What are the Different Kinds of Therapy for Neck Pain?

There are two major types of therapy for neck pain. The first is self-treatment that includes mild exercises and following certain guidelines that promote better neck health. The second is therapy performed by a professional. The latter includes chiropractic adjustment, acupuncture, steroidal injections and surgery. As all people will react differently to various treatments, one must be patient and willing to try a few forms of therapy before finding one that works right for him or her.

A popular form of self-therapy includes daily stretching exercises meant to strengthen neck muscles. Standing straight, a person turns his or her head until he or she feels a slight stretch. The neck is held in this position for five or six seconds before the person does the same stretch in another direction. A person should stop doing stretches at the first sign of pain.

If stretches prove too difficult, there are other forms of therapy for neck pain that one can do at home. Letting hot water run down one's neck in the shower is a good way to loosen tight muscles and provide palliative relief. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen will also reduce pain. Finally, if one experiences neck pain after getting up in the morning, buying an orthopedic pillow can provide a better night's sleep by giving the neck the support it needs during sleep.

If home remedies do not work, a variety of professionals provide therapy for neck pain. The most common is a chiropractor. Besides being able to provide readjustment and other forms of manual therapy, a chiropractor can suggest further actions one can take to mitigate future neck pain. A chiropractor may recommend that a patient see a massage therapist or acupuncturist, for example. Though there is a debate over the effectiveness of alternative treatments such as massage therapy and acupuncture, these options pose little to no risk to the patient.

If at-home and alternative treatments are ineffective, one needs to see a physician for therapy for neck pain. For some individuals, neck pain indicates an underlying medical problem such as whiplash or a herniated disc. Whiplash requires prescription anti-inflammatory medication. Depending on its severity, a herniated disc can require either steroidal injections or surgery. Fortunately, recent medical advances in non-surgical treatments have made surgery unnecessary for most patients.

Individuals seeking therapy for neck pain must be willing to try a variety of therapies. As there are many causes of neck pain, certain therapies may work for one cause but not others. Quickly finding the right treatment requires visiting a doctor to determine the root cause. With this knowledge one can immediately being an appropriate therapy.