A pulled neck muscle can be very debilitating and painful, second only to a pulled back muscle. If you haven't suffered neck pain, you have no idea how much of your daily activity requires you to use your neck. Yet a pulled muscle in the neck normally does not require medical attention.
Warning
Like your back, the neck is a place where you want to err on the side of caution. If the pain persists for more than a week, go see a doctor.
Two other reasons to visit the doctor: if the pain is severe--that is, enough to stop you from doing something simply because of the level of pain--or if you experience a severely limited range of motion.
Get Some Ice on It
Ice is the single most important thing you can use for any muscle injury. After the initial trauma, most of the damage to a muscle is caused by swelling. As blood rushes to the injury, things get awful crowded, which forces parts of your body to abrade, bruise and even twist one another.
Ice reduces the flow of blood to the injured area, thus slowing swelling and preventing extra damage. You should ice for at least 20 minutes every hour, repeating on the hour for as long as you can stand it.
Although heat often feels soothing, you should avoid it at all costs during the first 48 to 72 hours after the injury. Heat increases the blood flow and exacerbates damage to the injured area.
Take an Anti-inflammatory
Anti-inflammatories like Motrin and ibuprofen will do much the same as icing: by reducing swelling, they allow the muscle tissues to return to normal and start rebuilding. Many also include a mild muscle relaxant, which keeps the injured area from spasming under strain.
Take the recommended dosage on the label of your anti-inflammatory. Remember that many anti-inflammatories can cause upset stomach, so eat something with each dose.
Drinking and Diet
Drink lots and lots of water. Drink at least two glasses more than you think you should. Most people, especially amateur athletes, are dehydrated most of the time. Staying hydrated will help keep muscles healthy and speed the healing process.
While healing, stay away from processed sugars. Processed sugars hurt the healing process by interfering with your immune system. The same goes for processed foods and fast food.
Take It Easy
For athletes especially, rest is the hardest part. Respect the messages your body is sending to you, and let your neck rest as it's recovering.
As the pain begins to subside, try some gentle, exploratory stretching in the injured area. Once you can move in your normal range of motion without pain, you should be ready to get back into the thick of things.
Tags: injured area, healing process, more than, range motion, your body, your neck