Neck pain and headaches
Desk necks, stiff mornings, training necks and the headaches that come with them.
- No referral needed
- Book directly. Claim on the spot with eligible private health extras.
- Open six days
- Monday to Friday 8am–7pm, Saturday 8am–2pm.
- First visit
- Allow 45 minutes to an hour. Wear shorts and a loose top.
- Rear entrance
- 92 Parsons Street, Kensington, inside Renegade BJJ.
Why necks get sore
Most neck pain comes from the joints and muscles of the neck and upper back being held in one position too long, or loaded harder than they're used to. Long days at a screen, a bad night's sleep, carrying kids, or a hard week of training all do it.
It is rarely just a neck problem. A stiff mid-back and tired shoulders push more work onto the neck, which is why assessment here looks at all three.
Most neck pain improves within weeks. The aim is to ease it now and make it less likely to keep coming back.
What we see most
Desk neck and stiffness
Ache across the neck and top of the shoulders that builds through the day. Desk neck: what actually helps.
Neck-related headaches
Headaches that start at the base of the skull, often on one side, and spread toward the forehead or behind the eye. They tend to build with long desk sessions.
Wry neck
Waking up unable to turn your head. Painful and alarming, and it usually settles within days with gentle movement and treatment.
Pain or pins and needles into the arm
Pain that follows a line into the arm or hand, sometimes with numbness. This suggests nerve irritation and needs a careful assessment.
Whiplash
Neck pain after a car accident or sudden jolt. Assessment checks that a doctor has ruled out anything serious first.
Training and contact sport necks
Grappling, wrestling and contact sports load the neck hard. Neck pain in wrestling: normal or not?
When to see a doctor first
Call 000 or go to an emergency department if you have:
- A sudden, severe headache, the worst you've had
- Headache or neck pain with weakness, numbness, confusion, slurred speech or changes in vision
- Fever with a stiff neck and headache
- Neck pain after a significant fall, car accident or blow to the head
See your GP first if:
- Weakness or numbness in an arm that is getting worse
- Neck pain with fever, unexplained weight loss or feeling unwell
- Pain that is worse at night and not eased by position
- Dizziness, blackouts or problems swallowing with neck pain
If anything in your assessment points to a doctor, we'll tell you and explain why, rather than treat.
What an appointment involves
Talk it through
When it started, your work and training, sleep, headaches, and any arm symptoms.
Screen for anything that needs a doctor
Questions and tests for the warning signs above, plus nerve tests if you have arm symptoms.
Assess the neck, upper back and shoulders
How they move together, and what's stiff or overloaded.
Treat on the day
Gentle hands-on treatment to ease pain and restore movement in the neck and upper back.
Leave with a plan for the week
Desk changes, movement breaks and a few exercises. If exercises will help, we take you through them in the session and you film them on your phone, so you know exactly how they go at home or in the gym.
How long does it usually take?
Typical ranges, not promises.
| Situation | Early change | Typical recovery |
|---|---|---|
| Wry neck or recent stiffness | Within days | 1–3 weeks |
| Desk-related neck pain | 1–2 weeks | 2–6 weeks |
| Neck-related headaches | 2–4 weeks | 6–12 weeks |
| Neck pain with arm symptoms | 2–6 weeks | 6 weeks to 3 months |
Questions people ask
Can an osteopath help with headaches?
Osteopaths can assess and treat headaches that come from the neck. Sudden, severe headaches, or headaches with weakness, confusion or vision changes, need emergency care first.
Is bad posture causing my neck pain?
Staying in one position for long periods matters more than any single posture. Regular movement, a sensible screen height and some strength work usually help more than sitting rigidly upright.
Do you crack necks?
Not routinely. Treatment is chosen to suit you, and most neck treatment is gentle mobilisation, soft tissue work and exercise. If you would rather avoid any technique, just say.
Should I see a doctor for pins and needles in my arm?
Get it assessed. If arm weakness or numbness is getting worse, or comes with other warning signs, see a doctor promptly.
Neck sore by the end of the day?
Book an assessment in Kensington. No referral needed.