Occasionally, people may wake up with neck pain from
sleeping in an awkward position throughout the night. While often regarded as a
common issue that is nothing more than irritating, the symptom of neck pain
associated with incorrect sleeping posture can be extremely painful.
During deep sleep, the head can drop into a position which
may place unnecessary amounts of stress on the neck muscles and other
surrounding tissues of the cervical spine. After some time in an uncomfortable
position, the brain is capable of sensing this disruption where it will then
command your body to reposition itself in order for the neck to get some
relief. Alternatively, many people can also choose to ignore the agitation,
aggravating the strain on the neck further. Consequently, neck pain the following
morning is the most common outcome. While there’s a variety of methods to prevent
neck pain as well as a variety of treatments for individuals with other neck complications,
if you’re already experiencing neck pain symptoms, there’s several simple
solutions you can follow before you receive medical attention to find relief
for your neck pain.
Foremost, give your neck a rest. The head weighs
approximately 20 lbs. One can consider this to be a lot of weight for the neck
alone to support. Through an improper posture, especially during sleep, the
muscles are forced to work extra in order to properly hold the natural posture
of the neck, causing the muscles and other tissues to overly stretch,
ultimately weakening. Give your muscles a break. During the spare time you have
before visiting the doctor, lie down, making sure your head is in a neutral position
and that you’re using a comfortable pillow. More rest can often be a good
remedy even if you’ve just rolled out of bed. Also, it is best to avoid feeling
stress in the meantime. Stress can cause tension to build up around the
shoulders and neck area, both which are not recommended with the previous
presence of neck pain. If the muscles tighten, the complex structures
surrounding the cervical spine can become irritated and even inflamed, causing
further symptoms of pain and discomfort.
Sometimes, heat therapy, for instance, using a warm damp
towel around the affected area, can help increase circulation and is often
effective in providing relief to stiff muscles. However, heat can make
inflammation worse, and if your symptoms worsen, remove the heat immediately. Alternatively,
ice therapy, or using an ice pack around the affected area, can help reduce the
inflammation of the muscles and tissues, but for some individuals, cooling can
aggravate other more serious issues, if your symptoms worsen, remove the ice
immediately. These methods can be effective for relieving symptoms of neck pain
but for more serious, chronic neck complications, the effects may only be
temporary. If the symptoms of neck pain persist, it’s essential to seek
immediate medical attention to diagnose any underlying conditions or severe
injuries which could be causing the individual’s neck pain and discomfort.
The following methods are meant to serve as temporary
solutions to neck pain from sleeping incorrectly. If an individual had a bad
night of rest and they woke up experiencing discomfort, the above methods can
be used to find some relief from their symptoms. But, if the individual
experiences neck pain as a result of improper sleeping posture or from other
sleep complications on a regular basis, it’s crucial for the individual so seek
immediate medical attention to properly diagnose any possible injuries or
underlying conditions the person might have and follow through with an
appropriate treatment to help restore the individual’s natural state of being
as well as improve their overall wellness to ensure them a good night’s sleep.
By Dr. Alex Jimenez
