Strain of the neck muscles happens when the neck muscle is over-stretched, -stressed or torn. It usually takes some weeks to heal. It is recommended to follow the principles of RICE (rest, icing, compression and elevation) when strain of the neck muscle happens and to avoid overusing the affected muscles. Medications like painkiller can also relieve the symptoms.
Strain of the neck muscle refers to damage or overstretch of a neck muscle or its attaching tendons. People can strain the neck muscles by putting undue pressure on the neck, improper position or other daily activities.
Strain of the neck muscles can be caused by: 1) Improper postures, such as being hunched over to read or to use a computer, 2) Improper position during sleep, such as sleeping on a pillow that is too high or too hard. In this situation, the neck has to stretch and maintain the same posture, and strain may happen. 3) Carrying or lifting heavy things on the shoulders, which can cause overstretch of the neck muscles. 4) Traumas and injuries, which can damage or over-stretch the neck muscles, such as a fall from a height, sport accident or a car accident. Due to the initial damage on the muscles, nerve fibers are irritated and via a reflex arc this leads to a further increased contraction of the muscle. This circuit is the reason why a strain of the neck muscles takes a longer time to heal than the often little damage would let expect.
Once the strain happens to the neck muscles, it is recommended to follow the principles of RICE, which means to rest, to ice, to compress and to elevate. Meanwhile, pain medication, anti-inflammatory medication, muscle relaxants can also help to relieve the symptoms and give a breakthrough in the vicious circle. Massage can help the blood flow to the neck muscle and loosen the tight muscles. Heat therapy can also achieve this purpose. Immediately after damaging the muscles it is recommended to cool the area to prevent inflammation. Afterwards warming is advantageous to increase blood flow and thereby accelerate healing. It may take a few weeks for the neck muscle to recover. During this time it is better to avoid too intensive activities, which lead to pain.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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