Whether you work on an oil rig or at an accounting firm, work can be a Pain in the neck — literally. Straining, hunching and other actions on the job can cause you to develop either chronic or acute Neck Pain. It could happen from a single incident, or a build-up from months or even years of repetitive motion. Whatever the cause, relieving that pain often becomes a top priority, and can even distract you from work.

What may be surprising is that it’s not just the “old folks” who can end up suffering from Chronic Neck Pain. In fact, about 65 percent of people ages 18 to 34 report that they also deal with this issue on a daily basis. Overall, a quarter of all Americans say they suffer from chronic neck pain. Luckily, there are ways to alleviate that pain.

The Traditional Methods

There are quite a few ways you can combat chronic neck pain. Perhaps the easiest is to adjust your posture. If you sit most of the day for your job, be sure to sit up straight. This may require you to raise your computer monitors so you aren’t hunched over all day. If you stand for your job, try to keep your head level, both vertically and horizontally. For both kinds of jobs, do your best to keep your shoulders in line with your hips, and your ears level over your shoulders. It may seem like a nuisance, but your neck muscles will thank you.

If you are already dealing with neck pain, there are a few stretches you can try out. Perhaps the easiest it to place your hand on top of year head and gently pull to each shoulder to stretch out each side. Using a heating pad to loosen up tight muscles may also be beneficial. However, some people find more relief by using an ice pack. Whichever method works best for you, only apply heat or cold for 10 to 20 minutes at a time, using a cloth to avoid direct skin contact.

How Tai Chi Could Help

A recent study has demonstrated how practicing tai chi could also help relieve neck pain. Tai chi is a form of martial arts that requires slow, fluid movements. When done properly, it can be just as effective as traditional methods to relieve neck pain. Researchers divided 114 adults with chronic neck pain into three groups. One group stuck to conventional methods to relieve their pain, the second utilized tai chi and the third received no treatment as a control group.

At the end of the study, it was revealed that the group who did tai chi for about an hour and a half each week felt much less pain than the control group. In fact, nearly 40 percent of participants said their pain was at least cut in half. Similarly, about 45 percent of those who did traditional neck exercise reported the same results.

Compensation for Work-Related Neck Pain

If you have suffered a neck injury or have developed chronic neck pain as a result of an accident or the general conditions at work, you are likely covered under California workers’ compensation laws. Once compensation is awarded, you are not allowed to sue your employer for a bigger payout. However, if there was a third party involved — for instance, manufacturers of faulty equipment — you may be entitled to compensation from them. In addition, if your injury was caused by a serious accident and/or an unsafe working environment, it may be grounds for an OSHA investigation.

Though California law is rather stringent about workers’ compensation, there may be workarounds to get the full damages you deserve. If you’ve been hurt on the job in San Luis Obispo, contact the attorneys at Ernst Law Group today to learn more about your options in a free consultation.

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