Millions of Americans wake up stiff and sore. Over the years, compilation of injuries, subluxations, and traumas to the body can cause morning aches and pains that are hard to deal with and harder as we age.
We wanted to give a few tips to help you live better.
- Make sure you have a good pillow and bed. If you are sleeping on things that cause your spine to sag you will create more problems overtime. When your pillow is too low your vertebrae will compress causing stiffness. If its too soft, your muscles will work during the night to try and re-stabilize. Make sure your pillow is firm and holds your neck in place. If you can, sleep on your back, or your side and use a cuddle pillow to wrap your arms around so that your shoulder doesn’t slouch so much and try and avoid stomach sleeping all together.
- Stretch before bed and stretch when you wake up. If you feel too stiff to stretch in the mornings do it in the hot shower. Allow the water to warm up your muscles for you and then look left, right, and back again repeatedly. Look up, down, and do circles.
- Apply heat. Drug stores sell heating packs that can be microwaved. They hold a high level of heat that can be applied directly to the source of pain. It feels good and loosens muscles. Great to go to bed with as well.
- Apply Ice. Sometimes the cause of the pain is inflammation. Ice helps reduce inflammation and pain. 15-20 minutes max. Alternate with heat.
- Turmeric, Bromelian, Black pepper, and Nsaid medications also can help reduce swelling, inflammation, and pain.
- Topical Voltaren Cream Nsaid – Can be rubbed on topically and is for arthritis pain.
- Topical Arnica gel – Helps relieve bruising and muscle soreness.
- Take a walk to get the day started – Get moving and warm up the body. All of it will thank you, neck included.
- Chiropractic care on a regular basis – This helps greatly to keep your spin in alignment, and you pain free morning, noon, and night.
- Let go of stubbornness – on an energetic level neck equates to stubborn tension. Sometimes in life its good to just allow what you can’t control to be what it is and go with the flow. (easier said than done we know).
- Massage – Massage is not a luxury. It’s a necessity as is chiropractic. Your body is the only place you have to live. Treat it well.
Ready for an adjustment or a therapeutic massage? Great! Come see us. www.Kasterchiropractic.com