9 Simple Tips to Relieve Neck Pain

1. Stay hydrated
The discs between the vertebrae in your spine require water to maintain disc height and spinal alignment and to take pressure off the spine.

• Each spinal disc is roughly 80 percent water, with this decreasing as the disc degenerates over time.
• Pairing your water intake with your daily habits, such as drinking two glasses of water before each meal, may also help.
• Over time, maintaining strong daily hydration habits may prevent further degeneration of cervical discs, which may reduce neck pain.

2. Increase magnesium intake
Neck pain is most frequently the result of a muscle strain or sprain. Increasing your intake of magnesium, a mineral that aids in the contraction and relaxation of muscles, may help avoid these pain causing problems.

• Magnesium is commonly found in fruits, vegetables, beans, soy products and whole grains.
• Magnesium can be absorbed by taking a bath with Epsom salt, or a similar supplement.
• You may use magnesium oil, which is applied directly to the skin after a warm shower or bath.

3. Avoid cradling the phone in your neck
One way you may not even realize that you’re aggravating your neck is through angling it while speaking on the phone. Do not cradle the phone between your ear and shoulder, as this puts unneeded strain on your cervical spine.

4. Consider acupuncture
Acupuncture stimulated nerves, muscles and connective tissue. This stimulation boosts your body's natural painkillers and increases blood flow, which is proven to help some people with pain management.​

5. Try remedial massage
Remedial massage differs from traditional massage in that it involves oil being applied and rubbed into the skin. Over time, the oil is intended to penetrate the muscles and joints, removing toxins and improving joint mobility while relaxing the muscles. A targeted remedial massage may offer relief for your neck pain.

6. Visit a physiotherapist
It is common to think of physiotherapy as a treatment aimed at reducing symptoms from a given injury. In addition to this, physiotherapy for the neck can also have other benefits, such as:

• Identifying secondary causes of pain.
• Teaching you how to reduce the risk of re-injury.
• Strengthening the weak areas of the neck through targeted exercises.

7. Place ice on certain areas of the body
Neck pain may also be joined by nagging headaches and numbness or tingling in the back of the head, neck, shoulders and hands.
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8. Use a water pillow
Water pillows allow you to dictate the firmness of the pillow to reach the ideal firmness that reduces neck pain while sleeping. More water equals a firmer pillow; less water provides a softer pillow.

9. Incorporate swimming into your exercise routine
Swimming has therapeutic effects on neck pain, specifically in reducing inflammation, providing quick pain relief and easing neck stiffness.