Ways to Soothe an Achy Neck

Your neck aches. You can barely move your head to the left, and it's giving you a headache. This may ruin the plans you had for today. Now what are you going to do? That date was important!

Does this sound familiar? If you have recurring neck pain, it can greatly affect your day to day life. Neck pain can make you irritable and annoying to be around. Neck aches can cause headaches that further limit what you can do. Neck aches can come from sleeping wrong, having bad posture, or from a car accident. There are many reasons to have a neck ache. There are also many ways to soothe one.

Pain Relieving Pills
One of the first things people go to when they are achy is pain medication. This works for a lot of people. Medication like ibuprofen and aspirin can have a great effect on achy muscles. Be sure to keep to the correct dosages. If you still have a neck ache after taking pills, use another method to feel better. Don't take more medication than the product suggests.

Topical Creams
Creams and salves like Tiger Balm, Ben Gay, and Activ-On can all help relieve pain. These products are rubbed onto the area that hurts and provides a soothing, cooling feeling. Some of the products, like Tiger Balm, also have a menthol smell that can help relieve a headache that may occur from the pain. Pick these items up in your local pharmacy.

Heat Pack/Cold Pack
An inexpensive way to fix a neck ache is to use a hot and cold pack. Keep one pack in the freezer and warm the other in the microwave or by filling it with hot water. Look at the directions of the hot and cold packs you buy to see how to do this. Alternate the hot and cold pack, changing between them every fifteen minutes. This will likely minimize any inflammation in the muscles of the neck, thus lowering the amount of pain.

Neck Rubs
By soliciting a loved one or friend to rub your neck, you can greatly reduce the amount of pain you may feel. Have your friend rub and massage the neck and shoulders. They should massage all areas, not just where it hurts. This way, they can target problem areas that may not be showing pain yet. Combine this method with one of the topical creams to double the effectiveness.