Neck pain has a way of spreading into everything. It can make it hard to check your blind spot, sleep comfortably, focus at a screen, or get through a workout. At Golden Bear, care starts with understanding where your neck pain is coming from, then building a plan around what the exam shows.
What neck pain can feel like
- Stiffness that makes it hard to turn your head
- Aching at the base of the skull or across the tops of the shoulders
- Tension that builds over a workday at a desk or on your phone
- Headaches that seem to start in the neck
- Pain, tingling, or numbness that travels into the shoulder, arm, or hand
When chiropractic care may be a good fit
Most neck pain is mechanical: it comes from joints, muscles, and the way you move and hold your body rather than from a serious underlying disease. Most episodes of new neck pain settle with or without treatment, though nearly half of people keep having some pain or flare-ups.[1] That kind of neck pain often responds to conservative care. Clinical guidelines support exercise and hands-on treatment,[2][7] and a review of 47 trials found low-to-moderate quality evidence that manipulation and mobilization reduce pain and improve function for long-lasting neck pain, with combined approaches (such as hands-on care plus exercise) showing the most promise.[3]
When to get medical care instead: seek emergency care for neck pain after a car accident, fall, or other injury, or neck pain that comes with a sudden severe headache, dizziness, vision changes, trouble speaking or swallowing, weakness or loss of coordination in the arms or legs, or fever with a stiff neck.[1][4] Call 911 in an emergency.
How Dr. Corey evaluates neck pain
Your 75–90 minute first visit includes a detailed history and a full neurological and orthopedic exam, including:
- Posture of the head, neck, and upper back, including how you sit and work
- Range of motion in every direction, and where movement is restricted
- Strength, reflexes, and sensation in the arms and hands
- Screening questions and tests to make sure hands-on neck treatment is appropriate for you
If anything in your exam calls for a physician's evaluation or imaging, you will be referred before treatment starts.
What treatment may include
- Adjustments to the neck and upper back, including low-force options
- Muscle work for the neck, upper back, and shoulders, such as trigger point therapy and myofascial release
- Mobility and strengthening exercises you can do at home or at your desk
- Practical changes to your workstation, phone habits, and sleep setup
Neck adjustments are never required. If you prefer, your care can focus on low-force techniques and muscle work.
Learn about soft-tissue and muscle work →
What your first appointment looks like
Book online, complete your intake forms ahead of time, and plan for 75–90 minutes. The intake visit includes your history, exam, and a treatment plan, plus treatment that day if it is appropriate. Pricing is flat and published before you book. Golden Bear is out-of-network with insurance, and a superbill is available on request.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to have my neck adjusted?
For most people, neck adjustments performed after proper screening are considered low risk, and serious complications are rare, with estimates ranging from about 1 in 400,000 to 1 in 10 million neck manipulations.[7] A large population study found no excess risk of a rare type of stroke after chiropractic visits compared with visits to a primary care doctor; the small association seen with both was likely due to people with an early artery problem seeking care for neck pain or headache.[5] There is no single test that predicts these events, so your exam screens your history and symptoms for warning signs, following international guidance,[4][7] and you can always choose a low-force approach instead.
Can a chiropractor help with headaches?
Some headaches, especially ones linked to neck tension and posture, may improve with care for the neck and upper back. Chiropractic guidelines recommend spinal manipulation for cervicogenic headache (headache that starts in the neck), while the evidence for tension-type headache is mixed.[6] A headache that is sudden, severe, or different from your usual pattern needs a medical evaluation first.
Do I need a referral?
No. You do not need a referral to see a chiropractor in California.
Sources
Retrieved through PubMed, plus Souza's chiropractic differential diagnosis text. Numbers in brackets above refer to this list.
- Cohen SP. Epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of neck pain. Mayo Clin Proc. 2015;90(2):284-299. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2014.09.008
- Blanpied PR, Gross AR, Elliott JM, et al. Neck pain: revision 2017. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2017;47(7):A1-A83. doi:10.2519/jospt.2017.0302
- Coulter ID, Crawford C, Vernon H, et al. Manipulation and mobilization for treating chronic nonspecific neck pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis for an appropriateness panel. Pain Physician. 2019;22(2):E55-E70. PMC6800035
- Rushton A, Carlesso LC, Flynn T, et al. International framework for examination of the cervical region for potential of vascular pathologies of the neck prior to musculoskeletal intervention: International IFOMPT Cervical Framework. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2023;53(1):7-22. doi:10.2519/jospt.2022.11147
- Cassidy JD, Boyle E, Côté P, et al. Risk of vertebrobasilar stroke and chiropractic care: results of a population-based case-control and case-crossover study. Spine. 2008;33(4 Suppl):S176-S183. doi:10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181644600
- Bryans R, Descarreaux M, Duranleau M, et al. Evidence-based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with headache. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2011;34(5):274-289. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2011.04.008
- Souza TA. Differential Diagnosis and Management for the Chiropractor: Protocols and Algorithms. 3rd ed. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett; 2005:45.