Spring into Action: 3 Ways to Manage Your Neck Pain

Neck pain can make simple movements difficult, disrupt your sleep, and steal your productivity. 

Whether you wake up stiff each morning, feel muscle tension from long days on the computer, or have nagging discomfort from a pulled muscle, you can take simple steps today to manage your pain and get moving again.

In Atlanta, Georgia, Max Steuer, MD, and physician assistant Carter Cooper, PA-C, specialize in neck treatments that support whole-person wellness. In this month’s blog, they offer three practical ways to soothe your neck pain so you can enjoy Georgia’s beautiful spring weather. 

1. Change how you move

It’s hard to believe, but your head weighs about 12 pounds, and your neck entirely supports it. Accordingly, you must learn to position your neck properly. Small tweaks to your everyday movements can make a significant difference before you have to seek treatment.

• Check your posture frequently throughout the day
• Take breaks to stand and stretch once or twice each hour
• Adjust your desk area so your screens are at eye level

It’s amazing how much tension can build up when your head juts forward, or your shoulders slump. Adjustments, such as holding your phone at eye level, keep your spine in a neutral position and reduce strain that causes pain.

1. Build flexibility and strength

Gentle stretches and strengthening exercises can help heal your persistent neck pain by:

• Improving your range of motion
• Supporting the primary neck and shoulder muscles
• Minimizing the tension that triggers your pain

Our team recommends starting with light neck tilts, controlled shoulder rolls, and targeted spine mobility exercises. If your pain doesn’t ease up or limits your activity, we may suggest physical therapy to help you progress safely.

1. Know when it’s time for an evaluation

In our experience, most cases of neck pain resolve over time with lifestyle modifications and physical therapy. But if you continue to deal with pain that radiates into your arms, numbness or tingling, or persistent stiffness, it’s time for a comprehensive evaluation.

We treat all types of neck pain, ranging from everyday strain to complex conditions. We take a comprehensive approach, conducting a head-to-toe assessment to determine the cause of your symptoms, and then customizing a plan to prevent your problem from progressing.

If a conservative approach isn’t enough, we can discuss advanced treatment options. Minimally invasive surgeries, for example, microdiscectomy or artificial disc replacement, address structural issues that physical therapy can’t fix, such as a herniated disc or pinched nerve.

Spring into action

The everyday habits you adopt this spring can support long-term spine wellness. If you experience ongoing or worsening neck pain, a thorough evaluation can help us get to the root of the problem. 

For help from our knowledgeable, compassionate team at Max Steuer, MD, request an appointment by phone or online today.