Putting a hot compress on the neck, doing a massage, stretching the muscles and taking a muscle relaxant are 4 different ways to treat a torticoll at home. These four treatments complement each other and help heal the torticoll more quickly and may be helpful in relieving pain and discomfort.
The torticollus happens due to a muscle spasm that makes it impossible for the person to turn the neck from side to side. It looks like the neck gets stuck and the pain will never go away, but following these 4 steps is a great home treatment:
1. Put a hot compress on the neck
A good home remedy for torticollis is to apply a warm compress on the neck, letting it act for a few minutes. The heat will decrease the pain and muscle spasm, increasing the region's blood circulation, facilitating the healing of the torticollis. For the compress:
Ingredients
- 2 cups raw rice
- 1 small pillowcase
Method of preparation
Put the rice grains inside the pillowcase and tie it up, making a bundle. Take the microwaves at medium power for about 3 minutes to blend. Then apply this lukewarm bunch on the neck and let it act for at least 20 minutes.
2. Massage the neck
When removing the warm bundle, put a little moisturizer in your hands and massage the painful region of the neck, pressing the region with the tips of your fingers. If possible, ask the other person to massage you. Also can be used creams or even arnica ointment to accelerate the recovery. Here's how to make a great arnica ointment at home.
3. Stretching the neck muscles
Turn the head back and forth and bring the chin to the shoulder, but always respecting the limit of the pain, but if the torticollis persists for more than 5 days, an appointment with a physiotherapist can be useful. This video has some stretching exercises that can be indicated, but one must always respect the limit of pain and not force the neck to not aggravate pain and discomfort:
4. Taking a muscle relaxant
Taking a muscle relaxant, such as Cyclobenzaprine Hydrochloride or Baclofen, is also a good way to fight back pain and muscle spasms, healing the torticoll more quickly.
This type of drug can be purchased at the pharmacy without a prescription, but ideally it should be used with the advice of a health professional such as the pharmacist because it has side effects and contraindications that must be adhered to.
See other remedies that can be used to treat torticollis.
