Neck pain in Burnaby, and what a careful first visit looks like
Neck pain is one of the most common reasons people in Burnaby come to see us. It shows up as a stiff neck on waking, an ache at the base of the skull after a day at a screen, a catch when you shoulder-check on the Lougheed or Kingsway, or a tightness that travels into the shoulder. Some of it settles on its own within days. Some of it keeps coming back, and that is usually when people start asking what is actually going on.
Jassal Chiropractic is led by Dr. Avtar Jassal, who has been in practice for many years. Our clinic is at 3496 Main Street in Vancouver, just west of Burnaby, and we see many patients who make the trip from Burnaby, Brentwood, Metrotown and the Heights. This page explains what can sit behind neck pain, when it needs a physician first, how we assess it, and what you can do between visits.
Common reasons the neck gets sore
Most neck pain is not one big event. It builds. The neck holds up a head that weighs about as much as a bowling ball, and small habits add up over months.
- Desk and phone posture. Hours with the head forward of the shoulders, a laptop screen set too low, or a phone held at chest height all load the muscles at the back of the neck. If you work near Metrotown or Brentwood, study at SFU, or spend a long commute looking down at a screen, this is the most likely place to start looking.
- Sleep. A pillow that is too high or too flat, or sleeping on your stomach with your head turned for hours, can leave the neck stiff by morning.
- Strain. Lifting, sports, a long drive, a new workout, or carrying a heavy bag on one shoulder.
- Stress. Many people hold tension in the shoulders and neck without noticing until it aches.
- Whiplash and past injuries. A car collision, even a low-speed one, a fall, or a sports knock can leave the neck sore or stiff, sometimes days after the event. An old injury can also be the reason a neck keeps flaring up years later.
These causes often overlap. That is why we start by listening to how your days actually go before we look at your neck.
Neck pain with headaches or arm symptoms
Neck pain does not always stay in the neck. Some people also get headaches that start at the base of the skull and move toward the forehead, or a feeling of pressure behind the eyes. Others notice tingling, numbness or an ache that runs into the shoulder, arm or hand.
These patterns can come from irritated joints and muscles in the neck, or from pressure on a nerve as it leaves the spine. They can also have other causes that have nothing to do with the neck. We do not guess. We take a history, test how the neck moves, and check how the nerves and muscles are responding. If what we find points outside our scope, we tell you and send you to the right person. Dr. Jassal refers out when care elsewhere is the better fit, and he considers that part of doing the job properly.
If neck pain comes with a sudden severe headache, weakness or numbness, or follows a serious accident or fall, see a doctor first. We would rather you get checked and come back to us than wait.
What your first visit looks like
The first visit is an assessment.
- A conversation first. Your health history, past injuries, your work and sleep, and what a normal day does to your neck.
- A physical assessment. We look at posture, test how far and how smoothly the neck and upper back move, and check for areas of tension.
- Neuro spinal scans. Scans that record muscle activity, temperature and heart rate variability as a baseline to compare against later.
- Posture pictures, and X-rays only when the doctor decides they are needed.
At your next visit, you receive a written report that walks through what we found, along with a care plan that explains what we are aiming for and how we will check progress. We reassess at set points and review your findings together.
How we approach care for the neck
Our adjustments use the Torque Release Technique, delivered with a hand-held instrument. There is no twisting of the neck and no cracking or popping. The instrument makes a clicking sound and feels like a quick impulse. Dr. Jassal can talk you through exactly what the instrument does before you decide anything.
Our philosophy is simple. We are not fixing you from the outside. We look for where the spine and nervous system are under strain, we take the pressure off, and then your body does what it already knows how to do. It is like a garden hose: our job is to take the foot off the hose. The rest happens between visits, in how you sit, sleep and move.
That also means this care suits people who want to understand their neck and are willing to follow a plan. If you are looking for a single quick appointment, we will say so honestly, and we may suggest somewhere else is a better fit. If the neck is tied to headaches that started after an injury, our upper cervical chiropractic care page explains how we look at the top of the spine.
What you can do between visits
Small changes often matter as much as what happens in the clinic. These are general suggestions, and they are not a replacement for advice from your own doctor.
- Raise the screen. The top of your monitor should sit around eye level. With a laptop, use a stand and a separate keyboard if you can.
- Bring the phone up. Lift it toward eye level instead of dropping your head to it. Our post on tech neck and digital devices has more.
- Break up long sitting. Stand, roll the shoulders and look out a window every 30 to 45 minutes.
- Look at your pillow. Your head should rest in line with your spine whether you sleep on your back or your side. Try not to sleep on your stomach.
- Move gently. Easy walking and slow, comfortable neck movement are usually better than keeping still. Stop anything that sends pain, tingling or numbness down the arm.
- Use warmth if it feels good. A warm shower or heat pack on tight muscles is a comfortable option for many people.
Getting here from Burnaby
Burnaby sits directly east of Vancouver, and our clinic is at 3496 Main Street, Vancouver, BC V5V 3N2. Patients from Burnaby, Brentwood, Metrotown and the surrounding neighbourhoods book with us for the first-visit assessment and ongoing care.
Call us at 604-731-3006 or email [email protected]. You can also read about our chiropractic clinic care for Burnaby patients, or learn about family chiropractic in Burnaby, sports chiropractic in Burnaby and our restorative chiropractic care.
Questions we hear about neck pain
Will the adjustment hurt or crack my neck? The instrument makes a clicking sound and feels like a quick impulse. There is no twisting and no cracking.
How many visits will I need? It depends on what we find and on what you want from care. After the assessment we explain what we are aiming for and how we will measure progress, and we review the plan with you at set points. We do not promise outcomes.
Can children or teens with neck complaints be seen? Yes, with a parent or guardian present. Tell us about your child's concern when you call and we will go through it with you.
Start with a conversation
If your neck has been bothering you and you would like to understand why, the easiest first step is a short call. We will listen, answer your questions, and tell you honestly whether our clinic is the right fit for you.
