Get help with
Neck Pain Relief
When your neck hurts and stretching isn't cutting it.
Neck pain is the most common thing I work on. Not because necks are fragile — because the shape we hold them in is brutal. Phones, screens, driving, sleeping wrong. After 12+ years on the table I can usually predict where someone's neck is going to be tight before they even tell me. Here's what's going on, what helps, and what to actually book.
Why it happens
- ·Forward head posture from screens — every inch your head moves forward of your shoulders multiplies the load on your neck muscles by about ten pounds.
- ·Tight pec minor pulling your shoulders forward, which then pulls your neck along for the ride.
- ·Levator scapulae and upper traps locked in a shortened position from desk work or driving.
- ·Sleeping with a pillow that's too tall, too short, or stomach-sleeping with your head cranked sideways.
- ·Stress lives in the neck and shoulders for most people. When your nervous system is in fight-or-flight, your traps are working overtime.
What helps
Targets the chronic restrictions in the levator scapulae, upper trap, and suboccipitals — the muscles most responsible for the pain pattern.
Sustained pressure on specific knots that refer pain into the head, jaw, or shoulders. Especially good for tension headaches that start in the neck.
If your neck pain is stress-driven (and a lot of it is), nervous system reset matters more than aggressive work. Calm the system, the neck releases.
Try first at home
- ·Move your screen up so your eyes hit the top third of the monitor (not the middle).
- ·Set a 30-minute timer to do 5 slow neck rotations + chin tucks. Every cycle. No exceptions.
- ·Sleep on your back or side, not your stomach. Pillow height: your head should be roughly aligned with your spine.
- ·Heat — not ice — on the neck for chronic tightness. 15 minutes, 2x/day.
When to book a session
- ·Pain that won't quit after a week of self-care.
- ·Pain that wakes you up at night or gets worse in the morning.
- ·Tension headaches happening more than once a week.
- ·Restricted range of motion — can't turn your head to check your blind spot.
- ·Numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arms or hands.
Straight talk: when this isn't my work
If the pain is sharp, shooting into your arm, or paired with numbness or weakness, that's a referral to your doctor — soft tissue work alone isn't the right tool. I'd rather you get the right help than the help I can offer.
Common questions
How many sessions before my neck actually feels better?
Most people feel meaningful change after one session. Lasting change usually takes 3–4 sessions over a month, paired with the self-care work between visits. Pattern was years in the making — patience helps.
Should I see a chiropractor or a massage therapist for neck pain?
Honest answer: both, sometimes. If the joints are restricted, a chiropractor adjusts. If the tissue is locked up, that's my work. Often the joints feel stuck because the muscles pulling on them are locked — release the muscles first, the joints frequently free up on their own. If they don't, that's a referral.
Will deep tissue make my neck pain worse before it gets better?
Not if it's done well. Light soreness for a day is normal — sharp pain or stiffness that's worse than what you came in with is not. We'll calibrate pressure to what your body can integrate, not what looks impressive on Instagram.