my neck hurts what can i do for it???

Question

My neck has hurt for years. Im 27 and pregnant and its gotten worse. IS there anything I can do to help it stop??

Answer 1

Take long white tube sock and fill 3/4 way with white rice; tie off end and stick down into another sock; place in microwave for 4-5 minutes; presto! you now have a great heating pad that you can fold around your neck

Answer 2

What you can do for yourself is this:
1. Examine the pillow on which you sleep. It should keep your neck well aligned with the rest of your spine if you are a side sleeper. If you sleep on your back, use a neck roll instead of a pillow. Many pillows place the head in a position that 'tweaks' the neck while you're sleeping.
2. Lay on your back with your neck on a neck roll a few times each day and relax. 5-10 minutes is all it takes a lot of times to relax the neck muscles.
3. You can make a neck roll by folding a towel in 1/2, then in 1/2 again, and then rolling it up. You can secure the roll with rubber bands. You can try difference towel sizes until you get a roll that really lets your neck relax.
4. Place some dried peas into a quart ziploc bag, and microwave ca. 45 seconds. Test the heat in your hands. It should be very warm but not so hot that you can't stand to touch it. If it's too cool, microwave in increments of 10 seconds until hot enough. If too hot, let cool for a few minutes. Wrap a damp towel around the bag and place it under your neck. Lie down on your back and relax.
5. Do neck exercises. Sit or stand comfortably. Roll your neck gently in a circle, then reverse in the other direction. Let your head lean towards one shoulder, then the other. Don't force anything, just let the weight of the head do the work. Concentrate on deep breathing while you do that.
6. While shampooing, vigorously massage your scalp and neck.
7. When on the computer, take periodic breaks for your eyes. Circle your eyes, look up as far as you can, then down, then right and left. Rigid eye position also promotes rigidity in the neck.
8. Apply the moist hot packs to your lower back also. Tension in the low back can and will create tension in the neck.

Massage, Chiropractic, Acupressure or -puncture are all good ways to get professional help. The above are things you can do for yourself at home.

Answer 3

Do you have large breasts? If so this could be the cause. If not, you may want to inquire with your doctor. My aunt had neck problems and an MRI revealed that she had an artery that was not properly distrubuting blood, which caused a constant aching. Good luck, I hope you feel better.

Answer 4

I had the same problem when my back tooth got infected. But my neck didn't hurt though. Just everything from my chin up did. Doctor would be the best bet.

Answer 5

Acupuncture. Works wonders but only if you want to be helped. It's very mental and fairly cheap. A good treatment runs for 70 dollars. Good price for a one maybe two time thing. Someone I know stopped smoking because of it and my dad is going to do it for his Scoliosis pain.

Answer 6

It is likely you have longstanding postural strain, assuming you have a 9-5 desk job that involves very little neck movements and prolonged use of your arms for typing, writing, or sorting.

The human body is composed of multiple joints for one purpose...movement. Unfortunately, in today's society with all the conveniences that technology provides, results in sedentary lifestyles and low mobility. This in turn results in poor physical fitness which would normally and naturally stress and maintain the functionality of the body's joints, muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

The spinal column (which includes the neck or cervical spine) is composed of synovial joints (fluid lubricated) and discs (for vertical compression). When you lack movement in your spine the facet joints (synovial ones) are not mechanicaly stimulated to release synovial fluid into the joint (to bath, lubricate and provide nutrition to the synovial joints). Without this fluid the joints are predisposed to undergo DJD (degenerative disc disease) due to poor joint lubrication and poor nutirition (i.e joints lack a blood supply and rely on nutrients to be carried into the joint via the synovial fluid and then diffuse into the surface cartilage.) As the DJD continues it causes inflammation which is also coined Osteoarthritis or just plain Arthritis. The discs in between the vertebrae also degenerate in what is coined DDD (Degenerative Disc Disease) due to prolonged compressive forces causes my neck muscles that become chronically tight again from lack of mobility. Think of a jelly donut stuck between to solid blocks with ropes forcing the two block together and squeezing the donut. The donut has a failure point and with prolonged compression bony and disc changes occur that result in DDD.

Ok, so what can we do about this postural strain or mechanical neck pain? The asnwer is very easy....Increase verterbral mobility (i.e. increase your joint mobility) How?

1. Exercise, namely aerobic (i.e. cardio) and anaerobic (i.e. weight resistance). This strengthens, stretches muscles and mobilizes joints. This is understood to be ACTIVE mobilization. Your joints will become well lubricated through movements sedentary people would not normally do, and you are likely to feel the benefits within a short period of time.

2. Chiropractic adjustments...this is PASSIVE mobililization. Unfortunately, Chiropractors misinform patients in order to sell their services by stating spinal misalignments or "bone out of place" scenarios are causing their pain. The truth is actually poor movement patterns cause the pain. Chiropractic essentially restores partial movement, which explains why you feel temporarily better after a visit, but then the pain returns. To keep the pain away either see your Chiro again, or make exercise part of your lifestyle, or both.

3. Massage - This is also PASSIVE mobilization. The muscle teasing and massage relaxes chronically tight muscles taking the pressure of the discs and joints in the spine. Again temporay relief, but sustained if exercise is incorporated into your lifestyle.

Pregnancy itself causes hormonal changes (relaxin and estrogen changes) that result in very loose ligaments. In this situation, your joints tend to be more unstable which result in painful joints, which fortunately are helped with stretches, exercise and chiropractic care.

I'm a licensed non-practicing evidence-based Chiropractor who promotes active living. Chiropractic helps in some circumstances but is only one option in the health care spectrum. If your anti-chiropractic, at least invest in your health through exercise and stretching. Try yoga, pilates, aerobics, etc. Mobilize, mobilize, mobilize!!!!!!

Answer 7

I agree with that flywho person. Try Icy/Hot too/ It works for me.

Answer 8

Go see a chiropractor.