Pulled neck muscle treatment tips covered in the following article will help you take off your neck pain at home. Let us go through the pulled neck muscle symptoms in the following article and have a look at the simple treatment options available.

Neck pain is one of the most common health complaints for many people. This is because necks are subjected to a lot of trauma all day long. A sudden jerk, sitting in an awkward position or sleeping on the wrong pillow; all lead to neck pain. This occurs as the neck bones are subjected to a lot of degenerative trauma. This is why most of us suffer from chronic neck pain, that requires doctor's attention. There are different types of neck injuries that include pulled neck muscles. This is one of the most common causes of still neck in people. This Buzzle article will discuss some tips on pulled neck muscle treatment that will help you get some relief from the constant pain.

Symptoms

Before we go into the details of the treatment, it is important to know the symptoms of pulled neck muscles. The pulled neck muscles are fairly hard to spot. A sharp pain in the neck and disability to move the neck around, indicates pulled muscle. Every time you try to move your head, you will experience a sharp pull and pain in the neck. The neck muscles feel tender and one may experience muscle spasms. There are different grades of pulled muscle in neck. This includes grade I where the patient experiences mild discomfort and has no severe impact on daily activity. Grade II involves moderate discomfort and limits ones activity to some extent. It may be associated with mild swelling and bruising at times. Grade III indicates severe injury that includes muscle spasms, swelling and severe pain. This requires immediate medical attention.

Treatment

Overuse of your neck muscles causes pulled neck muscle symptoms. A sudden jerk or pull of the neck muscles causes them to stretch beyond their capacity. Haunching to read a book, sitting on the computer continuously, sleeping in an awkward position, etc. all lead to pulled neck muscles. The treatment for this muscle strain is as follows:

Plenty of Rest
As your neck muscles are overworked and fatigued, rest is the best way to give them the needed relief. You need to take rest for about 1 to 5 days. The rest period depends on the severity of the injury. There is no need to immobilize your neck until and unless advised by the doctor. You should sleep in your bed and place your head on a good, supporting pillow. Keep your neck as still as possible and do not try to overwork your muscles.

Ice Compress
The next best treatment for pulled neck muscles is application of ice. It helps in reducing the swelling, bleeding as well as pain. Ice should be applied as soon as one experiences the sharp pain of a pulled muscle. Do not apply ice continuously. Apply it just for about 15 minutes and then reapply after about 2 to 4 hours.

Medications
Pain and swelling can be reduced after intake of anti-inflammatory medications. These over the counter medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, etc. help reduce the inflammation as well as pain. One should speak to their doctor before taking any medications as they can have potential side effects.

Stretching Exercises
One should gently stretch their neck muscles to relieve the pull in the muscles. You should stretch your muscles once the acute pain in the neck reduces. This will help heal the muscles and prevent loss of the motion. Gently tilt the neck from one side to the other and then rotate the head clockwise and then anticlockwise.

Heat Compress
Once you begin to feel reduction in pain and are able to move your muscles with ease, you can try heat compress. Warmth helps the stiff muscles relax and it has been found to help the muscles hold up against any kind of strain.

If the pain does not cease within 5 days, you should visit a doctor immediately. Also, a sudden sharp acute pain that prohibits movement of the neck needs immediate medical attention. Hope the above information has helped you find some easy home remedies for pulled neck muscles.

Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only, and does not in any way attempt to replace the diagnosis of a doctor. Visiting your physician is the safest way to diagnose and treat any health condition.