The neck does a lot of work. Seven small vertebrae carry the weight of the head, support a wide range of motion, and house the nerves that branch out to the shoulders, arms, and hands. When one of those vertebrae shifts out of alignment, the whole system feels it. Pain shows up. Motion gets limited. The shoulders and upper back start to compensate, and within a few weeks the original problem has spread.
Common causes include sleeping in an awkward position, hours at a screen, repetitive strain, old whiplash injuries, and accidents that the body never fully recovered from. Pain medication and massage can offer short-term relief, but neither addresses the structural problem at the root. The vertebra is still out of place when the pill wears off.
Dr. Lena Hartwell examines the neck level by level to find the exact joint causing the trouble. The Gonstead approach is built on this kind of specificity. Once the involved vertebra is identified, the adjustment is delivered to that joint alone, with the least force needed to restore motion. Surrounding muscles relax. Nerve pressure eases. Most patients feel a meaningful change in motion and comfort within a handful of visits, though long-standing patterns take longer to fully resolve.
Take the first step toward better health. Schedule your new patient visit today.

Pain, numbness, or weakness in the limbs caused by nerve compression at the spine.
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Sensation of spinning or imbalance, often linked to upper cervical or inner ear dysfunction.
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Bulging, herniated, or extruded spinal discs that compress nerves and limit movement.
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Hand and wrist pain, numbness, or weakness from median nerve compression.
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Spinal misalignment, disc problems, or muscle strain limiting daily movement and quality of life.
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Sharp, radiating pain down the leg caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve at the spine.
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Abnormal sideways curvature of the spine that affects posture, motion, and long-term function.
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Injuries from job-related accidents, repetitive motion, or sustained poor posture on the job.
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Neck injury from sudden back-and-forth motion, most often from rear-end collisions.
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Persistent shoulder pain, stiffness, or limited motion that interferes with daily activity.
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A physiologic state that shifts posture, weight, and ligament tension in ways that strain the spine.
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Recurring head pain often driven by tension and misalignment in the upper neck.
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