Neck Pain Chiropractor in Richmond, VA
We are dedicated to helping you and your family achieve optimal health and well-being.
Chiropractor for Neck Pain in Richmond, VA
If your neck hurts, your whole day suffers. You can’t focus at work, you can’t sleep comfortably, and something as simple as checking your blind spot while driving becomes a careful negotiation with your body. Neck pain is one of the most common reasons patients come to Jamison Family Chiropractic — and one of the conditions where chiropractic care gets the fastest, most consistent results.
We don’t just adjust your neck and send you home. We figure out why it hurts — restricted joints, forward head posture, muscular imbalance, disc irritation, or nerve involvement — and treat the cause with a combination of chiropractic adjustments and corrective exercises starting on your very first visit.
“Dr. Drew is the best! I was referred to him after having a bad episode with my neck. When I started treatment, I had very limited mobility and had to turn my entire body around to see behind me. I was pretty fearful at first. The idea of trusting someone to realign my neck was a lot. But Dr. Drew is very kind and professional. He diagnosed my issue, made me comfortable with the process and now at only 2 months later, I am just about 100%. I’d refer Dr. Drew to anyone with chronic neck and back pain.”
— Sharon M.
What’s Actually Causing Your Neck Pain
Most neck pain isn’t caused by a single event. It builds over time as the joints in your cervical spine lose their normal range of motion and the muscles around them either tighten up or weaken. Understanding the cause is the first step to getting lasting relief.
Facet Joint Restriction
The most common cause we see. The small joints on either side of each vertebra in your neck can become restricted or “locked up,” reducing your ability to turn or tilt your head. This usually happens gradually from poor posture, sleeping position, or repetitive strain. Chiropractic adjustments are specifically designed to restore motion to these joints.
Forward Head Posture
For every inch your head sits forward of your shoulders, the effective weight on your cervical spine increases by roughly 10 pounds. If you work at a desk, use a phone frequently, or drive for long stretches, you’re likely carrying your head 2–3 inches forward without realizing it. That’s an extra 20–30 pounds of load on your neck, all day, every day. This is one of the most common root causes of chronic neck pain and headaches.
Cervical Disc Irritation
When a disc in the neck is bulging, herniated, or degenerating, it can cause local neck pain as well as radiating symptoms into the shoulders, arms, and hands — numbness, tingling, or weakness. While more serious than a simple joint restriction, many disc-related neck problems respond well to chiropractic care without surgery.
Muscle Strain and Tension
The muscles in your neck and upper back – particularly the upper trapezius, levator scapulae, and suboccipital muscles — are some of the most overworked muscles in the body. When the joints underneath aren’t moving properly, these muscles compensate by tightening up, which creates a cycle of stiffness and pain that stretching alone won’t fix.
Nerve Involvement (Cervical Radiculopathy)
When a nerve exiting the cervical spine is compressed or irritated — by a disc, a bone spur, or joint inflammation — the result is radiating pain, numbness, or tingling into the shoulder, arm, or hand. This is commonly called a “pinched nerve.” Chiropractic adjustments help reduce pressure on the nerve by restoring proper joint alignment and spacing.
“I would give more stars if they were available! I went to Dr. Drew with a pinched nerve in my neck which caused radiating pain down my left arm and into my index and middle fingers. I couldn’t feel my two fingers when I went to him and with the first adjustment the feeling came back into my middle finger. After several more trips my pain was gone and I was able to feel all of my fingers and sleep pain free. He is AMAZING!”
— Michelle H.
How We Treat Neck Pain
Every patient starts with the same thing: a thorough evaluation. Before we touch your neck, we need to understand what’s going on. Your first visit includes a consultation, range of motion testing, orthopedic and neurological tests, and a posture assessment. If we identify red flags that suggest imaging or a referral to a specialist, we’ll tell you directly.
Once we’ve identified the cause, treatment includes two components that work together:
1. Chiropractic Adjustments
Manual adjustments to the cervical spine restore motion to restricted joints, reduce nerve irritation, and improve alignment. Dr. Drew uses the technique that’s most appropriate for your presentation:
- Diversified Technique — hands-on manual adjustments for joint restrictions that need direct mobilization.
- Activator (instrument-assisted) — a handheld instrument for patients who prefer a lighter touch, or when a specific segment needs targeted, low-force correction
- Drop Table (Thompson) — a specialized table section drops away during the adjustment, allowing for precise corrections with less force
- Graston Technique — instrument-assisted soft tissue work to break up adhesions and scar tissue in the muscles and fascia around the neck and shoulders
2. Corrective Exercises
This is what sets our approach apart. On your first visit, you’ll receive exercises designed to:
- Retrain weak stabilizers — strengthen the deep cervical flexors (the muscles that hold your head in proper alignment).
- Stretch overactive muscles — release tension in the upper trapezius, levator scapulae, and suboccipital muscles
- Correct postural dysfunction — address forward head posture and rounded shoulders that put excessive load on the cervical spine
Adjustments get your joints moving. Exercises keep them that way. Without both, the problem tends to come back.
Who We See for Neck Pain
Neck pain doesn’t discriminate. We treat patients across a wide range of presentations:
- Desk workers and remote workers — spending 8+ hours a day in front of a screen is the leading driver of neck pain in our practice. Forward head posture, rounded shoulders, and upper back stiffness are almost universal.
- People with chronic stiffness they’ve “learned to live with” — years of neck pain, stiffness, or limited range of motion that hasn’t responded to stretching, massage, or medication. Often these patients have underlying joint restrictions that have never been addressed.
- Patients with radiating arm symptoms — pain, numbness, or tingling radiating from the neck into the arm, shoulder, or fingers. This often involves nerve compression and responds well to chiropractic care.
- Headache sufferers — tension headaches and cervicogenic headaches frequently originate from restrictions and dysfunction in the upper cervical spine.
- Whiplash and trauma patients — after car accidents, falls, or sports impacts. These injuries respond best when treated early, before compensation patterns set in.
- Athletes — overhead movements, swimming, contact sports, and heavy lifting all put significant demand on the cervical spine
“I have had swelling and major pain for three years. I have seeked help from family doctors and several orthopedics. I have tried many different treatments such as nerve meds, pain meds, muscle relaxers, physical therapy, dry needling, the list goes on. I have spent so much money on co-pays and time missed at work. I had given up, thinking nothing is going to work. A friend highly suggested Dr Drew and I went with not much hope. I WAS SO WRONG! Dr Drew’s theory is to adjust your spine so your body can heal and help itself. I have had so much relief. I felt the difference the moment I sat up the first visit. He can help you. You should definitely give him a try!”
— Shannon E.
Why Chiropractic for Neck Pain?
Many people try to manage neck pain with over-the-counter pain relievers, heating pads, or occasional massage. These can provide temporary relief but don’t address the underlying mechanical problem — the joints that aren’t moving properly and the muscles that have adapted around them.
Chiropractic care treats the root cause. Adjustments restore joint motion and alignment. Corrective exercises retrain the muscles that support those joints. Together, they address the structural issue, not just the symptom.
Research supports chiropractic as a first-line treatment for neck pain. A 2012 study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that spinal manipulation was more effective than medication for both acute and chronic neck pain, with patients in the chiropractic group reporting significantly better outcomes at 8, 12, 26, and 52 weeks.
Simple, Transparent Pricing
We operate on a self-pay model — no insurance billing, no referrals, no surprise bills.
$40 per visit
Individual Membership: $120/month (unlimited visits, no contract)
Family Membership: $180/month (2+ family members, unlimited visits, no contract)
Your care plan is based on your condition, not your insurance policy. No pre-authorization. No treatment caps. No long-term contracts. Most neck pain patients see significant improvement within the first few visits.
Frequently Asked Questions – Neck Pain Treatment
It depends on the cause and how long you’ve had it. Many patients feel a noticeable difference after their first adjustment. Simple joint restrictions often resolve within 4–6 visits. Chronic conditions with muscle imbalance or disc involvement may take 6–12 visits over several weeks. We’ll give you an honest timeline based on your exam findings.
Yes. Cervical adjustments performed by a licensed chiropractor are safe and well-studied. Dr. Drew uses the technique most appropriate for your condition — including low-force options for patients who are nervous or have more complex presentations. We always perform a thorough evaluation before any treatment.
Yes. Cervical radiculopathy (a pinched nerve) is one of the conditions we treat regularly. Adjustments help restore proper joint spacing and alignment, which reduces pressure on the compressed nerve. Many patients with radiating arm pain, numbness, or tingling see significant improvement with chiropractic care.
In Virginia, you don’t need a referral to see a chiropractor. For mechanical neck pain — stiffness, limited range of motion, muscle tension, headaches originating from the neck — chiropractic is typically the most appropriate first-line treatment. If your exam reveals signs that require imaging or a medical referral, we’ll tell you directly.
Not usually. Most neck pain can be accurately diagnosed through a hands-on examination. If the exam findings suggest a fracture, significant disc herniation, or another condition that warrants imaging, we’ll refer you for the appropriate study before proceeding with treatment.
Yes. Chronic neck stiffness is often caused by joints that have been restricted for a long time and muscles that have adapted around them. It may take a bit longer than an acute episode, but we see consistent improvement in patients who have dealt with neck stiffness for years, especially when adjustments are combined with corrective exercises.
Absolutely. Forward head posture is one of the most common causes of chronic neck pain, especially in people who work at desks or use their phones frequently. Every inch your head sits forward adds roughly 10 pounds of effective load on your cervical spine. We address this with both adjustments and targeted postural exercises.
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Book an Appointment
Jamison Family Chiropractic
Address: Village Square • 9019 Forest Hill Ave, Suite 2B • Bon Air / Richmond, VA 23235
Phone: 804-432-1494
Hours:
Monday 8:00 am – 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Tuesday 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Wednesday 8:00 am – 12:00 pm & 2:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Thursday 8:00 am – 12:00 pm & 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Most neck pain patients see improvement within the first few visits. Same-day appointments are often available.
