The Dreaded Stiff Neck
Category: Health and Fitness
Have you ever gone to sleep to wake up the following morning with an unbearable amount of pain originating from your neck? This condition is commonly referred to as a stiff neck and can make moving your head about nearly impossible. Short of grabbing your massager and slapping on the appropriate Hitachi magic wand massager attachments (for instance) there’s not much you can do for instant relief. A stiff neck can prove dangerous if you need to operate a car or otherwise operate some type of machinery that demands a significant amount of attentiveness. Although poor posture is one of the most prevalent causes of a stiff neck, this condition can also be brought about by cold drafts as well as injuries from car accidents and similar.
When most people get a stiff neck, their first instinct is to apply ice to the area. What you really want to do is introduce some heat so that muscle inflammation can subside. There are a few ways you can go about doing this. Many handheld massagers have a built-in heating feature that can relive tension. If you don’t know where to buy a low cost Hitachi magic wand massager or another massager to accomplish this task, borrow one from a friend or ask your doctor for a recommendation. If you want a more budget-oriented solution, you can buy a cold and hot pack. Some prefer to simply jump into a hot shower and maneuver the showerhead so that it concentrates the heat on the appropriate areas.
Whatever you decide to do, be careful when moving around so that you don’t further strain the muscles. If you are in far too much pain to get out of bed, have someone bring you a towel soaked in warm water. Heat can provide some immediate relief, however its effects will dwindle with time.
This is why you should intend on taking antihistamine medications like Benadryl to further help with the swelling. If you are able to get to a doctor’s office, you might be able to get access to prescription painkillers to really blunt down the pain. You can also opt for over-the-counter formulations like Ibuprofen, but again these will have to be taken again every few hours to maintain the pain relief. It can be difficult to project how long it will take before your stiff neck passes. Most people report a dramatic reduction in pain as soon as a day later.
If you want to expedite recovery and prevent mishaps in the future, make sure that your head has adequate support while you sleep. There are specialty pillows available known as contour pillows that can ease any strain placed on the muscles directly responsible for a stiff neck. These are typically made of memory foam, so although they may provide rigid support they are incredibly soft.
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