Natural solutions for neck pain

Pain in the neck

A new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine showed that seeing a chiropractor or trying a little light exercise are your best bets for treating neck pain. Much more effective than popping a pain pill, the researchers say. And I agree whole-heartedly!

Neck pain problems are so prevalent that some three-quarters of the U.S. population experience them at some point. However, there is little research to identify which treatment works best in bringing relief.

This group of researchers conducted a study at two treatment centers in Minneapolis–a university research center and a pain management clinic. They monitored the progress of 372 patients who came in for neck pain. The patients were randomly assigned to get chiropractic treatment, pain medication, or a home exercise plan.

Compared to medication, chiropractic treatment produced better results, providing patients with short- and long-term pain relief. Also, the home exercise program turned out to be nearly as effective as the chiropractor.

That’s excellent news, particularly since the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications like Tylenol, Advil and the like that most people pop when they have a flare-up are not innocuous drugs. They each have their own potentially dangerous side effects (like liver failure and death) and I advise my patients to steer clear of them at all costs.

It’s far better to address neck pain at its source, and find natural solutions. Very often these small pains will disappear in time, and may need just a bit of help getting there.