Arthritis: Arthritis in the neck refers to an increase in bony growth of the vertebrae of the neck.  When the head is continually held forward of where it optimally belongs, when there have been even minor injuries to the head or neck and the weight of the head is not carried equally among all the vertebrae of the neck, then pressure will build up more on one or a few vertebrae rather than being distributed evenly.  When an area of the neck “perceives” itself as carrying extra weight of the head, the body will, over time, deposit additional bone (calcium) onto those bones bearing extra weight to reinforce them.  These additional bony growths are called osteoarthritic growths, or more commonly referred to simply as arthritis. These arthritic changes can limit normal ranges of motion of the neck and put pressure on the discs and nerves in the neck, causing minor aches and even major pain.  Traditional medicine’s most common method of treatment for this type of arthritic pain is the administration of  NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) which can help to reduce pain, inflammation and stiffness.  Common NSAIDS are Celebrex, Ibuprofen, Meloxicam and Naproxen.  It’s important to note that these medications do not stop, reverse nor prevent the future growth of bony arthritic changes in the neck.  They simply “cut the wires to the fire alarm, without putting out the fire.”  The specific biomechanical imbalances that have been causing the improper bearing of the weight of the head by the neck bones must be isolated and specific corrective procedures employed to alter this arthritis-producing structure. This is chiropractic’s, particularly the Pettibon System’s (the advanced protocol that we offer), strong suit.  Arthritis of the neck can only be stopped and its associated pain naturally reduced when the form and function of the neck are restored as closely as possible to biomechanical norms.