Neck Pain Treatment in Lynnwood, WA
Neck pain is common, especially as we age. The cervical spine carries the weight of the head and allows for everyday movements like turning, looking down, or checking your surroundings. The neck is sensitive to strain, stiffness, and irritation from posture, long hours at a desk, old injuries, or natural wear over time.
Mild discomfort may settle on its own, but ongoing pain, tightness, or reduced mobility should be evaluated. A professional assessment can help identify whether the issue is related to joint restriction, muscle tension, nerve irritation, or accumulated stress on the spine.
At Alderwood Back and Neck Pain in Lynnwood, WA, chiropractic care is offered as a safe, non-invasive option for managing neck pain. Gentle adjustments and supportive therapies are used to improve motion, reduce irritation, and help the neck function more comfortably in daily life.
Common Causes of Neck Pain
Neck pain rarely comes out of nowhere. Most of the time it builds up from everyday habits or a specific event that finally pushes things over the edge. Dr. Szigety often explains that neck pain can have “many common causes” and usually there is more than one thing going on at the same time.
Neck pain may develop from:
- Poor posture and tech neck from looking down at phones or leaning into screens
- Muscle strain from lifting, studying, gaming, or working in one position too long
- Joint misalignment or restriction in the cervical spine
- Whiplash injuries from car accidents or sudden sports impacts
- Degenerative changes like arthritis or disc wear that come with age
- Stress and muscle tension that tighten the shoulders and neck
- Sleep issues, including stomach sleeping, a worn‑out pillow, or odd neck positions
Sometimes pain shows up the morning after “sleeping wrong.” Sometimes it builds slowly for months as posture slips. Either way, the job is to figure out which joints, discs, and muscles are irritated so treatment actually targets the source instead of just numbing the pain.
Recognizing the Symptoms of Neck Pain
Watch for symptoms like:
- Persistent stiffness or reduced neck movement
- Pain when turning your head to shoulder‑check while driving
- Achy or sharp pain that radiates into the shoulders or upper back
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness that travels into the arms or hand
- Headaches that start in the neck and wrap around the head or sit behind the eyes
- Pain that gets worse after long hours at a desk or on a device
- Difficulty finding a comfortable sleeping position
- Grinding, catching, or “crunchy” sensations when you move your neck
- Feeling like you must constantly stretch or crack your own neck
Neck pain that makes it hard to focus, work, or drive comfortably
Why Choose Alderwood Back and Neck Pain for Neck Pain Treatment?
As a chiropractor in Lynnwood, WA, Dr. Darcy Szigety, DC looks beyond quick fixes. Care is conservative and drug‑free, focused on how your spine moves, how your muscles support it, and how your nervous system responds.
Dr. Szigety genuinely enjoys talking with patients and sees each visit as real human interaction, not just “doing a treatment and walking out.” She listens to your story, asks about work, daily habits, and stress, and then explains findings in plain language so you actually understand what is going on.
She also has advanced training in whiplash injury biomechanics and traumatology through the Spine Research Institute of San Diego, completed in 2017, which is especially valuable for auto‑injury‑related neck pain.
Benefits of Chiropractic Neck Care
At Alderwood Back and Neck Pain, chiropractic neck care is designed to:
- Work on the source of your neck problem, not just mask symptoms
- Use non‑invasive treatments instead of relying on medications or surgery
- Address posture and tech neck, especially for people on screens all day
- Improve range of motion, so turning, driving, and sleeping feel easier
- Support long‑term spinal health with realistic home care and exercises
Conditions We Commonly Treat
Chiropractic care at Alderwood Back and Neck Pain can help with a range of neck‑related issues, including:
- Neck pain from poor posture or tech neck
- Acute sprain or strain after sudden movement or minor injuries
- Whiplash‑related neck pain following car accidents or sports impacts
- Cervicogenic headaches that start in the neck and wrap around the head
- Chronic neck stiffness or “locked up” feeling
- Degenerative changes such as arthritis and cervical disc wear
- Pain, tingling, or numbness that radiates into the shoulders, arms, or hands
- Neck issues that show up alongside upper back or mid‑back pain
If your symptoms are more complex or not responding as expected, Dr. Szigety can coordinate care with pain management or orthopedic specialists when needed.
Our Personalized Treatment Options
Your neck pain plan is not copy‑paste. It starts with a full evaluation, then Dr. Szigety builds care around your exam findings, imaging, and goals.
Spinal Adjustments
Dr. Szigety mainly uses the Diversified technique, a widely used hands‑on chiropractic method to realign and mobilize specific joints in the spine. For those who prefer a gentler style, she also uses instrument‑based tools such as an Activator‑style device or ArthroStim‑type adjuster to give lighter, precise corrections. Drop‑table features can be used to make adjustments more comfortable and targeted.
These adjustments help improve joint motion, reduce irritation, and decrease the tension that builds up in the neck and shoulders.
Soft Tissue Therapy
Because tight muscles often go hand‑in‑hand with neck pain and headaches, Dr. Szigety frequently adds:
- Soft tissue therapy and massage
- Myofascial release
- Trigger point therapy for stubborn muscle knots
This helps calm overworked muscles, improve blood flow, and support what the spinal adjustments are doing.
Therapeutic Exercise and Rehab
Once pain starts to calm down, rehab becomes a bigger part of the plan. Dr. Szigety prescribes simple, targeted exercises to:
- Strengthen key stabilizing muscles
- Improve posture and shoulder support
- Restore healthy movement patterns for work, driving, and workouts
She also offers lifestyle and ergonomic coaching, so your workstation, sleep setup, and daily habits are not constantly undoing your progress.
Pain‑Relief Modalities
Depending on your case, your plan may also include:
- Cold and heat therapies, including cryotherapy and heat packs
- Class IV laser therapy to support tissue healing and pain control in selected cases
Every treatment is explained ahead of time, and care is always adjusted to your comfort level.
Home Care Tips for Temporary Neck Pain
There is a lot you can do at home to calm things down while you are getting evaluated:
- Use cold first. Apply a cold pack for 10 to 15 minutes at a time during the first 72 hours of a flare‑up to help reduce irritation.
- Switch to gentle heat. After the first few days, light heat can help relax tight neck and shoulder muscles.
- Try gentle stretches. Simple chin tucks, slow side bends, and light neck rotations can help, as long as they do not increase your pain. Follow the stretches demonstrated by your chiropractor.
- Fix your screen setup. Bring screens closer to eye level and take regular breaks instead of staying locked in one position.
- Watch your sleep posture. Back or side sleeping with a supportive pillow is usually easier on the neck than stomach sleeping, which can twist the neck all night.
- Stay hydrated. Good hydration supports muscle and disc health.
These tips are meant for short‑term relief and do not replace a full chiropractic exam and personalized care plan.
Case Study — Real Patient Example
A patient in their 30s came in after a rear‑end car accident with sharp neck pain and constant tightness across the shoulders. Looking up and turning to check blind spots while driving were both painful. Dr. Szigety took a detailed history, performed orthopedic and neurological tests, palpated the neck for joint and muscle changes, and ordered X‑rays to rule out fractures and check alignment.
The diagnosis was a whiplash‑type neck sprain and joint irritation, with possible disc involvement. The plan included chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue therapy, and Class IV laser to support healing. Visits started at several times per week, then tapered as the patient improved.
Within about two to three weeks the patient noticed less tension and better motion. By two to three months, pain had dropped to occasional soreness with long days. Home care included ice for flare‑ups, gentle range‑of‑motion exercises, posture changes at work, and updating their pillow and sleep position.
Book An Appointment
Please use the booking tool below to book an appointment or by calling us on (425) 775-6767
Frequently Asked Questions for Neck Pain Treatment
How does chiropractic care help with neck pain?
Chiropractic adjustments work to realign and mobilize the joints in your neck, which can reduce irritation on nerves and calm surrounding muscles. By improving how the cervical spine moves, chiropractic care can reduce pain, improve range of motion, and support longer‑term healing instead of just masking symptoms with medication.
Are adjustments safe for cervical radiculopathy or nerve‑related neck pain?
Dr. Szigety evaluates each case individually with a full history, exam, and imaging when needed. For nerve‑related pain, she uses tailored, gentle techniques and may modify or avoid certain adjustments. If testing suggests more serious disc or nerve involvement, she can refer for MRI and co‑manage care with pain management or orthopedic specialists to keep things as safe and effective as possible.
When should I seek chiropractic care for neck pain?
It is a good idea to visit Alderwood Back and Neck Pain if your neck pain lasts more than a few days, keeps coming back, radiates into your shoulders or arms, causes headaches, tingling, or weakness, or makes it hard to work, drive, or sleep. Early evaluation helps catch problems before they turn into long‑term issues.
Will I need X‑rays or an MRI?
Dr. Szigety often takes X‑rays for new patients with neck pain to check spinal alignment, rule out red flags, and better understand what is happening structurally. If your symptoms do not match the X‑rays or you are not improving as expected, she may refer you for an MRI and coordinate with other specialists based on those results.
How many visits will I need before I feel better?
It depends on how long the problem has been there, how severe it is, and how consistent you are with care and home exercises. Many patients with neck pain or whiplash‑type injuries start to feel some improvement within two to three weeks, while deeper disc or ligament injuries may take two to three months of consistent care to fully calm down. Dr. Szigety will outline realistic expectations at your report of findings visit.
Is chiropractic care safe overall?
Chiropractic care is generally very safe when provided by a trained, licensed chiropractor. Dr. Szigety uses a non‑invasive approach that helps your bones and muscles move the right way so your body can feel and work its best, supporting your overall posture and joint mobility.
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