Tips on how to deal with a crooked neck when sleeping

Having a stiff neck while sleeping is a very embarrassing thing, and it happens often. I originally hoped to have a good sleep, but when I wake up, I find myself extremely tired and my neck is tilted to one side. It is really depressing. What tricks can we use to recover quickly when we get a stiff neck while sleeping? First of all, we need to see what causes stiff neck, and use different tips according to different causes. Let’s take a look together below.

Tips on how to deal with a stiff neck

1. Cold compress: If there is local pain, severe stiffness, or swelling or burning sensation, it means that the injured area is congested and inflamed. Therefore, cold compresses should be applied within 24 hours. You can wrap small ice cubes in a towel or plastic bag and apply them to the affected area for 15-30 minutes each time, twice a day. In severe cases, you can apply it once an hour.

2. Hot compress: Wait until the pain of inflammation is relieved before considering hot compress to dredge the meridians, promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis. You can apply wet compress with a hot towel, or dry compress with a hot water bottle. If you have time, you can take a hot bath, especially rinse the affected area on your neck repeatedly with hot water, and massage your neck with your hands while washing for better results.

3. Self-massage the "Stiff Neck Point": In traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture, there is a "Stiff Neck Point", which is located on the back of the hand, between the 2nd and 3rd metacarpal bones, a little behind the metacarpophalangeal joint. This acupoint is a special and effective acupoint for treating stiff neck. You can self-massage with your left and right hands alternately. Key points: Use your thumb to massage the acupoints, starting from light force to heavy force, and maintain heavy pressure for 10-15 minutes. During the massage of the acupoints, extend the head slightly forward, slowly retract it from the front and bottom, so that the lower jaw moves closer to the suprasternal fossa, keep the neck muscles relaxed, then gently and slowly turn the head left and right, starting from a small amplitude to a larger amplitude, and gradually straighten the neck to its normal position. The rotation should be limited to the maximum range that does not cause any pain.

4. Rotate your neck. Sit on a chair and first turn your neck to the left. Keep your body upright and do not turn with the neck. When you turn your neck to the maximum range that your body can bear, look at your left shoulder. Hold for about five seconds, then turn to the right in the same way, looking at your right shoulder. Do this 20 times on each side. This exercise method can activate the neck meridians and allow the blood and qi in the neck to flow smoothly.

Preventing stiff neck

You can also make a "Chinese medicine" pillow with appropriate height, softness and hardness. When making pillows, you can also add finely ground Chinese medicine, such as astragalus, angelica, licorice, etc., to promote blood circulation in the neck. In addition, you should pay attention to neck health on a daily basis. For example, people who sit for a long time at work should stand up and raise their heads to exercise their necks frequently to prevent chronic strain of the neck muscles. People who stay in an air-conditioned environment for a long time should pay more attention to keeping their neck warm, especially those who need to work in a fixed posture or take a nap at a desk.