neck pain

Neck pain after sleep? Here is a home remedy that actually works!

If it is one of those mornings when you have woken up with a sprain in your neck, then this article is just right for you. Usually caused due to sleeping in an awkward position or on a pillow that is just not right for you, a sudden stiff neck can be quite painful and uncomfortable. But now there is no need to simply grin and bear the pain, here is an easy home remedy that can make the pain vanish in a jiffy.

Take care of the pain as soon as possible!

When you wake up with a stiff neck, avoid moving your neck immediately – make sure you hold it in a position that you feel the least pain. Moving it as soon as you wake up can make matters worse.

A better solution is to take a hot shower. While showering, make sure you direct the hot or warm water onto the part of your neck that hurts. As the heat permeates your skin, slowly try to move your neck in a circular motion. Start with bending your neck downwards and then slowly rotating it to the left and right – make sure you don’t jerk your neck around. The warm water soothes your aching muscles giving you some relief and moving your head around helps stretch out the muscles beating some of the pain.

Get rid of the pain:

This part of the tip is best done when you can get some shut eye. Roll up a thick towel into a tubular structure. It should ideally be high enough to support your neck and long enough so that the entire width of your neck is supported. Now, lay down on your bed and use the towel roll as your pillow. Place it under your neck, such that neither your head nor body is touching the towel. Using this as your pillow, drift off into slumber. The rolled up towel acts as a very effective and gentle massaging tool that helps relieve the pain in your neck. The best part about this remedy is that you can sleep in any position you like, except on your tummy. Do this for one night and watch the pain vanish.

Source: Health India

 

How to give yourself a neck and shoulder massage

Most people suffer from tension in their necks and shoulders at some time in their lives, which is hardly surprising if you consider the job the neck has to do! Poor posture, bad working positions, and carrying heavy bags all conspire to make the problem worse. However, you can ease the pain with a remedy literally at your fingertips.

This simple self-massage exercise gets right to the core of the tension and eases it gently and effortlessly; you can try it almost anywhere and at any time. Try to focus on the areas that feel most tense, and work slowly, deeply, and methodically.

Use the photos provided to help you learn how to perform self massage. Click on the photos to enlarge them.

1: Tilt your head back, and with the palms and fingers of each hand, squeeze the flesh at the base of your neck on either side of {1}your spine. Then, slowly roll your head forwards, still squeezing your skin. Hold the stretch for 10 seconds, then return your head to an upright position. The amount of flesh you can squeeze depends on your state of relaxation.

2: Stroke your hands up and down the back of your neck to warm the area. Then use the fingers of both your hands to make deep, circular pressures all around the neck area, making sure that you do not apply pressure to the spine itself.

3: Place your left hand on your right shoulder and squeeze the muscle. Hold the squeeze and slowly rotate your shoulder backwards. A grinding noise indicates that muscles are tense and should be freed up. Repeat with the right hand on the left shoulder.

4: Pummel {2} your right shoulder with your left hand to bring fresh blood to the area. Support your left elbow with your right hand for comfort, and keep your wrist loose and floppy as you swiftly strike the flesh. Repeat on your left shoulder.

5: With your fingers, stroke firmly from the centre of your chest outwards, applying deep pressure between your ribs. {3}When your fingers reach the outer edges of your ribcage, return to the centre and repeat the movement. Feel for tense spot and concentrate on these as you work over the chest.

Source: mail Online