You want to wake up feeling refreshed and recharged in the morning, not with aches and pains in your neck. Unfortunately, morning neck pain is a reality for far too many Americans, and it can really get your day started on the wrong foot. In today’s blog, we’re going to take a look at some of the reasons why you may be waking up with neck pain, and we’ll explain some of the best ways to overcome this discomfort.
What’s Causing My Morning Neck Pain?
Morning neck pain can be the result of a few different factors, but if you have no history of neck pain and no reason to suspect that you suffered trauma to the area, odds are you simply slept in a bad position. If your pillow is too thin or too thick, or you simply end up contorting your body into an uncomfortable position while you’re asleep, neck muscles and tissues can be stressed during a time when they are supposed to be recovering from the trauma of the day. If these tissues are handling stress overnight, they are going to be sore and painful in the morning.
Morning neck pain can also be the result of natural wear and tear or degenerative changes that have affected your neck over the years. If you are an older adult, you may have some arthritic degeneration in your neck region, and arthritis can lead to more noticeable pain when moving the area after an extended period of inactivity. Trauma to the area from a previous injury can also lead to neck pain in the morning as the strained tissues get used to handling stress again after your restful period, but if you injured your neck the day prior, it’s pretty easy to figure out why your neck is uncomfortable in the morning.
Preventing And Treating Morning Neck Pain
Prevention and treatment really comes down to knowing the underlying cause of discomfort and taking some simple steps to account for these factors. Here’s a look at some prevention and treatment tips based on the underlying cause of discomfort.
- Poor Sleep Positioning – Neck pain tends to be more common among stomach sleepers because their neck needs to be turned to one side while they are laying flat in the bed. This is an unnatural position for your neck, and odds are you’ll be in this position for hours. Instead, try to fall asleep on your back or your side, as these positions allow your neck to remain in a comfortable and supported position. If you wake up with neck pain, take a few minutes to gently stretch the area to help release muscle tension and stress. A hot compress or warm shower may help tense tissues relax. Over-the-counter medications can also prove helpful, but be sure to pair these with active stretching techniques for the biggest benefit. It may also be helpful to reevaluate your mattress and pillows to ensure that they are providing the right level of support for your spine and neck.
- Arthritis Pain – If your neck pain is tied to natural degeneration, you’re not alone. You can benefit from many of the tips listed above, but you’ll really want to focus on stretching techniques and some physical therapy exercises to strengthen the neck area. These strength-building techniques will help to take strain off of your arthritic joints and can help to calm morning stiffness and discomfort. If pain persists, consider connecting with a spine specialist like Dr. Sinicropi.
- Trauma – Finally, if you suffered a whiplash injury or other trauma to the neck and are experiencing symptoms in the morning, you’ll want to connect with a spine specialist. Odds are they’ll recommend gentle stretching exercises and that you avoid certain strenuous activities while healing runs its course. Making sure your bed and pillows help to keep your spine in a healthy alignment is also important if you’re working to recover from a neck injury. The good news is that once the injury heals, morning neck pain tends to disappear along with the injury.
If you want assistance overcoming your morning neck pain, or you just want to connect with a specialist who can help get to the bottom of your discomfort, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
