Tips to Help Your Senior Find Relief From Neck Pain
It’s not uncommon for someone to have a sore neck but as your loved one gets older, her risk of developing a sore neck increases due to the simple nature of getting older and parts of the body beginning to break down. Neck pain can put a damper on activity and may even make some activities nearly impossible to do. Finding the cause of neck pain and then finding the best way to relieve that pain can bring relief to your elderly loved one so she can continue being active. Senior home care can help your senior with prevention and accommodations to help.
Senior Home Care in Katy, TX
Leading Causes of Neck Pain
Since the neck supports the head, it can easily be injured or strained so moving it causes pain for your elderly loved one. In general, there are five ways neck pain occurs.
- Some diseases can lead to neck pain for the elderly, especially arthritis, osteoporosis, and cancer.
- Injuries to the neck can also lead to neck pain. After a car accident, whiplash may have long-lasting effects on the neck’s ability to move without pain. A bad fall by your loved one can lead to neck pain as well.
- Compressed nerves may generate neck pain. A herniated disk can bulge out and put pressure on spinal cord nerves.
- Worn-out joints due to age can create neck pain by rubbing against each other.
- Muscle strains may lead to neck pain. The neck muscles can get strained by sleeping on them incorrectly, poor posture, being hunched over a book or a laptop for too long, or any type of overuse.
Treating Neck Pain at Home
For temporary neck pain, most people can rely on home treatments until the affected area begins to feel better. If you know that there isn’t serious concern for neck pain, making your loved one comfortable as she recovers is the best thing you can do for her.
- Rest is important so she doesn’t increase the strain on her neck so encourage her to sit with proper posture as she is recovering. She might need pillows to help her stay propped in a position that doesn’t aggravate the inflamed area more.
- Heat can help muscles of the neck relax and cold can help reduce swelling and reduce pain levels. Your loved one might want to alternate between the two options. A warm shower can feel great if the water pressure stream is strong enough to be soothing.
- Find out what pain medication is best for your loved one and have her take it as needed to relieve pain.
- A neck massage can help but be gentle and follow her lead with how intense you work on any knots in her neck.
Avoiding Future Neck Strain
While you can’t guarantee your loved one will never have neck pain again if she takes certain precautions, being proactive about neck pain is the best way to prevent it.
If there are specific actions that cause neck pain for your loved one, consider having a senior home care provider help with chores or activities that strain her neck like cleaning the shower or mopping the floor. If carrying heavy objects like groceries or garbage often causes neck pain in your loved one, have a senior home care provider assist in those areas to eliminate the risk of that activity causing your loved one pain. By working with your senior home care provider, you can reduce the risk of future neck strain and pain for your loved one.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Senior Home Care in Katy, TX, contact the caring staff at Personal Caregiving Services at 832-564-0338. Providing Care in Houston, Bellaire, West University Place, Katy, Sugar Land, Meyerland, Tanglewood, Memorial, Spring Branch, River Oaks, and the surrounding areas.
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