Stiffness that will not turn, an ache between your shoulder blades, or pain running down into your arm. Neck pain is one of the most treatable problems we see — and one of the most over-imaged.
For most neck pain, the treatment with the best evidence is hands-on manual therapy combined with specific exercise — the combination outperforms either one used alone. Most people need neither imaging nor injections to get better.
No referral required. Call 228-471-5047.
“Neck pain” is not one problem, and lumping it together is why generic stretches so often fail. Sorting which pattern you have is most of the work, because each one responds to something different.
The most common presentation. It hurts in a specific direction, it feels stiff, and it is usually worse after long static positions. This pattern responds well and relatively quickly to joint mobilization — often including the thoracic spine, not just the neck itself — paired with mobility and strengthening work.
Typical after whiplash or any sudden load. The tissue heals but the deep stabilizing muscles stop doing their job, so the neck feels unreliable, fatigues fast, and flares unpredictably. Treatment here is precise motor control retraining, progressed carefully. Rushing this one backfires.
Pain, numbness, tingling or weakness traveling into the shoulder, arm or hand — often from nerve root irritation in the neck. This needs careful neurological screening first. Many of these cases do well with traction, directional preference exercise, and nerve mobility work, and improve without surgery. Some do not, and identifying which is which early matters.
Headache driven by the upper cervical joints and muscles — usually one-sided, starting at the base of the skull, reproducible by pressing certain segments. This responds to upper cervical manual therapy and deep neck flexor training. See our headache page for the full picture, including how this overlaps with TMJ and jaw dysfunction.
Your plan depends on which pattern your exam shows. These are the tools it draws from.
Joint mobilization and manipulation of the cervical and thoracic spine, plus soft tissue work. Thoracic treatment for neck pain sounds counterintuitive and is one of the better-supported interventions we have.
Deep neck flexor endurance, scapular and upper back strength. This is what keeps the relief from being temporary. Manual therapy opens the window; exercise is what holds it open.
For myofascial trigger points in the cervical, scapular and upper trapezius region when tone and referred pain are driving symptoms. Certified (Cert DN).
When symptoms travel into the arm, restoring the nerve's ability to glide and tolerate tension is a distinct skill set from treating the joint. Graded carefully, guided by your symptom response.
Not a lecture about posture. A specific look at what you do for eight to twelve hours — welding overhead, looking down at a laptop, driving a truck — and what can realistically change about it.
Available on site for persistent myofascial and tendon-related pain in the neck and shoulder girdle when it has not responded to manual therapy and loading.
Blunt version, because it saves you money and time.
Disc bulges and degenerative changes show up routinely on scans of people with no pain whatsoever, and their frequency increases with age. Imaging is valuable when there are red flags, progressive neurological loss, or trauma. Otherwise it often finds something incidental, alarms you, and does not change the plan.
Sitting up straighter for an afternoon does not fix a neck. What matters more is variety of position, the capacity of the muscles that hold you there, and how long you stay still. Building tolerance beats chasing perfect alignment.
Except in specific acute injuries, immobilizing the neck deconditions it. Guarded, unused necks get more sensitive, not less. Graded movement is the treatment.
If your neck hurts but your thoracic spine does not move and your shoulder blades have no strength, treating only the sore spot buys you a few good days. The region above and below is part of the plan.
Being honest about this is part of the job. Your evaluation includes a screen for signs that point somewhere other than physical therapy, and if we find them you are referred promptly. Those include progressive or significant weakness in the arm or hand, changes in walking or balance, problems with fine hand coordination, unexplained weight loss, fever, a history of cancer with new unexplained neck pain, severe pain after significant trauma, or symptoms in both arms or legs.
None of that is meant to alarm you — the large majority of neck pain is mechanical and treatable. But direct access means the physical therapist is often the first clinician to see you, and that comes with the responsibility to recognize what does not belong here. Mississippi law also requires your therapist to refer you on if you have not made measurable improvement within 30 days.
We verify your benefits before your first visit, so you know your coverage and any out-of-pocket cost up front — no surprise bills.
Accepted. No referral needed to begin care; your plan of care is certified by a physician or nurse practitioner within 30 days.
Most major plans accepted, including BlueCross BlueShield and United Healthcare. Some plans require a referral for coverage — we check first.
Accepted. We handle the documentation and communicate with your adjuster and employer.
Transparent self-pay rates for patients without coverage or with a high deductible. Ask when you call.
Straight answers. If yours isn't here, call — we'll tell you honestly whether physical therapy is the right next step.
One clinic in Pascagoula, serving all of Jackson County. Every condition below is treated one-on-one by Dr. Austin Baskin, PT, DPT.
One evaluation tells you which kind of neck pain you have and what it will take to fix it. Most people start treatment the same visit.
228-471-5047Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM · 1408 Ingalls Ave, Pascagoula, MS 39567