Neck pain
A stiff neck that will not turn. A dull ache after a day at the screen. Pain that runs into the shoulder or down the arm.
Chiropractic care may help you manage neck pain that comes from the joints, discs and muscles of the neck. Working out which of those it is comes first.
What it is
Neck pain is usually mechanical: joints that have lost movement, muscles that are guarding, discs under strain. Long hours at a screen, an awkward night’s sleep, a jolt or a fall are common starts. Pain, pins and needles or numbness in the arm can mean a nerve in the neck is irritated.
What we assess
- Your history, including any injury and anything that affects your arms or hands.
- How your neck and upper back move, your posture at rest and at a screen, and the movement of each segment.
- Joint, muscle and nerve testing, with hands-on examination. On-site X-rays if clinically indicated.
Your initial consultation is $49 and includes the examination, on-site X-rays if clinically indicated, an adjustment if clinically indicated, and the planning session where we go through what we found. What to expect →
What care looks like
Adjustments to the neck and upper back joints that are not moving well, and hands-on work for the muscles.
At-home work: mobility and strengthening, and a practical look at your desk, screen and pillow.
A plan with a number of visits, reviewed as you go. Like all treatments, chiropractic care can have side effects; the common ones are mild and short-lived, such as soreness after an adjustment. We discuss this with you before care starts.
When to see your GP first
Some symptoms need a doctor before anyone else. See your GP, or emergency care, if you have:
- Neck pain after a car accident or a blow to the head, or with a severe headache.
- Neck pain with fever and a stiff neck, or with weakness, clumsiness or numbness in the arms or legs.
- Pain that is getting steadily worse rather than settling.
If you are unsure, call us and ask. We would rather send you to the right person than have you guess.
Questions
Is it from my pillow?
Sometimes. Pillow height and sleeping position change how the neck loads for eight hours a night, so we ask about them and often suggest a change.
Can neck pain cause headaches?
Yes. Headaches that start at the base of the skull and come with neck stiffness often have a neck component. See our headache page.
Related: Headaches · Posture · All conditions
Ready when you are.
Your initial consultation is $49 and includes the examination, on-site X-rays if clinically indicated, an adjustment if clinically indicated, and the planning session where we go through what we found.