December 28th, 2009 by admin

There are certain parts of your body that you can injure that will heal completely over time and then there are places that will ache for the rest of your life, no matter what you try. At the top of that list are a back and neck injury , which is why it is so important that you seek proper medical attention if you hurt your back or neck. Treating pain in your back and neck is straightforward, but it is vital that you understand the difference between light pain that occurs in the days after an injury and chronic pain that lasts for months or even years.

Turn up the heat

The first step in treating neck and back pain is knowing your own body. Do you have the kind of body that responds to heating pads, hot water bottles and steaming hot showers? If so, than hop on the heat train to relief-ville. The use of heat is low cost and can be very effective. It loosens up muscles and allows for extra movement. You can use store bought patches to apply heat during the day when you are active and then use heating pads or hot water at home in the evening.

Call on a deep freeze

Believe it or not, for those folks who don’t respond to heat, the icy grip of a cooling pad often does the trick. This is one of the reasons why neck and back injuries are so frustrating to treat: sometimes, the exact opposite treatments work for different people. Just like with heat, you can purchase cooling pads that go on your neck and stay in place throughout the day and then use traditional ice or freezer packs when you get home. Be sure to never put ice directly against your skin, always wrap it in a towel first.

Get crackin’

There is still a degree of scepticism when it comes to chiropractic medicine. Speaking from experience, this author can attest that they work incredibly well for any kind of lingering, nagging pain, especially in the back or neck area. You don’t even have to be a believer, you just have to try it. A simple realignment can change the way you feel everywhere and they are often quite affordable when compared to other kinds of therapy. Many chiropractors offer free evaluations where you can get a complete breakdown of your options without having to spend a penny.

Turn down the stress

There is a reason why a neck massage feels so good, even when performed by an amateur. The kneading of the muscles in the neck releases stress and anxiety faster than anything else. While not everyone can afford to simply go on vacation or take time off of work if they hurt their neck, a reduction in stress can do wonders for lingering aches and pains. It wouldn’t hurt to have an occasional massage, either, but be sure the person administering it is gentle, you don’t want to get carried away and make things worse.

When all else fails consider looking into pain management. In the Austin area there are many Austin pain management clinics that could really be worth looking into. A pain doctor will have a vast repository of experience to draw upon in diagnosing and managing your specific pain issue.