Question
Hi Doctor!
My question is in regard to to cervical ribs, reverse cervical spine and a posterior pontical. Recently, I began having intense pressure accompanied with pain in my right upper back shoulder area. My right arm would constantly tingle and go numb. I had also noticed that my right clavicle was protruding much more than my left and begun to worry. After 3 doctor's visits and a shoulder/c=spine x-ray series, I was diagnosed as simply having Cervical Ribs. The GP suggested PT for 3 weeks. With a high deductible to meet, I opted to first get a second opinion and choose a chiropractor, who then did an additional clavicle x=ray and dx me as having reverse cervical spine as well as a posterior pontical. He suggested 'intense' therapy with tx 3 x a week for 3 months. (Total cost = much more than my high deductible....) My conflict is two-fold. One, is this all really necessary and/or even the cause of my pain and discomfort, and two, after only one adjustment, my pain all but disappeared - is 3x a week for 3 months really what I need?? Will tx fix the problem or only make it feel better?
Thank you!

Answer
hello kelli,
    Those are good questions.
Everyone has cervical ribs and many people have a posterior ponticus (which is really in consequential) Congrats on feeling better. Often times patients will get better with 1-7 adjustments by a chiropractor. The problem is that you have a reversed cervical curve which will take pressure off the back of the vertebrae (called facet joints) and transfer that weight onto the front of the vertebral bodies. When this happens over 10, 15 , 20 years you will develop arthritis (due to abnormal wear and tear to the cervical spine). Your pain is usually the first thing to clear up but you still have a reversed cervical curve.
Some suggestions would be to follow through with him for a few weeks so you ensure that you don't have a relapse.
second: raise your computer monitor at work/ and home so bottom of monitor is at eye level. Also, stretch pectoralis minor and major muscles and strengthen your posterior cervical muscles and back muscles.
there is also a unit (some insurance covers it) called a posture pump (helps return your cervical curve)
In the end it's important to have proper spinal alignment otherwise these symptoms and problems will get much worse as you age. for example: OA developing, Deg. Disc Disease, Migraines or tension headaches, and pinched nerves causing numbness or even pain down the arm.

as far as your clavicle, that should be looked at by a chiropractor that knows extremity adjusting or has extra cert. in extremities or sports injuries. that is important too and could cause shoulder problems because the clavicle is the only bone holding our shoulder to our axial skeleton.
hope that helps!