Last week, a long-time patient came in with an acute flare-up of neck pain. He’s a 66-year-old landscaper who reported feeling a sharp pain in his neck after lifting a piece of equipment. The pain had persisted for several weeks, severe enough that he went to urgent care. They took X-rays and told him the arthritis in his neck was the cause of his pain.
This patient has been coming in monthly for years for what we call maintenance care, routine tune-ups to keep him functional and active. Just like he maintains his landscaping tools, he takes care of his body. He brought in the X-rays from urgent care, and we compared them to ones we took 15 years ago. And guess what? His arthritis hadn’t changed at all. The wear and tear on his spine looked exactly the same.
This is something we see often. In patients who continue regular chiropractic care after reaching their optimal function, spinal arthritis rarely progresses. In contrast, patients who discontinue care and return years later usually show a significant increase in degeneration.
So What Was Causing His Pain?
I assessed his range of motion, which was severely restricted and painful. After ruling out any serious underlying conditions, I used motion palpation to evaluate how each vertebra moved relative to the ones above and below. I checked for joint play—the subtle 1/8-inch movement essential for joint health. Several vertebrae were “stuck” in what we call subluxations, or joint dysfunctional. (Fun fact: there are 76 joints in the neck alone.)
Because these joints weren’t moving, the surrounding muscles had tightened and splinted the area to protect it. Most notably, I found that nerves exiting his neck, particularly the brachial plexus, were being compressed, primarily where they pass through the scalene muscles.
I explained that while he has arthritis, it wasn’t the source of his pain. The real culprits were:
- Nerve entrapment/irritation
- Joint dysfunction
- Muscle splinting
All three had to be treated.
The Treatment
First, I performed Active Release Techniques® (ART®), a patented hands-on soft tissue therapy, to release the entrapped nerves, and relax and lengthen the muscles. Then I delivered a chiropractic adjustment to restore “joint play” movement to the restricted joints. After treatment, his sharp pain was gone, and his mobility had significantly improved. I gave him home care instructions, including stretching and icing his neck.
The Takeaway?
His arthritis wasn’t the problem. The loss of motion was.
MRI reports are finally catching up with this understanding. On the bottom of most MRI reports statements such as:
- “Prevalence of lumbar degenerative disc disease (aka arthritis) in asymptomatic individuals: 91%.”
- “Lumbar spinal stenosis is present in approximately 20% of adults with no symptoms.”
Conclusion: “These changes are so common in people without symptoms that they must be interpreted carefully, in the full context of the patient’s functional status.”
Remember: You Are a Person, Not a Picture
I’ve treated patients whose X-rays showed so much arthritis you’d expect them to be in a wheelchair, yet they run marathons. If we could MRI a car, we’d see dings, worn tires, and fluid levels. But until you start the engine and drive it, you don’t know how the car performs.
The same is true for your body. Until you undergo a functional exam, we can’t assess how well it performs. Once we identify the faults, most can be improved.
What Causes Arthritis?
Yes, arthritis is more common as we age, but I’ve seen patients in their 20s with spinal arthritis, and others in their 70s with none. While genetics can play a role, most arthritic changes stem from long-standing faulty biomechanics. These may result from:
- Major traumas (e.g., car accidents, sports injuries)
- More commonly, microtraumas like poor posture, sitting hunched at a desk, or repetitive strain from activities like heading a soccer ball
I often describe arthritis as rust. When a joint stops moving, it breaks down. If you force a rusty door hinge, it could break. But if you soak it in oil and move it consistently, it can regain motion. It may never be like new and will need ongoing maintenance—but it will function. That’s exactly how we approach spinal joints affected by arthritis.
Restoring Motion Takes Time
We never force movement in an arthritic joint. If we keep putting a demand on it, range of motion improves, muscles relax, and pain fades. This rehabilitation process typically takes 8 to 12 months. Most patients experience a 50% reduction in pain within the first month, with significant gains in flexibility. Once the pain is under control, the real work begins which is building strength and optimizing function. After that, regular chiropractic maintenance care keeps the joints “oiled and lubed,” helping prevent further degeneration and keeping you active.
In Summary
When people say, “my arthritis hurts,” what they’re usually experiencing is the result of:
- Lost joint motion
- Nerve irritation
- Muscle spasm
When we restore motion, the pain resolves and people return to doing what they love.
If you or someone you know is sitting on the sidelines of life because of “arthritis,” there is a safe, effective treatment that targets the true cause of the pain.
Let’s get you moving again—For Pain-Free Active Living.
For more information email me at drbradweiss@performancehealthcenter.com
*Disclaimer: This blog focuses on spinal arthritis—not rheumatoid or other autoimmune types.