A lot of people experience several different types of neck pain at some point in their lives. You may experience a sharp or burning pain, or perhaps a dull and consistent ache. The type of pain you feel in your neck depends of the kind of injury your neck muscles have suffered. Fortunately, most of these types of injury and neck pain can be easily dealt with even without the assistance of a doctor. Here are some of the most effective ways for you to banish neck pain in as little as 20 minutes:

Ice - The power of ice to relieve any type of neck pain cannot be overestimated. You may place an ice pack directly over the affected area. In just a few minutes, you will begin to experience the first signs of pain relief, as the ice starts to numb the affected area and reduce any swelling or inflammation of your muscles or irritation to the nerves. For best results, keep the ice pack on your neck for about 20 minutes and continue the treatment for two to three days. And here's a tip: If you don't have an ice pack and can't endure having ice placed directly on your skin, you may wrap the ice in a towel.

Heat - Just like ice, heat is also a powerful pain reliever and is one of the most effective ways to banish neck pain. You may apply a hot compress on the affected area for about 20 minutes, or take a relaxing hot bath. A warm shower is also a good idea. This technique works best for neck pain caused by stress and characterized by sore muscles. However, if your neck pain is associated with swelling and inflammation, it may be best to use other means of relieving the pain because heat has a tendency to aggravate inflammation.

Rest - If your neck pain is really severe and the damage caused to your neck muscles or cervical spine is pretty serious, then rest is your best protection against neck pain. This means you may have to take a couple of days break from work. Spend that time leaning back against a support pillow or lying down so that your neck is kept free from too much pressure. Be careful not to overdo it, though, because even rest can cause muscle stiffness when you take too much.

Exercise - If you spend most of your day at the computer or office desk, it would be helpful to do some stretching and strengthening exercises for your neck. Shrugs and head tilts are the easiest and among the most effective exercises for keeping neck pain at bay. Shrugs effectively strengthen the muscles around your neck, while head tilts allow for a full range of motion, especially where neck rotation is concerned. And what's best about these exercises is that you can do them practically anywhere. Finally, you can look forward to banishing neck pain permanently.