Often, doctors will prescribe pain medications to reduce burning neck pain, but there are drawbacks that this course can lead to.
It’s reported that about 18 million Americans abuse some type of prescription medication annually. Unfortunately, even over-the-counter pain medicines can lead to negative side effects. These are just a few reasons that you’ll be glad to know that you can treat burning neck pain without pain meds, and physical therapists are just the specialists to help you do this.
Three ways you can treat burning neck pain without pain medication
Burning neck pain is often caused by a pinched nerve in the neck. This issue could be linked to underlying conditions like herniated discs or osteoarthritis, but it’s often possible to treat your pain without relying on painkillers.
Physical therapists can evaluate you to determine the root cause of your pain. They can then build you a therapy plan that includes multiple therapy techniques designed to decrease your pain naturally. Some of these natural pain-reducing techniques could include:
- Therapeutic exercises — Your physical therapist can show you how to do movements to stretch and strengthen your neck. These therapeutic exercises can also help reduce your pain, especially when combined with other therapy methods. A study shows that 75% of patients who had therapeutic exercises in their therapy plan had significant neck pain reductions.
- Spinal manipulation — This technique is a type of manual therapy and involves therapists using their hands to apply pressure to and realign the neck vertebrae. Medical researchers report that a higher number of people who received spinal manipulation had at least a 50% reduction in their pain compared to people who took pain meds.
- Graston Technique® — This therapy method involves your physical therapist using a metal tool to apply pressure and friction to neck soft tissue. It’s useful for breaking down scar tissue in your neck that could be contributing to your pain. It can also help reduce muscle tension and realign the cervical spine. Additionally, a study of neck pain treatment shows that the Graston Technique and other therapy methods helped reduce neck pain by 50%.
Find treatment for your burning neck pain at Panther Physical Therapy
Worried about taking pain meds for your burning neck pain? Our therapists at Panther PT can help you reduce your pain so you won’t need those meds anymore. We’ll start by doing a free screening of your neck to determine the cause of your pain. Then, our team will build you a personalized therapy plan designed to reduce your pain naturally.
Keen to get help without leaving home? No problem! Our physical therapists can work with you in virtual therapy or at-home care sessions designed to provide you with therapy in your own home.
Contact our team today for more information about our neck pain treatment services or to schedule an initial appointment.