Muscle relaxer. I don’t mean Xanax or Valium, which some people call muscle relaxers, I mean drugs that truly are muscle relaxers. They are prescription, so if you have never been prescribed them, you might have to call your doctor, maybe he will call in a script if you want one. They will make you extremely drowsy, I hate them for that reason, but they do help quite a bit. Be sure they don’t conflict with any other drugs you are taking.
Alleve or ibuprofen is a good OTC choice. Take 600mg of the ibuprofen (prescription strength). Make sure to take with a glass of water and a little food to protect your tummy. You could add an addition Tylenol to the ibuprofen.
I don’t know the dosage for Alleve well. I think it might be ok to take two at a time, but I am not sure, double check it. Do not mix the Alleve and ibuprofen. Alleve you should protect your tummy too with a few gulps of water/liquid and a little food.
I personally would not use heat or ice. Rest as much as you can. Don’t lift anything. Support your neck well while you sleep and rest. You can roll a small towel and put it under your neck while you lie back.