Stiff necks, whiplash, tension and cervicogenic headaches
Neck pain and headaches
Necks that will not turn, headaches that start at the base of the skull, the ache across the shoulders from a day at a screen. Assessed for the neck, the jaw and the upper back together, because they rarely act alone.
A headache that starts in the neck and spreads forward over one eye, worse after a day at the desk and eased by lying flat, is usually a neck headache, and necks respond well to being treated.
We examine the neck segment by segment, the upper back it sits on, the shoulder girdle and the jaw, and we check the nerves into the arms. Migraine, cluster headache and anything with the red flags of a sudden severe headache are not ours and we say so. Cervicogenic headaches, tension-type headaches with a stiff neck, and the mechanical neck pain of long hours at a screen are, and they do well.
Treatment is gentle: mobilisation and, where appropriate and with your consent, low-force adjustment of the stiff segments, soft tissue work to the suboccipital muscles and the trapezius, and a desk set-up conversation that is worth more than any of it. Whiplash after a collision is assessed for instability first and treated conservatively; we provide a report for your insurer if you need one.
What is included
- Neck, upper back, shoulder and jaw assessed together
- Headache type identified, migraine and red flags referred
- Low-force options for people who would rather not be adjusted
- Desk and pillow advice that actually changes things
- Whiplash assessment and insurer reports
- Review at visit four
What it costs
New patient visit £65; follow-ups £42. Cervicogenic headaches typically improve within four to six visits; whiplash is reviewed at two weeks. There is no VAT on chiropractic treatment. All fees are on the fees page; what the first hour involves is on the first visit page.
Questions about neck and headaches
Is neck adjustment safe?
For the right patient, after the screening we do, the serious risks are very rare and we discuss them with you before consenting. For anyone where the screening raises a concern, or who would simply rather not, we use mobilisation and soft tissue work instead, which work well for most necks.
Book a first visit.
An hour with a chiropractor: history, examination, a plain explanation and a plan with an end. £65, no GP referral needed, most insurers recognised. Online, or ring reception.