07 Jan Why does my neck hurt so much at night & what can I do about it?
If you’re one of those unlucky souls who suffer from neck pain, then you know all too well that it can make it hard to drift off into a restful sleep. Neck pain has a tendency to keep us awake throughout the night, leaving us feeling exhausted during the day.
But why does neck pain seem to be so persistent when it comes to sleep?
Neck pain can be caused by several factors, such as posture, poor sleeping habits, or even an underlying medical condition.
- Neck muscles become tense and sore when we don’t practice proper posture and regular movement during the day
- Using a pillow that doesn’t support our neck properly while sleeping will make our neck pain worse and interfere with our sleep
- An ongoing medical condition such as arthritis or fibromyalgia can cause the neck to ache and make sleep difficult
From an anatomical perspective, our necks support our heads and must be able to move in various directions in order for us to perform our everyday tasks. With constant use of our necks, especially if we hunch forward over work stations or cell phones for long periods of time, tension builds up in the muscles, nerves, and joints of the neck, resulting in stiffness and pain. This can then trigger a chain reaction throughout our bodies, making it difficult to relax and get comfortable enough to sleep well
The good news is that there are things that you can do to reduce your neck pain and ensure you get a good night’s sleep.
Here are my top tips for managing neck pain so that it doesn’t keep you up all night:
- Maintain good sitting posture
- Take frequent breaks from prolonged activities such as sitting or standing. This will allow your neck and body to rest and recover.
- Regularly stretch and exercise the muscles of your neck to maintain flexibility and increase circulation.
- Utilise supportive pillows and a good sleeping position in order to keep your head and neck at a comfortable angle during the night.
- See a physiotherapist who specialises in neck pain. They can provide invaluable tips on how to alleviate neck pain, and give you treatment and exercises that will help you manage and reduce neck pain.
By following my simple tips and arming yourself with knowledge about neck pain, you will take back control of your sleep and start living a pain-free, energised life again.
At the end of the day, by changing your habits now, you can prevent neck pain from controlling your life.
There are qualified neck pain specialists at Quality Life Physiotherapy who are ready to help.
Call us today to take charge: 01536 907767
Alternatively, you can book online now:
At Quality Life Physiotherapy, we will help relieve your neck pain so that you can sleep better tonight!