Our Convenient Locations
Canton Location
MI Express Urgent & Primary Care
44237 Michigan Ave Suite B, Canton, MI 48188
Monday - Friday : 9 AM - 7 PM
Saturday - Sunday : 10 AM - 6 PM
Ann Arbor Location
MI Express Urgent & Primary Care
80 S Zeeb Rd Unit 101 B, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Monday - Friday : 9 AM - 7 PM
Saturday - Sunday : 10 AM - 6 PM
Symptoms
Neck pain from posture and tension tends to build gradually over the course of a day or a week, rather than appearing suddenly.
- Stiffness or aching in the neck, especially after long periods at a desk or on a phone
- Tension headaches that start at the base of the skull
- Reduced range of motion turning or tilting your head side to side
- Pain or tightness that spreads down into the shoulders
What Causes It
- "Tech neck," prolonged forward head posture from looking down at phones and laptops
- Poor desk ergonomics, including monitor height and chair setup
- Muscle strain from sleeping in an awkward or unsupported position
- Stress-related muscle tension
- Age-related changes in the neck's joints and discs
When to See a Doctor
- Pain lasting more than a couple of weeks despite rest and stretching
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness radiating into an arm or hand
- Pain following a fall, collision, or other sudden injury
If You Sit at a Desk or Look at a Phone All Day
A meaningful share of the neck pain we see is behavior-driven rather than injury-driven, which means small daily changes can help alongside treatment. Raising a laptop or monitor to eye level, taking a break to reset your posture every 30 to 45 minutes, and holding your phone at eye level instead of looking down at it all reduce the strain that builds up over a workday. These habits won't fix a significant underlying issue on their own, but they make a real difference for the tension-and-posture type of neck pain that's extremely common.
How We Treat Neck Pain
Shockwave Therapy: a non-invasive option for musculoskeletal neck and upper back tension where soft-tissue involvement is the primary driver of pain. Short in-office sessions, no downtime, and no referral needed to get started.
Steroid joint injection: used selectively for flare relief, with the same cautious approach applied to other tendon and soft-tissue conditions in this section.
PRP: considered for more chronic, recurring neck pain that hasn't responded to conservative care.
As with back pain, some neck pain has a component that falls outside musculoskeletal, soft-tissue care, particularly when numbness, tingling, or weakness radiates into an arm or hand, which can point to a nerve being involved rather than muscle tension alone. When that is the case, Dr. Azimi will be direct about it and refer you to an appropriate specialist rather than treating symptoms that point to a cervical spine issue as if they were simple tension.
Why MI Express Urgent & Primary Care
Practical, desk-worker-friendly care is the focus here, addressing the posture and habits behind the pain, not just the symptom in front of you. Dr. Umayr Azimi, MD, dual board-certified in Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine, evaluates neck pain at either our Canton or Ann Arbor location with walk-in and same-week visits available seven days a week.
Book My AssessmentFrequently Asked Questions
Yes. Prolonged forward head posture from screens and phones is one of the most common causes of neck pain and tension headaches we see in the clinic.
Coverage varies by plan and by the treatment recommended. Our team can help verify your specific benefits before you begin any treatment plan.
Many patients notice improvement within a few weeks of combining treatment with posture and ergonomic changes, though timelines vary by individual case.
Numbness, tingling, or weakness in an arm or hand, or pain after an injury, are signs to get evaluated rather than waiting it out at home.
