Patient Profile

• Name: Kelli Crannell
• Age: 59
• Primary Complaint: Chronic neck pain radiating into the shoulder, arm, and hand
• Duration: 10+ years

Initial Presentation

Kelli presented to Atlas Chiropractic with a long history of chronic neck pain that radiated into her right shoulder, arm, and hand.

Her symptoms were:

• Severe and constant (75–100%)
• Located primarily on the right side
• Described as sharp, achy, stabbing, and pins and needles
• Associated with moderate pain levels (4–5/10)

The condition significantly impacted her quality of life, including her ability to function at work and maintain emotional well-being.

What Made It Better / Worse

Improved With:

• Medication
• Lying down
• Heat
• Stretching
• Ice
• Movement

Previous Treatments

Before seeking care, Kelli had tried multiple approaches without lasting relief:

• Injections in the neck to numb nerves (3 different injections)
• Consultation regarding neck surgery with a neurologist
• Physical therapy
• THC gummies
• Medication

Examination Findings

A comprehensive evaluation revealed:

• Fixation in the upper cervical spine at C1 and C2 (bilaterally)
• Hypertonic muscles throughout the cervical spine (C1–C7)
• Muscle tension in the thoracic spine (T2–T5)
• Thermographic findings indicating neuropathophysiology

Postural Findings:

• Right head tilt
• High left shoulder
• Anterior head carriage

Range of Motion:

• Decreased flexion
• Decreased extension (with pain)
• Decreased lateral flexion (both sides)
• Decreased rotation (with pain on both sides)

These findings indicated significant dysfunction in the cervical spine, contributing to her chronic symptoms.

What Keli Had To Say About Her Experience In The Office

What symptoms were you experiencing before receiving care?

“All of my pain was on the right side; Severe pain in shoulder blade area as well as upper neck. Pain would radiate down my arm and hand on the right side only. At times pain was so bad it was debilitating and my quality of life was suffering. Crying, depression and not in a good place mentally.”

What did you try before coming here?

Injections in my neck to numb nerves (3 different Injections)
Discussed neck surgery with my neurologist
Physical therapy
THC Gummies
Medication

When did you first notice improvement?

Symptoms slowly subsided around 2-3 months of seeing Dr. Bremner on a consistent basis

What can you do now that you couldn’t do before?

“Anything and everything. I am no longer held captive to the pain I was experiencing. I have a high stress job with frequent travel and keeping my appointments with Dr. Bremner keeps me pain free and able to do what I love.”

Outcome

Following consistent care, Kelli experienced:

• Significant reduction in neck and arm pain
• Improved mobility and function
• Ability to maintain a high-stress job with frequent travel
• Restoration of quality of life and emotional well-being

Clinical Insight

This case highlights how chronic neck pain with radiating symptoms—even with a 10-year history—can be associated with dysfunction in the upper cervical spine.

By addressing the biomechanics of the neck and nervous system function, patients can experience meaningful improvements even after other treatments have failed.

Conclusion

Chronic neck pain, especially when accompanied by radiating arm symptoms, can be complex and long-standing. However, identifying and correcting the underlying dysfunction can lead to significant improvements in both physical and emotional health.