Most people today live a very busy, hectic lifestyle filled with activity and of course, some stress. Suffering from stiff neck pain certainly makes it more difficult to remain motivated and active.

Stiff neck pain has become more and more common, generally lasting for less than a week, and not considered too serious in most cases. Physicians often refer to the cause of stiff neck pain as a neck or cervical spasm frequently caused by stress, overworked muscles, or poor posture.

A little or mild stress is common in almost everyone’s daily lives and is not necessarily a bad thing because it helps you face life’s challenges by keeping you prepared and on your toes.

An example of this is getting ready to go out for the evening with your husband and his boss and wife or performing on stage for the first time. The stress you put on your nervous system while preparing quickly disappears once you meet these challenges. Stress that results from long-term events that are not over quickly can result in stiff neck pain and other muscle pain.

Ongoing events such as opening your own business, divorce, changing schools, or moving to another city or country can cause low level, lasting stress and stiff neck pain. This often leaves people feeling overwhelmed, depleted, and can eventually weaken their immune system. On the other hand, stress overload, which is too much mental and physical stress, often causes the muscles in your back, neck, shoulders, or other parts of the body to tense.

This can result in stiff neck pain, a sore back, aching shoulders or other uncomfortable and often painful symptoms.

Learning to deal or manage stress, keep it under control, or avoid it whenever possible, often helps prevent stiff neck pain. Stress management techniques can help you get through difficult, trying times.

When going through a stressful time it is very important to get enough sleep, eat properly, and exercise regularly. Try to keep an optimistic outlook even when dealing with stressful events. It takes a little practice but it is possible to learn to be more optimistic.

Be realistic when you schedule events or activities so you do not end up worrying about meeting deadlines or missing an important activity or meeting. Leave time in your busy schedule for activities that you find pleasurable end enjoy such as taking a hot, relaxing bath or watching your favorite movie over again. Learn some relaxation methods such as simple breathing exercises, which can help create a sense of calm and well-being when faced with stressful situations.

Remember that stressful situations and challenges are not disasters but opportunities, motivators, and temporary problems. Keeping a positive attitude helps you avoid stiff neck pain caused by stress.

Neck pain can occur anywhere from the top of the shoulders to the bottom of the head. You may experience limited head and neck movement or pain that spreads to your arms or upper back.

Even people taking prescription medications or other medical treatment for neck pain may find that home treatment for neck pain helps speed up their recovery. Always talk to your physician before starting any home treatment for neck pain. For chronic long lasting pain, use the same treatment for neck pain and relief methods below, except the treatments for swelling.

Treatment for neck pain that appears suddenly and is acute starts with applying ice packs to the painful area for twenty-four to forty-eight hours. Cold treatments help diminish any swelling and pain and decrease muscle spasm pain. If you do not have an ice pack, fill a plastic bag with ice and wrap a pillowcase around it or use frozen vegetables wrapped in a tea towel.

Be very careful you do not leave the ice pack on too long and end up with frostbite or damage to your skin. Ice the back of your neck if the pain is near your upper back or shoulder.

During the first two days after a neck injury, stay away from anything that could increase swelling, such as heat.

Avoid taking a hot shower or bath and do not drink any alcoholic beverages. Once the swelling goes down which is usually from forty-eight to seventy-two hours after the injury, apply heat using a heating pad or warm pack on low. Some experts recommend a cold and heat treatment for neck pain, where you alternate between icing your neck and using a heating pad.

As part of your treatment for neck pain, encourage blood flow and relieve pain to the injured region by gently rubbing or massaging the area but only do this if it does not cause any pain. Many excellent nonprescription gels and creams on the market provide immediate pain relief. To reduce inflammation and relieve pain, there are several over the counter anti-inflammatory drugs and pain relievers, such as aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen.

Never give aspirin to anyone under the age of twenty because there is a chance of Reye’s syndrome.

To prevent stiffness and keep your neck strong and flexible do neck strengthening and stretching exercises. This treatment for neck pain can help in the healing process for both chronic and acute neck pain and often helps prevent further injury.

If possible, try to modify or avoid activities that aggravate your neck pain.

Unlike chronic neck pain, acute neck pain often comes on suddenly after trauma, surgery, stress, or other problems and lasts for a short or limited time. It is a direct reaction to trauma to tissue or disease and normally subsides when you treat the injury, disease, or cause.

Chronic neck pain is a long lasting, persistent, recurrent pain that can go on for years. There are many types of chronic pain besides chronic neck pain, which include cancer pain, back pain, arthritis, and headache pain. Identifying the chronic pains source, if possible, is the first step in evaluating and treating chronic neck pain and other long-lasting pains.

Never ignore any persistent pain including chronic neck pain, as it could be a sign of serious illness or disease and become worse if the cause is not determined and treated, although there are times when doctors and specialists cannot identify the exact cause of chronic pain.

Managing and treating chronic pain including chronic neck pain can be difficult and challenging. It often takes several combinations of therapy or treatment to find one that helps a person get some relief.

Treatment goals are to increase a person’s ability to function while reducing pain. At home, you may be able to help manage or control your pain by eating a proper, healthy, balanced diet. A registered dietitian or your doctor can supply you with a diet that contains all the vitamins and minerals you require.

Getting adequate sleep, appropriate daily exercise, and taking pain and anti-inflammatory drugs often helps chronic neck pain sufferers. Some people find relief by using therapies such as meditation or acupuncture. Many people dealing with chronic pain including chronic neck pain experience emotional problems such as anxiety, anger, depression, fear, and/or frustration, making it difficult to deal with or conquer the pain.

Your emotional well-being is extremely important so seek the help of a psychiatrist, psychologist, or licensed mental health counselor if necessary, for cognitive behavior therapy or other treatments.

If the above treatments do not reduce or relieve your chronic neck pain, your doctor or specialist may prescribe physical therapy to improve function and movement. They may change, add or prescribe new or stronger medications or recommend relaxation techniques to help you reduce stress.

It is extremely important to find a doctor or specialist that you feel comfortable talking to, have confidence in, and maintain regular contact. Ask your physician to refer you to a pain management clinic if the treatments for your chronic neck pain are not effective. The health professionals at a pain management clinic will help you identify possible treatments and help you determine realistic goals.