04/29/2010
Your neck has a very distinct curvature. It’s similar to the shape of a banana, and measures approximately 42-degrees. It’s designed to provide shock absorption and support for the weight of your head, which can weigh up to 14-lbs.
Here’s a little experiment I’d like for you to try… Find a banana, straighten it, and then bend it in the opposite direction… You’ll soon find it’s not a pretty sight.
Within the middle of your spine is the spinal cord and some fairly important blood vessels. If a soft, flexible and squishy banana can’t handle bending-type forces, imagine what happens to your body when the rigid bones of your spine compromise the critical nerve fibers and blood vessels they’re supposed to protect!
Now, the x-ray on the right demonstrates a reversed cervical curve. Common sense would suggest that this patient would have some degree of neck pain… but he doesn’t! Instead, he has a history of high blood pressure and chronic lower back pain! He’s had multiple disc surgeries in the lumbar spine, as well as a total hip replacement before the age of 55… Sadly, these procedures haven’t provided any long-term relief.
An intact cervical curve is vital to proper spinal motion. Your entire spine will adapt, bend, and twist in a variety of different ways to compensate for what’s going on within your neck. If a problem in this area remains uncorrected, the spine will never function optimally. This can lead to degenerative wear-and-tear within the rest of the skeletal structure, and many times drive a person towards a life of chronic pain medication and surgery.
For additional information on this topic, check out this blog post from my archives entitled How Misalignments in the Neck Can Cause Pain Throughout the Entire Spine.
I have a reversed cervical curve of 22 degrees. I am 24 years old and also have degenerative scoliosis in the thorasic area. I am not able to work nor am i able to clean my house. I go this week to see an orthopedic. I just think that I am to young to have to deal with this type of thing. I am scared that my only relief will be surgery. Everyone that I have talked to says that once you get neck or back surgery you end up under the knife muliple times after. I am just looking for advice from people who have dealt with the same thing. Thanks
Hi Holly,
I have a reversed curve of -17 degress but no scoliosis. As far a my neck goes my PT/chiropractor put me on a program to strenghten and stretch my neck and upper back and also uses a device called a posture pump to make my neck assume the natural curve shape. I won’t know if it has helped for another two weeks or not once I view the new xrays but I’ll try to post back. Good luck!
I’m scared too! Mine is completely reversed and is VERY painful! I used to find limited relief from a chiropractor but I lost my insurance so I just have to live with it. I can feel my spinal cord stretching, it’s a hot pain that sears down my entire back into my tail bone. I was diagnosed at age 20 and I am now 29. It deteriorated very quickly. If you have the opportunity to get it fixed, by all means get it done! I can’t work, haven’t for 3 years now, but it isn’t “bad enough” to get disability for, according to the SSA. There are days I can’t walk on my own, don’t wait, fix it now!