Neck pain treatment in Stamford, CT
Your neck holds up a 10–12 pound head all day, and it notices every hour you spend looking down at a laptop or phone. When it stiffens up, turning to check your blind spot becomes a whole-body move. Here's how to get it moving again.
- Can't turn your head
- Tension headaches
- Tight shoulders
Does this sound like you?
Neck problems often come with one or more of these:
- Stiffness and trouble turning your head
- Pain that gets worse at the end of the workday
- Tight, knotted muscles at the base of the skull or shoulders
- Headaches that start at the back of the head
- Pain, tingling or numbness into the arm or hand
- Waking up with a “crick” in your neck
What's actually going on
The most common cause is posture under load: hours with your head forward over a screen. That strains the joints and muscles at the base of the neck. Other causes include sleeping in an awkward position, stress (which tightens neck and shoulder muscles), old injuries like whiplash, and wear-and-tear changes in the discs.
When pain travels into the arm with tingling or numbness, a nerve may be irritated where it exits the spine. That needs a careful exam.
When to see a medical doctor first
Call 911 or go to the ER now if you have:
- A severe headache unlike any you've had before
- Weakness or clumsiness in your arms or hands
- Dizziness, trouble speaking or changes in vision
- Fever with a stiff neck
See your doctor within a day or two if you have:
- Neck pain after a car accident or fall, even if it feels mild
The first group needs the ER now. After an accident, see a doctor within a day or two.
How Dr. Burstein treats neck pain
Neck care starts gently. A typical plan combines:
What recovery usually looks like
- First visits Easing pain and restoring the ability to turn your head.
- Weeks 2–4 Most patients have noticeably less pain and stiffness.
- Ongoing Posture and strength work so your workday stops undoing the progress.
Desk-related neck pain often eases quickly once the daily strain is reduced. Old injuries can take longer.
What you can do today
- Raise your screen so the top is at eye level.
- Hold your phone up instead of looking down at it.
- Use one supportive pillow that keeps your neck level.
- Roll your shoulders and tuck your chin gently every hour.
Common questions
Is it safe to have my neck adjusted?
For most people, yes. Serious problems are rare, and Dr. Burstein screens for the risk factors that matter at your exam. If you'd rather avoid a neck adjustment, gentle low-force methods and soft-tissue work are good options. You're always in control.
What is “tech neck”?
It's the neck and upper-back strain from looking down at phones and laptops for hours. The head moves forward, and neck muscles work much harder to hold it up. It responds well to treatment plus a few posture changes.
Can neck problems cause headaches?
Yes. Tension in the neck and stiff upper neck joints are a common cause of headaches that start at the back of the head. See our page on headaches & migraines.
Early-morning and after-hours visits. No referral needed.
Book a visit or call (203) 325-8112Other problems Dr. Burstein treats
Headaches & migraines
Tension headaches and migraines, especially those that start in the neck, shoulders or jaw.
Shoulder pain
Pain, weakness or stiffness that makes reaching, lifting or sleeping on your side difficult.
Herniated & degenerative discs
Bulging, herniated or worn discs causing back pain, neck pain or pain into an arm or leg.
Let's find out what's behind your neck pain
Tell us a little about what's going on. The office will call you back to find a time, and can look up your insurance benefits before you come in.
- A call back from the office to set a time
- Help looking up your insurance benefits
- A complimentary first evaluation for new patients