Neck pain
Neck Pain Chiropractor in La Jolla
Turn your head without thinking about it.
Chiropractic care is one of the most effective non-drug treatments for neck pain — and it's one of the most common reasons patients walk into my La Jolla practice. Whether it started at a desk, in a car accident, or somewhere you can't even name, neck pain responds well to hands-on care combined with movement.
What it looks like
The neck pain I see most often.
Most neck pain isn't caused by one dramatic injury — it builds from posture, stress, sleep position, and old injuries that never fully resolved.
Stiffness & limited turning
You check your blind spot with your whole torso. Restricted joints in the neck and upper back are usually the driver — and they respond quickly to care.
Tech neck & desk strain
Hours of screens load the neck with far more weight than it's built to hold. The result: aching at the base of the skull and between the shoulder blades.
Pain radiating to shoulder or arm
Neck problems often refer pain outward — into the shoulder, the arm, sometimes tingling in the fingers. I assess where it starts, not just where it lands.
Headaches that start at the neck
Many "tension headaches" are cervicogenic — driven by the joints and muscles of the upper neck. More on headaches →
Whiplash & post-accident pain
Neck pain after a collision deserves prompt evaluation — even if it showed up days later. Auto accident care →
Sleeping wrong & waking up stuck
The classic "I slept on it funny." Usually an irritated joint with protective muscle spasm — one of the most satisfying things to treat.
How I treat it
Hands-on care, then lasting change.
Every technique happens in one room, in one visit, layered to match what your neck needs that day — no bouncing between providers.
Chiropractic adjustments
Specific, hands-on adjustments to restore motion where joints have stopped moving well — always modified to your comfort, body type, and pain level.
Soft tissue & cupping
Myofascial release, trigger point work, and cupping to release the muscle tension that builds around the problem — often where the pain actually lives.
Movement therapy
Corrective exercise that addresses why the problem keeps coming back — compensations, weak links, and habits your body picked up along the way.
Reformer Pilates
When you're ready, private reformer work rebuilds strength and control so the relief holds. It's the difference between feeling better and staying better.
What to expect
Your first visit, step by step.
Every new patient starts with a 50-minute New Patient Exam ($150) — so treatment is based on what your body actually shows, not assumptions.
Conversation first
We start by talking — your history, your goals, what makes it better or worse. You'll never feel rushed through this part.
Physical & movement exam
I assess how you move, not just where it hurts — because the cause and the symptom are often in different places.
Same-day treatment
When it's appropriate, you'll receive your first hands-on treatment during this visit — most patients do.
A clear plan
You leave knowing what's going on, how many visits to expect, and what to do between them. Honest timelines, no open-ended care plans.
Common questions
Neck pain, answered.
Yes — chiropractic care is one of the most effective non-drug treatments for most mechanical neck pain. I combine specific adjustments with soft tissue work, cupping, and movement therapy to address both the restricted joints and the muscle tension around them.
Most acute neck pain responds within 6–10 visits. Chronic neck pain — the kind that's been around for years — often takes 12–20 visits to change lastingly. You'll get an honest timeline at your first visit, and my goal is always for you to need less care over time.
For most people, yes — neck adjustments are widely recognized as a safe treatment when performed by a licensed chiropractor after a thorough exam. I always examine before treating, techniques can be modified to your comfort, and if chiropractic isn't the right fit for your case, I'll tell you directly.
A New Patient Exam at Balanced by V is $150 and includes same-day treatment when appropriate; follow-up Core Treatments are $165. I'm in-network with most major insurance plans — see insurance details.
Ready when you are
Let's get your neck moving again.
Book a New Patient Exam online — Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday appointments in downtown La Jolla.
Related: Headaches & Migraines · Posture & Desk Pain · Auto Accident Care · Treatments & Pricing