Conditions We Treat

Neck pain care in Allentown

Hours at a desk, a phone in one hand and a poor pillow add up. If your neck is stiff, sore or sending pain into a shoulder or arm, we can find out why and treat it gently.

Dr. Petrilak adjusting a patient at Cedar Crest Chiropractic in Allentown

Neck Pain

What it feels like, and where it comes from

The neck carries the weight of your head all day, and modern life asks it to do that in a forward, tilted position for hours at a time. Over time the small joints of the cervical spine lose motion, the muscles across the top of the shoulders stay tight, and headaches, stiffness and a limited ability to turn your head follow. Sleeping wrong, a sudden jolt or a car accident can bring it on quickly.

Neck pain that travels is worth paying attention to. Pain, numbness or tingling that runs into the shoulder blade, down the arm or into the fingers often means a nerve is being irritated where it leaves the spine. Dr. Petrilak's exam sorts out whether the problem is a joint, a disc, a muscle or a nerve, because each one is treated differently.

Stiff neck that will not turn fully to one side
Aching across the top of the shoulders at the end of the day
Headaches that start at the base of the skull
Pain, numbness or tingling into one arm or hand
Waking up with a neck that locked up overnight
Neck pain after a car accident or a fall

How We Help

Our approach to neck pain

Find the source

A careful exam of how each neck joint moves, which muscles are guarding and whether a nerve is involved. The right diagnosis tells us the right treatment.

Low-force, no-crack adjusting

The neck is exactly where patients are most nervous about traditional adjusting. The Activator Method restores motion with a precise, gentle impulse and no twisting of the head.

Care that fits your life

Dr. Petrilak also looks at the habits feeding the problem, from desk setup to pillow height, so the relief holds between visits.

Dr. Petrilak explaining the cervical spine on a model

Your First Visit

What to expect

You will be asked about how the pain started, where it goes and what you do all day, because posture and work habits are usually part of the story. Dr. Petrilak then examines your neck, upper back and shoulders and checks nerve function if you have any arm symptoms.

Treatment is gentle. Most patients are surprised by how little force the Activator uses and how much easier their neck turns afterward. Visits are spaced according to how you respond, and there is no mandatory long-term plan.

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Patient Review

In their words

★★★★★

"After seeing Dr. Alan for my neck, back, and arm pain from a pinched nerve, I was doubtful the treatments were working. Slow but sure the improvements outpaced the relapses, and now after 8 weeks I am ready to go on maintenance, pain free."

Walt MeyersGoogle review

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Common Questions

Questions about neck pain

Straight answers to the questions we hear most. If yours is not here, call us and we will help.

Do you crack necks?

No. Dr. Petrilak uses the Activator Method, a low-force instrument adjustment. There is no twisting, popping or cracking of the neck, which is why many patients who were nervous about chiropractic care feel comfortable here.

Can neck problems cause headaches?

Yes, very commonly. Restricted joints and tight muscles at the top of the neck frequently refer pain into the back of the head, the temples and behind the eyes. Restoring motion in the neck often reduces those headaches.

My arm tingles. Is that from my neck?

It can be. Nerves that supply the arm and hand leave the spine in the neck, and irritation there can cause tingling, numbness or weakness down the arm. The exam includes nerve testing so we know whether the neck is the source.

How should I sleep with neck pain?

On your back or side with a pillow that keeps your neck level with the rest of your spine, not propped up or dropped down. Stomach sleeping twists the neck for hours and is best avoided while it is irritated.

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Ready to feel better?

Let's get you out of pain

No forced long-term contracts. Just an accurate diagnosis and care built around you. Call today or request an appointment and we'll take it from there.

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