Why Do the Muscles on Both Sides of My Neck Hurt So Much? What Should I Do?

Neck pain on both sides may be caused by muscle strain in the neck and shoulders, cervical vertebral hyperosteogeny, cervical spondylosis, and other reasons. It can be improved through local massage, appropriate activities, and changes in sitting posture. If the pain is more obvious, analgesics can be administered for treatment.

People engaged in mental labor and those who frequently watch television or computers often maintain incorrect postures for extended periods, lack exercise, and cause the muscles in the neck and shoulders to remain in a contracted state, resulting in strain, decreased joint activity, or inflammation. This often leads to discomfort and pain in the neck and shoulders.

Maintaining a fixed posture with the head down for a long time can easily lead to cervical vertebral hyperosteogeny and cervical spondylosis, causing neck pain. This can be relieved through local massage, appropriate activities, and changes in sitting posture to relax the muscles in the neck and shoulders, improve blood circulation, promote the nutritional supply to muscles and bones, accelerate the excretion of metabolites such as lactic acid, and reduce pain.

Neck pain can also be related to neck lymph nodes, thyroid diseases, and other conditions. It is recommended to visit a hospital for further examination and diagnosis. Treatment mainly focuses on physical therapy, including massage, hot compresses, and the use of plaster patches such as Xiaotong Tiegao and Fluorobiphen Bupatch for physical therapy. If the pain is more pronounced, analgesics such as etofenamate gel can be applied locally or oral analgesics can be taken. If stiffness is also present, tizanidine can be taken orally. It is important to maintain good posture, avoid prolonged desk work, and minimize the use of mobile phones and computers.

When sleeping, it is essential to use a pillow of suitable height that is neither too high nor too low, ensuring it aligns with the shoulders. This allows the neck to relax sufficiently and improves local pain in the tendons.