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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.