Neck and upper back pain treatment in Scottsdale.
A neck pain chiropractor in Scottsdale for the stiff neck, the tech neck and the pain between the shoulder blades that will not leave. Dr. Tracey Ryder treats the neck and upper back together, because they rarely hurt alone.
- In practice since 2003
- Chiropractic, acupuncture and massage in one plan
- Old Town Scottsdale, Scottsdale Road
- 4.9 from 75 Google reviews
What it is
What an upper back and neck pain chiropractor treats
The neck carries the weight of the head all day, and the upper back carries the neck. When the joints between the seven cervical vertebrae stop moving well, or the upper thoracic segments lock into a forward slump, the muscles from the base of the skull to the shoulder blades tighten to hold the head up. That is where most neck pain, upper back ache and tension headache comes from.
A chiropractor for neck pain looks at the whole column: how each neck segment turns and tilts, how the upper back extends, where the shoulders sit, and whether any symptom runs into an arm. Dr. Tracey explains what she found before anything is adjusted, and neck adjustments here can be manual or instrument, whichever suits you.
Neck pain treatment in Scottsdale at Ryder can also include acupuncture for neck pain in Scottsdale and massage of the upper traps and the muscles along the shoulder blades, all under one roof. If you are searching for a neck pain chiropractor near me from Old Town, Tempe or south Scottsdale, the office is on Scottsdale Road between McDowell and Thomas.
- Where it hurts
- Sides or back of the neck, base of the skull, between the shoulder blades, top of the shoulders
- Common causes
- Forward head posture, screens, stuck cervical or upper thoracic joints, stress, a crash
- What we use
- Manual or instrument adjustments, acupuncture, trigger point and deep tissue massage
- First visit
- History, exam of the neck, upper back and shoulders, explanation, first treatment when appropriate
What is going on
Why the neck and upper back hurt together
For every inch the head sits forward of the shoulders, the muscles at the back of the neck work harder to hold it up. Hours at a screen put the head forward and round the upper back, so the upper thoracic joints stop extending, the lower neck joints take the strain, and the muscles between the skull and the shoulder blades never get to switch off. Sleep on it wrong once and the neck locks.
Adjustments restore the motion the upper back and neck have lost, which takes the load off the muscles. Acupuncture settles the muscle and the irritated nerves at the base of the skull. Massage works the upper traps, levator and the tissue along the shoulder blades that has shortened. The plan usually starts with the joints and adds the rest as the exam suggests.
Symptoms
What people come in with
Some of the ways neck and upper back pain shows up.
- A stiff neck on waking
- Trouble checking the blind spot
- Ache between the shoulder blades
- Tight, ropey shoulder muscles
- Headache from the base of the skull
- Pain after a day at a screen
- A neck that clicks or grinds
- Tingling into an arm or hand
- Pain that worsens through the day
- Tension that will not massage out
If pain or tingling runs down the arm, see the pinched nerve page. If it started with a crash, see whiplash.
How we treat it
How we treat neck and upper back pain
Three services, one plan, written by one provider who examined you.
Chiropractic
Gentle manual or instrument adjustments to the neck and upper back segments that stopped moving. Instrument adjusting is available for anyone who prefers no twisting.
Acupuncture
Points at the base of the skull, along the neck and across the upper traps for muscle guarding, headache and nerve irritation.
Massage
Trigger point and deep tissue work on the upper traps, levator scapulae and the muscles along the shoulder blades, usually before an adjustment.
Your visit
What a first visit for neck pain is like
During the visit
- Where it hurts, how it started, whether anything runs into an arm, how you sleep and work.
- Motion checks in every direction, hands-on exam of the neck, upper back and shoulders.
- A plain-language explanation of what she found.
- First treatment when appropriate.
After the visit
- Many people turn their head more easily right away; mild soreness for a day is normal.
- Home advice on screen height, pillow and one or two movements.
- A re-check at every visit.
Causes
What commonly causes it
The everyday habits behind most neck and upper back pain.
Screens and phones
Head forward, upper back rounded, for hours.
The wrong pillow
Too high or too flat, and the neck spends the night bent.
Stress
Shoulders up, jaw clenched, breathing shallow.
A crash or a fall
Even a low-speed one. See the whiplash page.
Carrying on one side
A bag, a child, a laptop, always on the same shoulder.
Stuck upper back
When the upper thoracic segments lock, the neck compensates.
When to come in
When to see a chiropractor for neck pain, and when to see a doctor first
Good reasons to book
- Neck stiffness or pain that has lasted more than a few days.
- Pain between the shoulder blades that comes with screen work.
- Headaches that start at the base of the skull.
- A neck that locks up on waking.
- Neck pain after a minor crash, once anything serious has been ruled out.
See a doctor first if
- Neck pain with fever, a stiff neck you cannot flex, or a severe sudden headache.
- Weakness in an arm or hand that is getting worse.
- Neck pain after a serious accident, before any imaging has been done.
- Dizziness, trouble speaking or swallowing, or vision changes with the pain.
If anything in the exam points to a problem we should not treat, Dr. Tracey will say so and refer you.
Real questions
What people ask about neck pain.
Searched in Scottsdale When should I see a chiropractor for neck pain?
When neck pain or stiffness has lasted more than a few days, keeps coming back, limits how far you can turn, or comes with headaches from the base of the skull. If there is fever, worsening arm weakness, or it followed a serious accident, see a physician first and come in once anything serious is ruled out.
Are neck adjustments safe?
For most people with mechanical neck pain, yes, and the exam is designed to find the cases where they are not the right choice. Dr. Tracey uses gentle manual and instrument techniques, and if you would rather not be twisted, say so; the instrument does not twist at all.
Can acupuncture help neck pain?
Yes. Acupuncture for neck pain is one of the most common things booked here, particularly when the pain is more muscle than joint, or comes with headaches. It pairs well with an adjustment in the same visit.
What about pain between the shoulder blades?
That area is the upper thoracic spine and the muscles that attach the shoulder blades to it. It is treated with the neck because the two move together. Adjustments to the upper back plus massage of the rhomboids and traps address most of it.
Will it keep coming back?
If the habits that caused it do not change, some of it will. That is why the first visit includes advice on screen height, pillow and posture, and the plan includes a re-check so we know what is holding.
( Book )
Book a visit for neck pain
Call the office or request an appointment online. Tell us where it hurts and how long it has been going on, and we will set up the right first visit.
- Monday
- 8:30 AM to 6 PM
- Tuesday
- 8:30 AM to 12 PM
- Wednesday
- 8:30 AM to 6 PM
- Thursday
- 2 to 6 PM
- Friday
- 8:30 AM to 6 PM
- Saturday to Sunday
- Closed
Directions in Google Maps
Prefer to talk? Call (480) 900-5280.