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If you are actively attending sessions with a physical therapist to assist with regaining movement in your neck after an injury that occurred during a traffic collision, the following tips will help you reduce pain and remain comfortable after each session. 

Heated Massage Pad

Purchase a heated massage pad that will wrap all the way around your neck. Set the pad on top of an elevated pillow when you would like to relax and loosen tight muscles. Many massage pads are connected to an electrical plug. This kind of heating device often has a dial on it that will allow you to adjust how warm the pad gets.

Use the pad whenever the neck pain that you are experiencing is making it unbearable to lie down. Make sure that you unplug the device before you go to sleep at night, since leaving an electrical device plugged in can be hazardous.

Warm Compress and Neck Brace

Purchase a compress that can be heated up quickly inside of a microwave oven. Place the compress directly against the part of your neck that is sore. Hold the compress in place and secure a neck brace over it. The neck brace will prevent the compress from shifting and will prevent you from turning your head at an awkward angle, which could cause the injured area to become worse.

The compress will come in handy if you need to go somewhere throughout the day. As long as you heat it up beforehand or have access to a microwave oven while you are out, you can keep the pain at a bearable level.

Essential Oils Kneaded into Tight Muscles

Create a calm and relaxing area in your home by dimming the lights and turning on some soft music. Perhaps you could play a recording of a waterfall, a babbling brook, or ocean waves if you enjoy that type of thing. Place a couple of comfortable pillows on your bed or couch.

Put on a face mask as you are listening to the music or nature sounds, and gently rub a few drops of one of your favorite essential oils into the part of your neck that is causing you discomfort. The sounds and smell that you experience may help get your mind off of the pain in your neck. The soft movements of your fingertips may loosen muscles that are strained, and this will temporarily alleviate pain.

Take it easy while recovering, and follow all of the advice that a physical therapist from an organization such as Robert Volski & Associates Physical Therapy provides you with. Use each of the methods listed above as often as you would like. If, however, your pain does not lessen or becomes worse in the future, consult with your therapist at your earliest convenience so that they can determine how to help you.