Neck Pain - Speedy Relief...

A lot of people call to purchase a pillow or relief product but also want help getting some relief now without popping a pill. My advice is a list of a few things. Not every one works for every body; not to mention, everyone's situation, or particular pain may be slightly different.

Solutions for Speedy Neck Pain Relief

Here we go: #1 - Muscle massage. This will depend slightly on where your pain is, but trigger point massage gives the quickest relief. Get on those knots (or trigger points) hold for 7-10 seconds and move to the next spot. You can repeat as much as you want.

#2 - Neck stretches. Hold a stretch for 10-20 seconds, only go as far as you can and repeat a few times. 1 extra tip: do trigger point massage while in a stretched position too.

#3 - An ice pack. Ice the particular sore are for 20 minutes on and then 20 minutes off.

Try these quick relief tips. When your traction pillow comes in, or other relief and posture product, you'll will be more able to adjust.

Additional Resources:

• What Can I Do For My Constant Neck Pain?
• How Do I Get Rid of the Hump on my Back?
• Which Neck Pillows are Really Best When you are Suffering with Neck Pain?
• How to Treat Muscle Spasm in Your Neck and Upper Back
• Why Does a Neck Roll Work So Well?

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.

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Easy Pain Relief at Home: Using Heat and Ice

You were in a whiplash type accident, what should you use on your neck? Ice or Heat? You have been suffering with low back pain for 4 months, what should you use on your lower back? Ice or Heat?

The Use of Ice and Heat Therapy has been found to be very beneficial for not only decreasing pain but also controling pain. Cold Therapy or Ice should be used in the acute phase of an injury- you bump your knee on the coffee table, immediately apply ice. This aids in decreasing inflammation and numbs the immediate pain. Ice can sometimes increase pain that arises from a trigger point, so don't use cold therapy in these cases.

Use heat therapy for the treatment of muscle spasms. It relaxes the muscles and stimulates vasodilation to help remove inflammatory toxins and by products of muscle spasm. Because using heat can increase inflammation, it should be avoided during the acute phase.

**In general, begin with using ice during the acute inflammatory phase, as long as you can tolerate it, and then move on to heat therapy.

Read more about Hot and Cold Therapy - Understand the optimum way to use heat and cold for pain relief
Photo Courtesy of QueenThings on Flickr.com

Visit Ice and Moist Heat Therapy for your acute and chronic injuries: Pain Relief for your neck and lower back


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Introducing Arc4life’s NEW Lumbar Back Rest with Ice Pack Built Right in

Trying to drive or do office work with lower back pain can be very difficult. Just trying to get into a comfortable position can be impossible.

Today I want to talk about a new lumbar cushion that is great for the car with some added benefit. This lumbar support cushion will not only support your lumbar spine but it can give you the therapeutic effect of ice or heat.

Its called the Sit Back Rest Plus- Arc4life has carried the Sit back rest for many years and time and time again our customers have agreed that it is a great lumbar support cushion. The new SitBackRest PLUS now offers therapeutic benefits- A 6 x 10 hot or cold pack that can be easily fastened via a hook-and-loop closureto the lumbar cushion. The hot and cold pack helps ease low back pain from flare-ups and day-to-day discomforts such as sitting for prolonged periods of time. Use heat for sore and muscle spasms in the lower back or chronic low back pain. If you recently have suffered from acute lower back pain after a trauma or accident to the lower back, use a cold pack to decrease swelling and inflammation and decrease the pain sensation.

The hot and cold pack on this backrest helps ease back pain from flare-ups and day-to-day discomforts such as sitting for prolonged periods of time. This lumbar cushion is shaped to fit snugly against bucketseats to maximize comfort and support while driving. The hot/cold pack is covered by a soft fabric. Hence you can easily apply directly to your skin without using a towel. To use the Hot Pack, microwave for 30 sections- kneading after to distribute the heat. To use as a cold pack, store in the freezer for a few hours, preferably over night.

Dimensions of the Sit Back Rest: 13" x 14" (33cm x 36cm). – Made of Precision Cut Foam with a Durable Fabric Cover

Dimensions of the Hot/Cold Pack: 6" x 10" (15.24 cm x 25.4 cm).
On Sale at Arc4life.com: SitBackRest PLUS- The SitBack Rest PLUS a 6x10 Ice/Hot Pack

Photo Courtesy of: Arc4life.com

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.

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THE BENEFIT OF HAVING A HANDY ICE PACK AND HEAT PACK

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Having that ice pack or hot pack ready to go when you need it is a big benefit. I still remember when I was younger, coming home from practice or a game. It’s inevitable something was hurting or an older injury was acting up. I put ice in a bag and wrapped it around my arm or leg with a towel. The ice would melt in 15 minutes making a big mess if the bag did not seal good. And when it was sealed fine I would put it in the freezer and it would freeze as a big solid block, unable to use really.
For a hot pack I would run a cloth under hot water burning my hands doing so or burning them when I rung out the towel. Not to mention it would only stay warm for about 3 mintues so I would repeat the whole process. What a pain- literally.
Now with newer advanced gel packs things are so much simpler. You can just leave the ice pack in the freezer and take it out whenever you need it. Thaw it and put it in the microwave for minute you’ve got a hot pack. I leave one Dual Comfort hot/cold pack in the freezer and leave one in the cabinet. This way I always have a cold pack ready to go and the hot pack is ready in just 1 minute.
Best of all, it holds the cold and the heat in for long periods of time. So I don’t have to freeze or scald my hands every few minutes or worry about making a mess and soaking our couch with water.
Another great benefit is that the gel is flexible and soft. You can sit against it, lie on it, drape it over your shoulder, you name it.
We’ve come a long way from that hard block that you don’t have to hold against the back of your neck or burning yourself with a hot cloth to get some pain relief and relaxed muscles. Go to Arc4life for more information on heat and ice therapy.

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units


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How to Treat a Muscle Spasm with Ice and Biofreeze

Muscle spasm or muscle tension in the neck or in the lower back? One way to treat this simply at home is to use a combination of ice and Biofreeze, a natural pain relieving Gel. A muslce spasm often feels like a tightness and sometimes it can be painful. I originally wrote this article on ehow.com and now i want to share it on my blog as well. In this particular blog I am talkinga about treating a muscle spasm in the neck region specifically. I have also given you ideas for your lower back region as well. Here is what you will need:

• BioFreeze Natural Pain Relieving Gel
  
  
• 6 x 20 Cold Pack for your neck OR 10 x 12 Cold Pack for your lower back region
  
• 1 towel
  
• 1 glove (non latex preferrable)
  

Step by Step Instructions for treating your muscle spasm:

1. Make sure your 6 x 20 ice pack has been in your freezer for at least 4 hours.
   
2. Take your ice pack out of the freezer and wrap your ice pack in the towel
   
3. Put one glove on and squeeze a small amount of biofreeze from the tube onto your finger.
   
4. Apply to your neck. Start from the top of your neck in the back (just under your hairline in the back) and start to massage in small circular strokes. First do the right side, then the left side. From top to the base of the neck. Keep your head in a neutral position.
   
5. After you have a massaged for about 1.5 minutes on each side, apply the ice pack that has been wrapped around the towel. Apply this ice pack right around your neck, allowing the ice pack to hang from your upper shoulders. Relax, sit (or lie down face down) like for 10-15 minutes.
   

It is a good idea to have someone else do this for you, but this is not always possible. BioFreeze Natural Pain Relieving Gel is odorless, and greaseless but you don't want your fingers tingling afterwards. Wearing a glove will also save you a step from having to wash your hands (you can concentrate fully on your neck pain or lower back pain)
Also, It is a good idea to keep your ice pack in a seperate plastic bag so that it does not pick up the freezer odors. You want to get a 6 x 20 ice pack because this will fit nicely around your neck or a 10 x 12 ice pack for your lower back region.



NJ
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