How to Get Rid of Neck and Jaw Pain
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Written by Nancy Whelan
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 Your jaw aches and/or you're getting shooting pains in your neck and your shoulders. You may have "Computer-itis!" You know what that is. You're working all day at the computer on that report due tomorrow. The problem is that your posture is creating the pain. You're slouching and probably grinding your teeth. Is it the coffee? The irritating deadline? Or, the boss with unrealistic expectations? Who cares! You need a physical therapist, who is expert in evaluating pain, muscles, strength and movement malfunctions. These guys know muscles and bones and how to treat them.Physical therapist, Nancy Whelan , says a few exercises can cure your ills. She says, “ a thorough evaluation of neck as well as arm movement is performed and head position over the cervical spine is evaluated.” She says one of the major problems is that we unknowingly stretch our head forward toward the screen and “ the upper back is slouched forward also.”
“If these patients are on computers they are told to set alarm clocks and get up and stretch every 20 minutes,” Whelan advises. “ The computer screen should be raised to 1" below eye level. Postural exercises of squeezing the shoulder blades together and pulling the chin in like a" double chin," without tilting your head down, should be performed. “ She adds, “Cervical stabilization exercises are given and added attention to TMJ, the jaw joints, may be required." One way to relieve pain when you sleep is to roll a hand towel and put it inside the length of a pillow case. This will support your neck which needs its natural arc. Lie on your back in bed, neck supported by the encased rolled hand towel, and push your chin into your chest to make a double chin. This will help release the jaw. Don’t double up on pillows. Only use one pillow at night so your neck is properly supported.
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