Ice and heat therapy can both offer pain relief. Icing an injury can help reduce swelling, while heat can help relax tight ...

Share on Pinterest PM Images/Getty Images You likely have heard about using a hot or cold compress for your neck pain — but when do you need to ice, and when should you reach for the heat?

The application of heat tends to be preferred for a chronic injury, or when the complaint is due to joint stiffness or a muscle spasm. The pain gate theory describes how ice and heat produce ...

Cervical disc disease may be the most common cause of neck pain ... is to use ice for the first 24 to 48 hours after an injury to reduce swelling, followed by heat to loosen muscles and improve ...

For short-term pain ... A bag of ice or frozen vegetables A washcloth or small towel soaked in hot or cold water (wring it out, fold it, and apply to the sore area) Whether you use heat or cold ...

As a general rule of thumb, use ice for acute injuries or pain, along with inflammation and swelling. Use heat for muscle pain or stiffness. Heat therapy works by improving circulation and blood ...

Home remedies like rest, ice or heat therapy, and gentle stretching may help relieve mild neck pain. Moderate to severe pain may require medical treatment, such as medications, physical therapy ...