1. Get a Massage
A massage can relax your neck muscles, tendons and ligaments and improve blood circulation. Over the course of your day, tension can build up in your neck due to a variety of activities, including holding up and turning your head, talking on the telephone, carrying heavy objects and staying seated for long periods. As tension builds in the soft tissues of your neck, pain can develop. Getting a massage that specifically treats the soft tissues of your neck will relieve your pain for a few days. If you have chronic neck pain, regular weekly massages may be necessary for continual relief.
2. Use a TENS Unit
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is used by many physical therapists to relieve neck pain, and you can use it at home. The TENS unit sends tiny electrical impulses that stimulate your muscles, which reduces spasming and pain. The amount of current you receive can be adjusted according to the severity of your pain and your tolerance for the current. The electrical current stimulates your neck muscles and encourages your brain to release endorphins into your system. Endorphins are the body's own feel-good chemicals, and their release can produce a mild feeling of euphoria that reduces or eliminates pain.
3. Use Pain Relieving Gels and Creams
Creams containing menthol, camphor or cortisone are excellent topical remedies for treating soft tissue pain in the neck. The pain-killing ingredients in these creams penetrate down through your skin and release their chemical properties deep in the areas where you applied the creams. Cortisone cream reduces pain by easing inflammation, while menthol and camphor numb your nerves to eliminate pain. You can reapply the creams as needed, according to the package directions, for as long as you experience pain in your neck.
