1. Get Some Rest
The best thing to do for your pulled neck muscle in the days following the injury is to rest it. You probably won't need to wear a collar or splint to treat a pulled neck muscle. Simply lay in bed, propped up by pillows if you want to sit up, and make sure your neck has adequate support. Using a contoured neck pillow while you sit up is helpful. Lay down flat as often as possible. If you must rise, keep your neck as immobile as you can. You may need to bring the neck pillow with you as you walk if the pulled muscle is especially bad. In most cases, 1 to 5 days of rest will be enough to relieve your pain.
2. Use Cold Packs on Your Neck
While you're resting, use cold packs on your neck to reduce swelling and inflammation and ease the pain. Wrap the pack in a towel and place it against your neck for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Never put a plain cold pack directly against the skin, as this can injure the soft tissues. After using the cold pack, wait 30 minutes or so before applying another. Continue to do this as often as you like while your neck hurts.
3. Take Pain Relievers
If you find that you're still having more pain than you can comfortably handle, take a pain reliever. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs relieve the inflammation in the pulled muscle in addition to the pain. If the pain persists, worsens or is unusually severe, ask your doctor to prescribe something stronger for you.
