Most people will, at some point in their lives, wake up with neck or back pain, mild enough to not see a doctor. There are a few home remedies you can try to help alleviate mild back or neck pains.

First, stop irritating the injury. Figure out which activities caused the problem and then stop doing that activity. Most pains experienced when first waking are caused by sleeping positions, for instance, too many, or not enough, pillows can cause a “crick in the neck”.

Second, try over-the-counter pain medications. Acetaminophen based medications (such as Tylenol) help with pain relief. While NSAIDs (such as Motrin and Aleve) have pain relief properties as well as help control the inflammatory process which contributes to pain.

Third, apply ice. Using ice on the painful area for up to 48 to 72 hours helps to control the inflammation that may cause or enhance the pain eventually leading to chronic problems in the neck and shoulders. Be sure to wrap any homemade icepack in a towel before placing it on the affected area. Ice should be applied for 15-20 minutes with a 40 minute break before repeating.

Fourth, apply heat. Heat will typically exasperate an inflammation injury by making the inflammation worse. However, heat can provide pain relief by relaxing muscle spasms. Heat for 15-20 minutes at a time with a 40 minute break before repeating.

Fifth, get a massage. A gentle massage treatment during the first few days of an injury can help to relief the stress on the muscles. Massaging the area moves the fluid in the area around, reducing scar tissue and working out knots and tension. Today’s massage chairs provide a convenient source of massage treatment. You can get the sensitive injured area treated without the costly expense of time or money.

Link: About.com [Alternative Medicine]
http://backandneck.about.com/od/painmanagement/tp/backselftherapy.htm

Dr. Alan Weidner
www.massage-chair-relief.com