what is the best remedy for chronic muscle tension in the neck?
338292
1. Go to www.thecountrydoctor.com and read the message about "A Pain in the Neck" 2. Get the weight of the world off of your shoulders 3. Get moving! If you are still for long periods of time, it will make your muscles stiff. 4. If this is strictly tension, do neck exercises to stretch your muscles; 30 times, 4 times per day. Go to the article mentioned to get more information on exercises and causes.
721344
Firstly you should begin to drink as much water as you can every day...at least 8 glasses or 2 litres. I know it sounds a lot but it can be done. What you will find is that you will no longer have the same thirst for tea, coffee, juices and soft drinks. In short anything you used to take in for fluid. Please still drink your favourites but don't be surprised if you just don't feel like them. Good Luck.\n.\nSecondly, providing you have no allergy to this, begin taking a good magnesium supplement. There are many reputable brands out there. This primarily assists with circulation problems ie cramping. Do not expect overnight miracles, although you may notice an improvement quickly. It is as likely that you may have to take them for 2-4 weeks before you begin noticing a lessening of your cramps. Whatever supplement you take read the ingredients carefully and question the shop assistant if you do not understand anything. Good Luck.\n.\nThirdly, invest in a soft cushion with herbs like lavender inside which are designed to be heated in a microwave. I have one of these and I used it nightly for my recurring stiff neck and the ensuing headaches I suffered. It was wonderful. Lovely and warm and soothing and the smell just helped me so much drift off to sleep. There are many kinds on the market. Look for those in chemists, health food shops, variety stores and practitioners of aromatherapy healing products. I suggest you ensure the one that you buy is made of a soft snuggly kind of material. Place it under or over the area of your leg getting the cramps so that you are comfortable to fall sleep with it there. Good Luck.\n.\nThe above three suggestions will work together for a long term eradication of your cramps. I wish you well. Of course the short term solution is the heated pillow/cushion.
132683
How about this one:\n\nBehind the Neck Press 3 x 10\nUpright Rows    3 x 10\nShrugs          3 x 10\n\nThree times a week. Increase the weight by 10% every two weeks.
291710
proper posture while on the computer, along with ergonomically correct equipment, and stretching every 10 or so minutes. assuming the pain has already occured, try resting (sometimes thats enough to lessen it), massage, or a hot compress.
336224
Chamomile is great...drink it as tea.  Also try warm milk.  It has Melatonin in it, which causes your muscles to relax naturally.  \n\nThen stay AWAY from caffeine.  Caffeine will cause your blood vessels to constrict...like you need any type of constricting right now.  A warm bath, a warm glass of milk, and some soothing music will do wonders.\n\nAnd lastly, and most difficult, try not to STRESS.  It always makes our discomforts worse.
1032520
Aw... I'm so sorry. I hope you'll feel better soon.\n\nDo you have a comfortable pillow when you sleep at night? Do you have restless night's sleep or just sleep in one position at night? Sometimes as simple as a pillow can do that to anyone. If you'd like whenever you wake up in the morning, you can do a little exercise that requires two things from you:\n- For you to sit up in bed with your feet on the floor and have about 5 minutes for this.\n- Then, do "neck-exercises" meaning gently turn your head in different directions to relax the sore muscles.\n\nDuring the day time, if your neck starts to ache just do a little bit of the same exercises and it'll go away. At times the difficulty to swallow can also result in the in-comming cold and soar throat. Drink hot tea with lemon or an herbal tea--usually either one does wonders on sore muscles. A little bit of stretching in the morning helps to relieve the tension through out the body, just make sure not to over-do it. Take your time with every exercise and you'll see, you might even feel a lot better than ever before :)\n\nBest of luck and take care :)
1124094
cardio workouts are the best for fibromyalgia,plus massages.it is very important to keep fresh oxygenated blood running through the muscles.and massages plus muscle workouts keep the lymph fluid flowing,pooled lymph fluid is what causes the tight feeling as though fluids are pooling.good nutrition and sleep cycles and a routine as far as all of these.i have fibromyalgia for last 6 years.my rheumatologist worked with me for a year and i feel great.i take vicodin only if pain is severe and intolerable.i take klonopin 3 times a day to stay calm and not get stressed.we all know fibro folks cant handle adrenaline rushes,and it helps me sleep good..other wise i take tylenol 3 times a day only and use alternative methods without drugs to feel well and energetic.
918728
see a doctor and get examined to make sure it is not serious. They'll X-Ray you to make sure. If they don't find anything wrong and you still have pain then you are probably out of alignment. This never goes away, you need to regularly do things to prevent it from flaring up. \n\n-Exercise a minimum of every other day, at least by walking but yoga and pilates is excellent for neck/back pain too. This alone could cure the pain if done regularly.\n\n-See a good chiropractor; if you don't know one ask friends for recomendations. An adjustment once a month will keep the pain at bay. If you don't like the chiro try another-there are many chiropractors there, all have different aproaches. Many chiros practice complimentary holistic or eastern medicine, if yours does not seek one of these specialists out to try accupuncture. Accupuncture is excellent. The only thing that avoided surgery.\n\n-Massages are good for stress reduction, but I never got pain relief from them. Stress reduction is my main source of recurring neck pain 10 years after my initial injuries being hit in a 5 car pile-up, and if I control stress I feel no pain.\n\n-Reduce swelling to control pain & inflammation Swelling lessens blood flow in the swollen or inflammed area(s), blood brings oxygen and carries away toxins from the muscle, which cause the knots and pain in the first place.\n\n -Alleve and Advil are OTC anti-inflammatories that work well even by taking 1/2 the recomended dose. \n\n-Ice works better or as well as Advil, together they work excellent. apply ice pack to the painful area for 15 minutes on and 15 mins. 2-3 times. Ice reduces swelling. \n\n Sleep! That's the only time your body can repair itself.
552417
Odds are good you are under a lot of stress. Many people carry their tension in their upper shoulders and neck. I would suggest that you should see a chiropractor or massage therapist.
161418
green tea infused with sliced ginger root and a bit of honey will relieve some of the symptoms, though not heal you any more quickly. \n\nZicam is awesome, and works well.
943263
Registered Nurse here; Dear Steve, sounds like it can certainely be related to stress.  Ask your self these question. #1. Do you find yourself tense and tight at work, such as holding your shouldrers stiff, neck stiff, do you spend a great deal of time at a computer?  I would suggest a heating pad low temperature at night, mild heat is an excellent source to relieve and relax tense muscles.  Also try some light excericises throughout the day, such as rolling your neck back and forth, rub the back of your neck, if available have someonelse rub the back of your neck, gently, but yet firm.  If tension present you should notice relieve instant, not to say that it want return immediately.  Ibuprofen may need to be taken for several days, Ibuprofen is an non-steriod anti-inflammatory agent, and should with a few days, help the tension.  Take with food, Ibuprofen can be very irrating to the stomach, creating yet another problem.  Warm showers, allowing the pressure from the shower to massage the back of your neck for 2 to 3 minutes, should also help.  Finally, body position while in bed, proper use of pillows.  If all the above falls, should see your physician, you made need a prescription to assist you through this stressful time.  You and your Doc could best discuss what options are available and the two of you decide together what is best for you.  Speedy recover, try not to worry & be Happy!  I know easier said than done.\nThanks for the opportunity to address your question.
495906
Put a heating pad or a hot water bottle on your neck. Also, take some ibuprofen.
1114902
Go see a chiropractor. There are many types of headaches that are cervicogenic (come from the neck) in nature.\n\nTry this pressure point exercise to see if it helps!\nhttp://healthfultips.blogspot.com/2004_06_01_healthfultips_archive.html
471345
If you have cervical spondylosis, symptoms may last for several months or become chronic. Most of the time if symptoms are mild, the doctor may recommend a variety of non-surgical treatments. Rest, medication and physical therapy may take away most of your symptoms, but do not treat the underlying cause. The doctor may want to see you again to check if symptoms have gotten better, worse or stayed the same. \n\nRest. You may need to wear a soft cervical collar or neck brace to limit neck motion and relieve nerve irritation. \n\nMedication. The doctor may prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) or other non-narcotic pain relievers to relieve pain and reduce swelling. \n\nPhysical therapy. A cervical traction device, hot and cold therapy or active exercise program may help relieve symptoms. Exercises may include neck strengthening, neck and shoulder stretching and aerobic exercises. Gentle massage and improving your posture may also help. \n\nSurgery. Surgery may be necessary if you have severe pain that does not improve with other treatments or progressive neurological symptoms. Surgery may remove bone spurs or disk material (decompression) and provide lasting relief.
1039288
I guess really any exercises will help with your neck. Change your eating habits, start slowly then progress to exercises. Walk up and down the stairs, or run. Do crunches, jump rope. Anything will really help. Good Luck:0
497958
It seems as though you have strained your neck muscles as well as subluxating your cervical vertebrae. This will take soe time to heal as s muscle strain involves the tendons. The tendons are avascular meaning without blood vessels.  As such there is no exchange of nutrients and wastes making it take longer to heal. As time passes it should get better and the pain and nausea will pass altogether. I have had this happen to me and my clients before in almost the same way.  Were you undergoing some serious stress during that time that you slept incorrectly?  I ask as it would seem to be the common denominator.  Good luck and don't do anything strenuous that would involve your neck or it will exacerbate the original injury.  Oh, btw, when the swelling completely subsides, may I suggest a series of massages to prevent any future spasms or flare ups?  It helps!
802725
I know it may be difficult to do this, but you must keep the muscle as relaxed and non-stressed as long as possible within the next few days.  You should see a doctor that specializes in sports medicine or a physical therapist.  Icing it is the best thing you can do.  I am a Certified Massage Therapist as well as a Certified Medical Technician in an Orthopedist office we use whats called ultra sound with gel and electrical stimulation and believe me they work miracles.  Chiropractors use this same method, call around to all the Chiropractors until you find one that uses these two methods the treatments are real cheap if you don't have insurance and they work.  Good Luck