Physical therapists, chiropractors, and similar specialists have lots of tools to reduce muscle spasm and nerve pain. Inflammation and swelling can also be improved, at least partially, with physical therapy. Let's start with a discussion of ways to reduce your pain right away.

• Massage can help many people. It improves muscle spasm and can sometimes reduce swelling, too. Remember that there are many different massage techniques, and it may take some time to figure out which ones work best for you.
  
• Physical manipulation or adjustment sometimes helps a lot to reduce muscle spasm. In addition, if a bone is not quite in its proper position, mechanical adjustment can bring remarkable reduction in pain very quickly. Relief can come from removing pressure on a muscle or nerve and also from improved alignment, reducing stress on other parts of the body. The most important precaution is to make sure a specialist does not cause an injury by making an over-aggressive adjustment. Being careful is especially critical when manipulating the neck or back, so as to avoid injuring the spinal cord.
  
• Ultrasound - the same sound-wave technology used to do an echocardiogram or a prenatal ultrasound of a developing baby - can be applied to an area of pain. Ultrasound is completely safe and is sometimes very effective at reducing pain, spasm, and inflammation.
  
• Acupuncture and other treatments involving needles sometimes work very well, too. Of course, you want to make sure that any needles or other objects placed through or under your skin are clean and sterile, and have never been used on anyone else. Acupressure may also be a worth trying if you're uneasy with using needles.