Neck Pain Specialist in Fairfax VA
Neck pain is a common problem, especially in urban areas like Fairfax, Virginia where countless hours are spent staring down at cell phones and computers. Supporting your head in a forward position puts a tremendous strain on the muscle, joints, tendons and ligaments of the upper back and neck. This prolonged stress can result in neck pain, upper back pain, and headaches. Eventually this wear and tear can lead to Degenerative Joint Disease (Osteoarthritis) and chronic, unremitting pain.
Dr. Robert J. Zapf, M.S., D.C., Chiropractic Physician
Former Associate Professor:
Palmer College of Chiropractic
Causes of Neck Pain
1 / Neck Sprain/Strain
A neck sprain or strain happens when muscles, tendons, or ligaments in your neck are stretched too far or torn. This commonly occurs from poor posture, sleeping wrong, lifting heavy objects, or sudden movements like whiplash. You'll feel neck pain that worsens with movement, muscle spasms, stiffness, and possible headaches. The pain often peaks a day after the injury rather than immediately.
2 / Vertebral Subluxation
Vertebral subluxation is when one or more neck bones (vertebrae) move out of their normal position. This misalignment can happen from accidents, falls, stress, poor posture, or lifting heavy objects incorrectly. Symptoms include neck pain, stiffness, headaches, and possible numbness or tingling in your arms. Some people may also experience difficulty moving their neck or shoulders.
3 / Herniated Disc
A cervical herniated disc occurs when the soft center of a disc in your neck pushes out through a crack in the harder outer shell. This usually happens due to aging and wear-and-tear, though injuries can also cause it. You may feel neck pain, sharp or burning pain radiating down your arm, numbness or tingling in your arm or hand, and possible weakness in your biceps, triceps, or hands.
4 / Osteoarthritis
Cervical osteoarthritis (also called cervical spondylosis) is wear-and-tear of the neck joints and discs that comes with aging. It affects over 85% of people over age 60. Symptoms include gradual neck pain and stiffness that's worse in the morning and evening, headaches starting in the neck, grinding sensation when moving your head, and possible pain radiating to shoulders or arms
5 / Whiplash
Whiplash is a neck injury from sudden, forceful back-and-forth movement of your head, like cracking a whip. It commonly happens in car accidents, especially rear-end collisions, but can also occur from sports or falls. Symptoms include neck pain and stiffness, headaches (often at the skull base), dizziness, shoulder pain, and possible numbness or tingling in your arms. Symptoms may not appear until hours or days after the injury
6 / Spinal stenosis
Cervical spinal stenosis occurs when the spaces in your neck's spinal canal narrow and compress the spinal cord or nerve roots. This usually develops gradually with aging due to arthritis, disc problems, or thickened ligaments. You may experience neck pain, numbness or tingling in your arms and hands, weakness, loss of balance or coordination, and in severe cases, problems with walking or bladder control
Experience Our Gentle, Non-Invasive Treatment for Neck Pain
Our individually designed treatment programs provide effective, non-invasive relief for the root cause of your neck pain. This customized approach has helped countless patients regain mobility, reduce pain, and improve overall function. With our proven track record of success, you can trust our expertise in delivering personalized care that works.