Condition
Every time I turn my neck a certain way, I get this shooting pain into my shoulder blades. Like this knot, it's all knotted up.
What we hear from neck pain patients on the first call.
What it is
Most neck pain is a combination of cervical joint dysfunction, forward head posture, and the muscle compensation that goes with both. Some of it is radicular (nerve-driven). The exam tells you which one.
What causes it
Phones and screens are the leading cause. Old whiplash, sleeping wrong, and disc degeneration round out the list. Forward head posture stresses the lower cervical discs and the upper trap muscles.
How we diagnose and treat it
Postural exam (the head measured against the shoulder line), AP open-mouth view of the atlas and axis, range-of-motion measurement with a protractor, neurological screen, and EMG. Treatment combines the adjustment, Saunders neck traction for radiculopathy, Theragun and electric stim for the trap knots, and Melanie’s corrective exercise to keep the head from collapsing forward again.
Symptoms we look for
- Pain at the base of the skull
- Sharp pain turning the head one direction
- Knot between the shoulder blades that keeps coming back
- Pain or tingling down the arm
Cost
First visit: $90. Adjustment-only follow-up: $90. Package pricing available.
Timeline
Mechanical neck pain often resolves in 2–6 weeks. Posture-driven neck pain takes longer to undo and needs the exercise piece.
What a patient said
Three months ago I couldn't turn my head far enough to back out of a parking spot. Today, fine. (Tom T.)
Related conditions
Headaches
Recurring head pain (at the temples, base of the skull, or "all over") often coming from the neck.
Forward head posture
The head sits forward of the shoulders, dragging the upper back into a hunch. The body pays for it in pain.
Numbness & tingling
Pins-and-needles, numbness, or burning in the hands, arms, feet, or legs. A nerve-pain pattern.