Question
I have been having neck pain with lots of headaches and some lower back pain that hurts when I bend over.  I went to the chiropractor and he took some x-rays.  He told me that I have the beginning stages of degenerative arthritis in my neck.  The official diagnosis is Cervical and lumbar subluxations with complicating factors being a reversal curve in my neck and also a short leg (the reason for the back pain).  He told me the severity in my neck is a 7 or 8 based on a 10 scale, with a 10 needing to go to the hospital.  He told me that I would need at least 72 visits to possibly fix the problem for $216 a month.  He told me that he can try less visits but that he recommends the 72 visits because with the 72 visits he does more of an intense therapy. With lesser visits they are not as intense.  Basically I am wondering if this is a real need for 72 visits.  He did one adjustment and I still have horrible headaches.  He also started having me roll a towel to the size of my fist and lay my neck it while sitting in a chair for 10 min a day.  Will this technique work on my curvature?  Thanks for your help!
Clarissa

Answer
I am not one to put a number on the number of visits that it takes to make corrections; it could happen after one or 20.  Why would he use less intense treatments if you aren't going for the 72 visits?  In essence what he is saying is that you would get substandard care.  I would suggest finding a different chiropractor, usually best found by word of mouth referral.  The towel rolled up into the cervical curve will help, since you say it is reverse.  A proper course of care would involve adjustments, therapies as indicated, and a good rehab program to bring about strengthening in the cervical spine.