Table of Contents
Introduction
Find out how long does neck pain last from sleeping wrong and most importantly, how to get rid of neck pain to save your life right now!
Your sleep is one of the most important things you should care about in the world. Whatever happens to your sleep will make you feel uncomfortable, perhaps for days after that.
Unfortunately, many people wake up at night with stiff neck that prevents them from going back to sleep. Even worse, neck pain is persistent for many days to come and causes so many troubles in your daily life.
Why does neck pain happen during sleep? And can you do anything to stop or prevent it in advance? This article will give you what you need to know about this problem.
How Sleeping Wrong Causes Neck Pain
So, how can sleeping cause you to suffer from neck pain? Most people who experienced the problem with their neck during sleep claimed that it comes from sleeping on the neck wrong.
Nevertheless, it might not be the right point of view on this problem. Neck pain does not usually come from twisted or some awkward sleeping positions.
More exactly, you feel uncomfortable in your neck because your sleeping position strains your neck.
And one of the most common reasons for this is pillow.
Many people do not realize that too many pillows are a potential danger to their neck. On the other hand, too high or too firm pillow is likely to cause neck pain as well.
How Long Does Neck Pain Last From Sleeping Wrong?
Perhaps when you start feeling uncomfortable in your neck after sleeping, the most thing you are concerned about is how long does neck pain last from sleeping wrong.
Normally, the strain making your neck stiff will last between one and three days before it is completely gone.
You probably experience some minor pain in other areas of your neck, including muscles, ligaments or tendons.
But there are cases when the pain is longer than expected. Not every neck pain will disappear by itself. Sometimes, you need to address it with some effort and attention.
In such cases, you have to seek for help of a professional or doctor immediately. It is a sign that the pain is worse and should not be treated on your own. Otherwise, you may have to deal with worse injuries, for example, whiplash [1].
In case of severe neck pain, or even twisted neck to one side, it might come to a problem called acute torticollis [2]. It results from either sleeping wrong or some environmental catalysts. For any reasons, this problem still needs special treatment from professionals.
How to Prevent Neck Pain from Sleeping Wrong
No matter how long does neck pain last from sleeping wrong, it is still a better idea to prevent it in advance. Do not join the community of millions of people struggling with neck pain in the morning!
Here are some feasible ways to prevent neck pain due to sleeping wrong.
Use Enough Pillows
If you sleep on your stomach, it is important to note that you use only one pillow. The reason is that neck pain often comes from you making 90-degree head in order to inhale some air.
On the other hand, if you sleep on the back, you do not need too many pillows. Otherwise, the uncomfortable angle will cause your neck and shoulders to experience severe pain.
Choosing a good pillow to make sure that you have good sleep is never unnecessary. Sadly, many people tend to ignore its significance.
When it comes to “enough” pillows, it means that you should not use too few or too many pillows. The softness of pillows should be taken into consideration as well. Check our guide on WHICH IS THE BEST PILLOW FOR NECK PAIN to get more details!
Avoid Opening Window
Open window seems to be a potential danger for your health when you sleep. Cold air might come from the outside and lead to stiff muscles in your neck. As a consequence, you will have neck pain when you get up without knowing why it happens.
Warm Bath
Warm bath before you go to bed is a good way to prevent neck pain effectively [3]. It enables you to control the muscles’ temperature. In addition, you can do some massage or flexing on your neck when you take a bath.
Do Exercises
Interestingly, if you do exercises and unwind your body more, the likelihood is that you will lower the risk of neck pain. You need to find some kinds of sports that interest you, for example, swimming, cycling or running.
It is recommended that stretching out your muscles is super effective to stay away from neck pain owing to sleeping wrong.
How to Get Rid of Neck Pain
No matter how long you suffer from the pain, the ultimate goal is to get rid of it immediately. Does neck pain last too long to affect your work and study? Worry no more! We have collected a series of methods to help you remove neck pain from sleeping wrong easily at home.
It is worth bearing in mind that these methods are suitable for short-term neck pain only. If you follow these tips, but the results are insignificant, it is better to ask doctors for advice.
Ice Pack
Among top ways to make you free of neck pain, ice is one of the simplest and most available things in your house. The effects of ice are amazing as the cold temperature instantly addresses painful feeling and inflammation.
Nevertheless, it is crucial to avoid putting ice directly on any part of your skin. No matter how long does neck pain last from sleeping wrong, you can take advantage of ice pack to feel more comfortable.
How to apply:
- Hold ice cubes in a thin towel
- Then, apply it over the neck in less than 15 minutes
- You can repeat the method as many times as you wish
Epsom Salt Bath
Epsom salt is an ideal option to make you feel better with painful neck. Salt is believed to enhance the circulation as well as alleviate strain and stress on your muscles.
In fact, there are many different additives available to help you maximize the benefits of bath salts, especially in terms of neck pain treatment.
Epsom salt contains a great amount of magnesium and sulfate, which makes it suitable to relax the mind. It is notable for many health benefits in the medical community.
However, the only group that should avoid epsom salt is those with heart problems and diabetes.
How to apply:
- Mix epsom salt (about 1-2 cups) into warm water
- Let your neck sit deeply into the mixture
- Remain that position for about 20 minutes
You can follow this method at least once per day to heal your neck quickly.
Exercise Slowly
Even though many people are reluctant to do motion exercises when having neck pain, the truth is that they are beneficial for the treatment. If you do exercise slowly, it helps to stabilize and improve the functionality of the neck muscles.
Moreover, your upper back will get benefits from exercises as well. Above all, doing exercises is a good way to stay away from stress.
How to do:
- Start rotating your neck slowly circularly. You can do it clockwise and anti-clockwise, as long as you do it very slowly. In spite of the pain at first, you will feel better in the end
- Alternatively, move the neck back and forth slowly
You can do it 5 times per time and several times on a daily basis. Though, some people find it painful to do these exercises. In such circumstances, stop doing so and ask doctor instantly.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Another perfect ingredient to help you get rid of neck pain is apple cider vinegar. Why? The answer lies in its strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities. They are powerful enough to eradicate quickly the pain from sleeping wrong.
How to apply:
- Get a paper towel and soak it in the vinegar
- Then, apply the towel over areas where you feel painful
- It should be there for about several hours
The best way to get positive outcomes is to apply the method twice per day. Alternatively, you can mix apple cider vinegar directly into your lukewarm bath. By letting the neck contact with the water in about 15 minutes, you will quickly recover from the pain.
Massage
There is nothing better to cure any kind of pain than doing some massage. Thus, you can try getting rid of neck pain by massaging your neck regularly.
You can rely on a friend or family member who gives you a pain relief on your neck or shoulders.
If you do it right, your tissues will be warm quickly and stiffness will be gone.
In case you do not have anybody massage, you can actually do it on your own. Get some instructions on many Youtube videos.
To get better results, the combination of massage and essential oils will result in a quicker relief. Which kind of essential oils to go for?
Normally, chamomile, lavender, olive, thyme or black pepper oil is the best recommendation for you to get rid of neck pain.
The only thing you need to be careful about is how to use these oils correctly. It is better to dilute these oils in water before using it on your skin.
Other Therapies
In addition to massage, hydrotherapy and acupuncture are other alternative therapies that you would like to use for treating neck pain.
Acupuncture refers to the use of needles to deal with pressure on your muscles. It often requires you to ask professionals to help.
Meanwhile, hydrotherapy combines shower massage and warm water. In this way, your neck will get proper massage with warm water. They are easily answers to treat the problem, despite how long does neck pain last from sleeping wrong in you.
Conclusion
If you are questioning yourself “how long does neck pain last from sleeping wrong”, the answer is already here. You will suffer from it about 1-3 days in normal circumstances.
But the key question is not about how long. It is about how to get rid of neck pain so that you can enjoy your daily life to the fullest extent. Follow our recommendations on how to prepare for the good sleep and also tips on treating neck pain.
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