Neck Pain Relief in Sarasota
Your neck carries your head all day. The pain may be telling you the structure underneath needs help.
For Sarasota, Bradenton, and Lakewood Ranch patients who are ready to be done with the stiff neck and the knots that never let go.
New patients are x-rayed to make sure that we can address problems with the position and condition of the vertebrae in your neck that can lead to pain and dysfunction.
Why neck pain keeps coming back
Your neck has a big job. It protects the nerves that run from your head down into your shoulders, arms, and hands, and holds up a head that weighs about as much as a bowling ball.
A healthy neck has a gentle forward curve. Accidents, falls, sports injuries/collisions, and hours spent in modern life looking down at a phone or a laptop can slowly flatten that curve or even reverse it. When that happens, the muscles have to work harder to hold your head up, creating tension in the muscles and putting pressure on the nerves in your neck.
does this Sound familiar?
- It’s hard to turn your head to check your mirrors or back up the car
- You can never find a pillow that feels right
- Your neck and upper shoulders tighten up after long days at a desk or behind the wheel
- Tingling or numbness that travels into your arms or hands
How we find the cause: position & condition
Every new patient gets the same thorough starting point. We look at two things:
Position
Where your vertebrae and spine sit and how they move. Posture checks, balance scales, and additional testing to see how your body is carrying itself. Range of motion through your whole spine, plus how each segment moves on its own.
Condition
The health of your vertebrae and discs. Full-spine digital X-rays can show disc changes, arthritis, bone spurs, or old injuries that may have created a stress pattern.
For neck pain, we look closely at the curve of your neck, how far your head sits forward of your shoulders, and the height of the discs at each level.
From the side, your spine should have a smooth, healthy curve. We measure yours and chart it against normal:
MildUp to 25% loss of curve
Moderate25-50% loss of curve
SevereMore than 50% loss of curve
Your PostureRay X-Ray Report shows you exactly where you stand, and we re-measure along the way so you can see progress, not just feel it.
How we help neck pain
Depending on what your exam shows, your plan may include:
Chiropractic Care
Specific adjustments to restore alignment and motion in your neck and upper back, paired with at-home spinal hygiene exercises and/or a cervical orthotic so the curve in your neck can “hold” between visits and heal in the long-term.
Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression
If your exam shows a potential disc bulge or herniation in your neck, or if we find degeneration on X-ray, cervical decompression on our Chattanooga Triton 6M traction table is used to gently create space and take pressure off the discs and nerves.
What to expect
Feeling better and being fully better aren’t the same thing. Most people notice changes early on. Truly stabilizing a spine that’s been out of position for years can take up to 6-12 months of consistency… That doesn’t mean 6-12 months to feel better, it just means that your body needs time to hold the correction so it doesn’t slide back.
Will it hurt? Changing a spine that hasn’t moved in years can feel like a workout at the beginning. If you feel it, it’s usually in the first couple of weeks, and we adapt our technique to what works best for you.
When to get emergency care: Get emergency care for neck pain after a fall or collision, neck pain with a fever and a stiff neck, facial drooping, trouble speaking or swallowing, or new weakness, numbness, or trouble walking.
Frequently asked questions
Can a chiropractor help with neck pain?
Many people find their neck pain is tied to the alignment and curve of their neck. If your exam shows that, correcting the structure is a smart place to start. If it points to something outside our lane, we’ll tell you and help you get to the right provider.
Do I need an X-ray of my neck?
In most cases, yes. We need to see the curve of your neck to know what we’re working with.
Why do my arms or hands tingle when my neck hurts?
The nerves that run your arms and hands leave the spine in your lower neck. Pressure there can show up as tingling or numbness far from the neck itself.
What kind of pillow should I use?
We’ll give you specific recommendations after your exam, since the right pillow depends on the curve of your neck and how you sleep.
Where are you located?
We’re at 5250 17th St #101, Sarasota, FL 34235, on the corner of 17th & Honore in the corner unit closest to Honore. We are centrally located between University and Fruitville and about 5 minutes from I-75 and UTC, and we see patients from Sarasota, Bradenton, and Lakewood Ranch.
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Ready to find out what’s going on?
Your new patient exam includes a full consultation, digital X-rays, and a PostureRay report, so you leave knowing exactly where you stand.