Neck Pain Treatment Lake Forest, CA
Dr. Ron Merriel, DC, and Dr. Jordan Ziegler, DC, have treated many patients in Lake Forest & Spring Valley who struggle with neck pain that affects daily movement, work, and sleep. Most of the time, it comes from repetitive strain, whether from working at a computer all day, sleeping in an awkward position, or keeping the head turned for long periods.
Neck pain is one of the most common conditions we treat at Go Greenlight Chiropractic. Left untreated, neck pain can lead to headaches, numbness and tingling in the arm or hand, and wrist problems.
The first step is a consultation to understand your symptoms and determine the right treatment path.
Call us or visit the Contact Us page to schedule your complimentary consultation.
How Do We Diagnose Neck Pain
When you come in with neck pain, we start with a thorough physical examination. We will ask about your daily routine, your workstation, and how you sleep. If you have any pain, numbness, or tingling in your arms, hands, or fingers, we take X-rays.
If we find degeneration, which is osteoarthritis of the spine, we factor that into your care plan. We may also recommend supplements such as omega-3s, glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM to nourish the joints and support the body’s healing process.
After the examination, we sit down with you and go over your treatment plan. In most cases, it starts with three visits per week for four weeks. We also review your workstation to ensure you are using proper ergonomics.
If that is not corrected, it will take much longer to heal. We give you stretching exercises and ask you to take breaks throughout the day. Icing the area a few times a day during this period also helps bring down inflammation.
Neck Pain Treatment Plan
Neck pain treatment moves through phases. The first phase focuses on reducing pain, spasm, and inflammation. The second phase focuses on strengthening the muscles that support the neck so they can maintain your posture throughout the day.
During every visit, we also address the muscles on either side of the spine using trigger point therapy or active release therapy to relieve tension before making a chiropractic adjustment. This helps the adjustment hold better.
By the end of the first month, most patients are at least 50% pain-free. Full recovery typically comes after 24 to 30 visits, depending on the severity of the condition.
What Causes Neck Pain
Several daily habits contribute to neck pain. These include:
- working at a computer for long hours
- keeping the head tilted slightly while working or watching TV
- sleeping on the stomach with the head tilted all night
Stomach sleeping, in particular, causes tension in the neck and lower back throughout the night, preventing those areas from resting and recovering. If you sleep on your stomach, breaking that habit is one of the most important steps in your recovery.
Double Crush Injury
Patients who work at a computer often come in with more than just neck pain. They may also have numbness or tingling in the arm or hand, and wrist pain from using a mouse and keyboard.
When a nerve is compressed at both the neck and the wrist, it is called a double crush injury. We address both areas as part of the treatment plan, including adjusting the wrist.
Neck Pain Patient Case Studies
Recovery From Neck Pain with Radiating Arm and Wrist Pain
Patient Info: A woman who worked at a computer all day came in with neck pain, headaches, numbness, and tingling in her arm and hand.
Symptoms: Neck pain, headaches, numbness, and tingling in the arm and hand. She also had wrist involvement from using a mouse and keyboard, which we identified as a double crush injury.
Diagnosis: Repetitive strain from prolonged computer use. Nerve compression at both the neck and wrist areas.
Treatment: She was placed on a treatment plan of three visits per week for four weeks. We reviewed her workstation and corrected her ergonomics. She was given stretching exercises and asked to take breaks throughout the day. Icing several times a day was recommended to bring down inflammation. Her wrist was adjusted as part of the treatment. Once her pain had subsided, we moved on to strengthening exercises to help her neck muscles support her posture throughout the day.
Outcome: By the end of the first month, she was at least 50% out of pain with much less numbness and tingling. She had a full recovery after about 24 to 30 visits with no pain, no headaches, and no numbness or tingling in the arm or hand. She comes in every now and then for checkups and has been able to get back to everything she enjoys, including playing pickleball.
Rear End Collision Patient Recovers From Severe Neck Pain
Patient Info: A man came in after being rear-ended in a motor vehicle accident with whiplash.
Symptoms: Neck pain, headaches, and numbness and tingling in some of the fingers in his hand.
Diagnosis: Whiplash from a rear-end collision. An MRI was ordered to determine whether a disc was compressing the nerve or whether the symptoms were due to muscle spasm and inflammation in the area.
Treatment: He was placed on the standard chiropractic treatment plan, including adjustments and trigger point therapy. He is still in treatment for the numbness and tingling in his hand.
Outcome: After one month of chiropractic care, his neck pain and headaches had subsided. He came in with pain at eight out of ten. After one month, he is down to zero to one for neck pain.
Neck Pain Patient Testimonials & Reviews
Andy Santos
After over a year of doctor visits and physical therapy, I hit a plateau and was still in a lot of daily pain. Dr. McDonald’s treatment plan, combined with Natalie’s effective massage therapy...
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Bryn DenHeyer
I originally came here to have my infant daughter treated by Dr. Waters for torticollis. He was a miracle worker! I started having pain and asked if he worked on adults- he did! I saw him a few times...
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Divya Kapoor
Best massage place ever!! Melina's neck and back massages are lifesavers, especially after long hours hunched over a computer. She really knows how to target those tight spots to ease tension...
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Nancy Clinkerbeard
Greenlight Chiropractic is fantastic. From the moment you walk in and they know you by name, Jeremy is an awesome manager, facilitator of your visit and needs. Next get time for Natalie to work on you...
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Sabina Uskenova
I really liked it there!! It’s very calm and nice atmosphere that you can trust. Dr, Waters was very patient and explained everything. He didn’t try to sell me a thousand adjustments as you...
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Sylvia Mireles
Hi!!! I just had my last adjustment with Dr. Waters. He has been a gem, his expertise- his sincerity and super genuineness, has been a bright star as part of my overall healing and amazing experience on this...
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Scheduling your visit with Greenlight Chiropractic & Wellness Lab is simple. You can call our office directly or visit our Contact Us page to connect with the location nearest you and request an appointment.
Our team can help answer questions, guide you through the scheduling process, and help you find a visit time that works best for your schedule.
Neck Pain Patient FAQs
Is chiropractic care safe for neck pain?
Yes. Care is delivered using controlled, gentle techniques tailored to individual needs.
Dr. Merriel takes a gentle approach and avoids forceful adjustments when they are not necessary. He may also use instrument-assisted techniques for patients who prefer not to hear popping or cracking sounds.
Can chiropractic help chronic neck pain?
Yes. We have seen patients with long-standing neck pain make a full recovery. The key is staying consistent with your treatment plan and correcting the daily habits that are keeping the pain going.
How many sessions will I need?
Every case is different. One of our neck pain patients had a full recovery after about 24 to 30 visits. How quickly you progress depends on the severity of your condition, your daily habits, and how well you keep up with your exercises.
Does neck pain treatment hurt?
Most patients tolerate treatment well. We take a gentle approach, addressing muscle tension before every adjustment. For patients who are nervous, instrument-based adjustments are also available.
Will insurance cover neck pain treatment?
Coverage varies by plan. Our team can help verify benefits.
When to seek professional care for neck pain
If your neck pain is not getting better, or if you have headaches, numbness, or tingling in your arm or hand, these are signs that the problem needs attention. Early care helps prevent long-term complications.
