Relieve Neck and Back Pain with Home Remedies

Neck and back pain comes under the category of musculoskeletal disorders. About 60 to 90 percent of the total population complains of mild or severe neck pain, back pain, or both. Both the neck and back pain may be acute or chronic. These pains altogether result in most of the cases of disabilities of people in the later stages of their lives. Neck pain occurs in the cervical vertebrae and the surrounding areas of the neck. Back pain may occur in the upper back or the lower back. Both the pains are symptoms, not diseases, and they arise as a result of some specific causes. The causes may be traumatic or behavioral.

Some of the causes of neck and back pain are as follows:

Strenuous physical activities
Injuries of fractures
Muscle spasm
Increased pressure on the spine due to obesity
Malfunctioning of joints
Osteoporosis
Congenital bones and vertebrae abnormalities

According to Work & Stress: An International Journal of Work, Health & Organizations, a poor diet, smoking, and uncomfortable postures at work are the risk factors for neck and back pain. Determining the underlying cause is very important so that a proper course of action could be taken to relieve the pain. Wrong sleeping postures and infectious disease such as influenza may also result in the pain. Also, there is a need to identify between acute and chronic back pain. Generally, a chronic low back pain prevails for more than three months. The other symptoms associated with the chronic low back pain may include depression, mental deviations, and anxiety.

The specialist may opt for different types of therapies and procedures to relieve the neck and back pain. Some of the cases can be treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or any type of creams and sprays, depending upon the extent of the pain. Drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen reduce the mild lower back pains.

Among the home remedies, alternative hot and cold treatments may also relieve the pain to a certain extent. In cases of any injury, apply cold treatment to the affected area. Apply ice bags on the specific pain areas for a brief period several times a day, for 2 to 3 days. After that, apply hot pads on those areas briefly to relax the muscles.

Some other home remedies which can help to relieve the pain are as follows:

A warm bath.
Yoga breathing exercises.
Warm massage of peppermint and lavender oil.
Regular exercise.
Sit and stand in proper postures.
Don’t lift heavy weights without assistance.
Use a firm mattress to sleep.
Avoid smoking.
Keep your diet balanced. Consult a nutritionist.

References

answered by G M

The best remedy for neck and back pain is exercise, flexibility and strength. You need to keep your back and neck muscles strong and flexible through various exercises and yoga postures. Exercise also makes your neck and back resistant to future pressure sprains or strains. Physical exercises help in improving blood circulation, thereby enhancing muscular strength and flexibility. Apart form exercises there are various other natural cures for neck and back pain.

Hot and cold packs are the first and the most beneficial cures for the pain. Ice or cold packs helps in reducing swelling or inflammation. Ice will reduce swelling and also the flow of blood. To further increase the blood flow, hot packs are applied. This way swelling is reduced and blood flow is regulated at normal pace.

answered by J

What's the cure for neck and back pain