaligned due to some type of head or neck trauma, neck pain can result.
We use a gentle method to help the atlas bone realign more naturally than using force to pop or crack the neck or spine. This technique encourages the bone to move back into place, often leading to relief for those suffering from neck pain.
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if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.