1. Start With an Ice Pack
Neck swelling is usually caused by a physical injury or as a side effect of surgery. One of the most effective ways you can control swelling is through the application of an ice pack. The cold will numb your pain and reduce the swelling and inflammation in your neck area. Don't apply ice or cold packs directly to your skin, however. Instead, wrap them in a thin towel. Ideally, you should apply the ice or cold pack continuously for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, once an hour for the first few days and up to four times a day once your swelling starts to go down. You can supplement this treatment by taking an over-the-counter painkiller with anti-inflammatory properties, as directed by your doctor or pharmacist.
2. Follow Up With Heat
Try alternating cold and heat to reduce swelling. Once your neck has begun to return to its normal temperature following the application of ice, you can apply a heating pad or hot-water bottle to your neck for 15 to 20 minutes. However, you should carefully observe the effect heat has on your neck, as excessive application of heat can actually worsen swelling in certain cases. If this happens to you, you're probably better off to stick with cold treatments.
3. Get a Specially Contoured Pillow
One of the easiest ways to make your neck swelling worse is to irritate the injury during sleep. If you shift around a lot at night or tend to sleep without a pillow, make an extra effort to observe proper sleeping posture to help treat your neck injury and prevent it from worsening. A cervical pillow can help. These pillows have special contours designed to hold your neck in just the right place to prevent strain on its muscles when you lie down. You can fashion your own homemade cervical pillow by getting a regular medium-sized pillow and rolling up a small hand towel to tuck inside the pillowcase.
4. Position Yourself to Reduce Swelling
Elevation and proper positioning are key if you want to reduce the swelling in your neck. If you're going to treat your neck swelling with bed rest, it's always advisable to keep your neck slightly elevated as you lie on your back. Use a cervical pillow or another specially contoured pillow to help you achieve comfortable elevation. You should also avoid lying flat, without a pillow, on your bed or couch. If your job is sedentary in nature, make sure to take frequent breaks. Get up and walk around and introduce some gentle neck stretching exercises to keep your muscles from stiffening up.
