Waking up with a sore, pain in my neck, causes and how to fix it, naturally

 

Waking up sore can be a real pain in the neck! It's an extremely common problem that affects many people, and it can really put a dampener on your day. If you're experiencing neck pain, you're not alone, and the good news is you don't have to suffer in silence. In this blog, we'll explore the causes of neck pain and provide some natural solutions to help you iron out those painful kinks in your neck and start your day standing taller!

 

Causes of Neck Pain

There are many causes of neck pain, but some of the most common include poor posture, lack of movement, stress, and injury. Let's take a closer look at each of these and keep in mind that your neck pain could be a combination of these.

Poor Posture: When you sit or stand with your head and neck in a forward position, it can strain the muscles in your neck, causing pain. This is a common problem for people who spend a lot of time sitting at a desk or using a computer.  In fact technology, full stop, has triggered a massive epidemic of tech neck.  Tech neck results in muscular imbalances with the muscles in the front of your neck being constantly shortened and the muscles in the back of your neck being on stretch all day as you’re looking down at your device for so long. 📱 To check out our live on Tech Neck click here.  For more information on what excess use of technology is doing to our kids necks, click here.

Bad sleeping ergonomics: when it comes to the muscles and joints of our body and sleep, it’s actually pretty simple.  We want our muscles and joints to be able to rest in a neutral position so that when we wake the following morning, the muscles are not longer stiff and tight and can start from scratch to help maintain your posture throughout the day.  If on the other hand you fall asleep on the couch and your neck is kinked, your muscles are not getting rested in a neutral position, resulting in these muscles already being tight and fatigued the moment you wake up.  I know the couch is an obvious example, who hasn’t woken with a kinked neck from falling asleep on the couch, right!?!  But the reality is the same thing applies to sleeping on a pillow that is too high, or too low.  Your neck muscles don’t get the rest they need, resulting in them already starting the day fatigues and often already painful.

Lack of Movement: If you sit at a desk for long periods of time or are sedentary, it can cause your neck muscles to become tight and stiff.  Tight muscles jam our joints together and result in a lack of blood flow.  These tight muscles, joints and lack of blood supply result in pain. Think about these tight muscles and joints for a moment and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realise that without movement and activity the musculoskeletal system will struggle to stay healthy, flexible and lubricated.

Stress: Stress can cause tension in your neck muscles, which can lead to pain and discomfort.   A little bit like being in one position all day sitting at your desk, chronic stress results in tightness in the muscles, which reduces joint movement and leads to an ongoing lack of blood supply to both he joints and muscles resulting in stiffness and pain.  One of the most common places to hold tension in the body when feeling stressed is the neck and shoulders.

Injury: An injury to your neck, such as whiplash or a strain, can cause pain and stiffness. This is not isolated to people playing sport or working in physical jobs either.   Especially if you find yourself ticking the box to any of the above causes as well, where your muscles are already tight and fatigued and lacking in blood supply, you can simply do a head check in the car and put your neck out.  

 

Natural Solutions for Neck Pain

Now that we've explored some of the causes of neck pain, let's talk about some natural solutions that can help alleviate the discomfort.

Good Posture: Maintaining good posture is essential for preventing neck pain. When you sit or stand, make sure your head and neck are in a neutral position.  When looking from the side, your ears should be in line with your shoulders, your neck and chin should not be jutting forward. This will help prevent strain on your neck muscles, by keeping them balanced, and keep your spine in proper alignment.  To check out a video on how to achieve optimal desk ergonomics click here. 

Stretching: Stretching can help alleviate neck pain by loosening tight muscles. Try stretching your neck by slowly pulling your right ear to your right shoulder, hold for 20 seconds and then repeat on the left side.  Then turn your neck to the right as far as it can go and hold for a further 20 seconds and the repeat on the left side.  You can also do shoulder rolls and the door way stretch to alleviate chest tightness, as rounded shoulders are a massive contributing factor to poor neck posture.  To check out a video on how to stretch the neck to relieve neck pain click here.

Chiropractic Contoured Pillow: A good chiropractic contoured pillow can help support your neck and alleviate pain. These pillows are designed to align your head and neck properly while you sleep.  Keeping your spine in a neutral position with the correct profile pillow means that the muscles at the front and back of your neck (if lying on your back) and the left and right side of your neck (if lying on your side) remain neutral, allowing them to fully rest and recover while you sleep.  This reduces the strain on your muscles and helps them start the following day without already being fatigued.   For a video on how to fit our adjustable contoured Chiro pillow click this link. 

Acupressure Mat D-Shaped Pillow: The very nature of the shape of the D-shaped pillow is designed to fit the natural curve of your neck, providing maximum support while holding you in this neutral position. The spikes on the mat and pillow stimulates extra blood flow to your body and the pressure points and increased circulation aids in releasing the tension and pain within your muscles.  in your body to relax the muscles and massively increases the Using an acupressure mat D-shaped pillow can help increase circulation and reduce pain.  Plus, they can be a great to use in the morning to give your neck muscles a big flush of fresh blood flow before sitting at your desk all day.

 

Tight, Stiff Muscles and Poor Memory

Tight, stiff muscles in the neck can lead to a lack of blood flow to the head, which can result in headaches and poor memory and cognitive function. This is because the brain requires a steady flow of oxygen and nutrients to function properly. When blood flow is restricted, it can lead to cognitive impairment, including memory problems and a generalised lack of clarity.

In addition to the natural solutions listed above, regular exercise can also help alleviate neck pain and improve circulation. Exercise helps to strengthen your muscles and improve blood flow, which can help reduce pain and inflammation in your neck. Even simple exercises such as walking or gentle stretching can help improve circulation and reduce neck pain.

It's also important to be mindful of your posture throughout the day. If you work at a desk or sit for long periods of time, take breaks and stretch your neck and shoulders to prevent stiffness and soreness. You can also try adjusting your workspace to promote good posture, such as using an ergonomic chair or adjusting the height of your computer monitor.

In addition to physical solutions, it's important to manage stress to prevent tension in the neck muscles. You can try relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga to help reduce stress and promote relaxation. Why not kill two birds with one stone and do a meditation to relieve stress while laying on your acupressure mat to increase blood flow to your neck muscles!?!  Win-win!  Adequate sleep and a healthy diet can also help reduce stress and promote overall health.

In conclusion, waking up with a sore, painful neck although common, is preventable.  There are natural alternatives that can help alleviate the discomfort, without having to take shares in Pandol. By maintaining good posture, stretching regularly, and using supportive contoured pillows and acupressure mats and pillows, you can reduce neck pain and improve circulation. It's also important to manage stress and promote overall health through exercise, relaxation techniques, and a healthy lifestyle. With these natural solutions, you can wake up feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day, without the pain in your neck holding you back!