Is a stiff, aching neck following you through the day?
Checking your blind spot, looking down at your phone or just getting comfortable at night can all feel harder when your neck hurts. Neck pain wears you down because you carry your head everywhere you go. Upper cervical care starts by asking how your head is actually sitting on the top of your spine, and it responds with gentle, precise adjustments.
What is neck pain?
Neck pain is soreness, tightness or stiffness anywhere from the base of your skull to the top of your shoulders. It can be sharp or dull, constant or only there when you move, and it often spreads into the shoulders, upper back or arms.
Most neck pain involves the muscles, joints and discs of the neck. Neck pain that follows a serious injury, or comes with a fever, a sudden severe headache or new weakness in an arm, needs prompt medical attention.
Common signs include:
- A stiff neck that is hard to turn
- Aching or tightness in the neck and shoulders
- Pain that grows after sitting or looking down
- Headaches that start at the base of the skull
- Muscle spasms or knots in the upper back
- Tingling or pain that travels into an arm
- Trouble finding a comfortable sleeping position
- Long hours at a desk, on a phone or at a computer
- Muscle strain from sleeping awkwardly or lifting
- Whiplash from a car accident, fall or sports injury
- Wear and tear in the joints and discs of the neck
- Ongoing stress that keeps the neck and shoulders tense
- Weak neck and shoulder muscles that tire easily
What causes neck pain?
Neck pain rarely has just one cause, and these are among the most common:
Upper cervical chiropractors look closely at the top two vertebrae, the atlas (C1) and axis (C2), which allow much of the head’s turning and nodding. Their view is that even a small shift there may leave the muscles below working overtime to keep your eyes level, so they look at the top of the neck first, even when the soreness is felt lower down.
How upper cervical care can help
Your neck muscles work all day to keep your head balanced over your body. If the top of the neck is slightly off, the muscles beneath it may stay tense even when you stretch or rest. We begin by finding out how your head and upper neck are actually sitting, using your exam and 3D imaging of your cervical spine, so that your plan is built around your own neck.
Dr. Kosta Tsakalos and our doctors use manual and instrument-assisted adjustments matched to what your exam shows. Our goal is to support the head’s position over the spine so that the muscles around it have less to hold, which may help your neck feel looser and easier to move as care goes on.
Easing guarded muscles
A neck that hurts often stays braced. Our adjustments aim to reduce the strain that keeps those muscles guarded, so turning and tilting can feel easier.
Looking back at past injuries
An old fall, sports hit or car accident can leave the upper neck sitting differently. We ask about these and look for their mark in your exam and imaging.
Muscle and posture checks
We assess the muscles of your neck and shoulders and your posture with software, so we can see how your head sits over your shoulders, not just where it hurts.
Care that adapts to you
Your plan follows how your neck responds. We recheck as you go, so care changes with how you feel and move instead of following a one-size-fits-all script.
What to expect
Day 1
Your first visit
A consultation with the doctor at the office you choose, a thorough exam, and 3D imaging of your cervical spine with our CBCT scanner. We also do a detailed posture evaluation with advanced software, neurological testing and muscle assessments.
Day 2
Your report of findings
The doctor goes over your history, your exam and posture results, your neurological findings and your 3D images with you, and explains a care plan made for you.
Ongoing
Gentle care, checked as you go
Gentle upper cervical adjustments with no twisting, cracking or popping, and regular progress checks so your plan follows how you are doing.
Why choose Apollo?
Specialized care
We focus on upper cervical chiropractic, a highly targeted and refined approach.
A plan made for you
Every patient is different. Your care plan is built around your own exam and your 3D imaging.
Gentle, with no cracking
Our methods are very gentle: no twisting, cracking or popping.
An experienced doctor
Dr. Kosta Tsakalos brings deep clinical experience and a caring, detail-oriented approach to every visit.
Every person is different, and results vary. Read what our patients say on our testimonials page.
Let us help you get started
If you are dealing with neck pain, we are here to help. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Kosta Tsakalos and find out whether upper cervical chiropractic care is right for you.
Related conditions we help with
- Back Pain
- Sciatica
- Herniated Discs
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Scoliosis
- Postural Issues
- See every condition
This page is general information. It is not a diagnosis or medical advice. If your symptoms are sudden or severe, please seek medical care right away.