Care Heat and medicine can help relieve the pain. Put a warm heating pad or warm, moist towels on the painful joint, or soak it in a whirlpool bath for 10 to 20 minutes every hour for 48 hours. Massaging the muscles around the joint also may relieve pain and stiffness, although massaging the joint itself is not helpful. Sleeping on a waterbed is helpful for some people. If this is not helpful, ask your doctor if you can buy or rent a neck traction device to use at home.
Rest is important when the joint becomes very painful.
Resume normal activity when you feel better. Regular exercise will strengthen your muscles and reduce your symptoms. Cold may increase the pain in the affected joint. You may want to wear thermal underwear or avoid outdoor activity during cold weather. If you are overweight, it is important to lose weight.