What to do when your can’t turn your head...

Q: My neck muscle is strained and I can’t move it comfortably left to right - I have no idea how or why this happened. What can I do at home to gain more comfort and mobility? Heat or ice? Motrin load up? Dr. Redmond: As a chiropractor, I get asked this question a lot. Most folks completely underestimate the importance of this red flag! Nothing replaces a good chiropractic exam to determine exactly what the issue is. If I were alone on a desert island, I would probably start with moist heat. If it got worse than it was when it started once the heat was removed, I’d switch to ice. I would also find which vectors made for a good stretch and hold the stretch for at least a minute at a time. Massage will also help. Since Motrin (ibuprofen) interferes with healing, that might not be the best idea. Tylenol (acetaminophen) interferes with T cell production and your immune system, so I would avoid that if possible as well.

Most of all, and I can’t stress this enough, I would definitely get it checked out by a good chiropractor, since this is usually a warning sign that there are major problems lurking under the surface... If it’s addressed now, you could potentially stop or prevent the development of arthritis and disease, saving you from a whole bunch of other issues including but not limited to headaches, fatigue, allergies, and more pain. It’s so easy to fix when you catch it early on, but wait too long, and the damage becomes irreparable.

Location: Samsara Chiropractic Wellness Center, 1 Eastern Ave, Second Floor East, Somerville. 908-300-8800. [email protected]. DoctorRedmond.com.