Chronic neck pain is a serious health issue that should never be ignored. While everyone is going to experience some discomfort over the years, pain in the back and neck should fade after a few days if it’s truly minor.
Here is a closer look at some steps that you need to take if your neck pain won’t seem to go away on its own.
Contact a Chiropractor
In addition to contacting your primary doctor, you might also want to schedule a checkup with a chiropractor. Chiropractors deal with muscular alignment. Because the spine is connected to so many parts of the body, having something off in your back could easily result in pain in your neck. They can also help identify displaced pain. An example of this would be where the muscles in your back and shoulder are what are really in pain, but because they are connected to your neck, that’s where you feel the pain coming from when you turn your head. Going in to a chiropractor for a spinal adjustment and overall examination can be incredibly beneficial for isolating the cause and best course of treatment for neck pain.
Consider Possible Causes
Following an accident or mishap, you might not notice neck pain for several days after the fact, and that can make it difficult to pinpoint exactly what took place. If your injury is the result of a recent car accident, then it’s important that you get it looked at in the event that whiplash has given you a serious spinal injury. This information is best to obtain sooner rather than later, not just for your health, but so that you can contact auto accident injury attorney services with the evidence you need to obtain compensation. A lingering neck injury can bring your life to a grinding halt, and you want to be absolutely sure that you get your medical expenses covered along with your car repairs. Otherwise, you could be responsible for all of your medical bills, and failing to check early enough could cause you to lose the opportunity to obtain that compensation at all.
Speak with a Pain Management Specialist
At a pain clinic, you will have access to a wide variety of treatments and services. A pain management specialist can help you come up with a comprehensive plan that reduces your pain and improves your overall health. You might benefit from services such as physical therapy, massage therapy, acupuncture, guided breathing exercises, and cryotherapy. Once the injury has healed, your pain management specialist can give you tips on how to prevent future neck problems. Of course, identifying the cause of the pain is one of the most important steps of healing, but keeping the pain and inflammation at a minimum during and after diagnosis can be very beneficial for the overall process.
Stretch
For many years, doctors believed that patients needed to rest in bed for multiple days following a neck or back injury. We now know that resting in bed for more than too long can actually make an injury much worse, and you should try to stretch a few times a day unless your doctor has given you other instructions. Stretching is going to reduce inflammation, flush out lactic acid, and improve your range of motion. This not only reduces the pain, but also can help accelerate the healing process overall.
When it comes to your spinal health, you must always err on the side of caution. If your neck pain is excruciating or you are experiencing any other unusual side effects, then you must immediately head to the ER for medical assistance. Even if a pain feels minor, if it is restricting your movement or isn’t’ going away, it could be a sign that you need more intensive medical treatment.