Constant Neck Cracking

I seriously sound like snap crackle pop rice krispies...every time I turn my head constantly since July 1st!  It is driving me crazy!  I've told all the dr's and they say it's normal!?!?  Okay, I can understand people having this from time to time, but all the time for 4 months straight?  Every time I turn my head from side to side, or roll over in bed, or look up or down?  Sometimes it is quieter than other times, but it's always there.  Sometimes it is tender but not usually painful.  Am I crazy?  Does anyone else have this? 

My husband can hear it too, so I know I'm not imagining it...I guess I'm just wondering if this will ever go away.

When the cracking/grinding, whatever it is, is really loud then I get neck problems with it too.  It feels like fluid on my spine right at the base of my skull and then my head gets so heavy I can barely hold it up and my neck muscles hurt.  The 1st time this happened to me was in March, after taking my kids to the museum. We had to leave after 45 min because I felt so ill.  I was perfectly fine before we walked in the door, but some days I have a very low tolerance to static standing.  I went to the hospital because I thought I had meningitis.  It took me about a week to recover and I felt a bit better but all my other fibro problems got alot worse after that episode. 

Sorry for the long post here, I'm just trying to make some sense of it all!

Good night everyone, sleep well!

Wow my son has had that too. I was there when he tried to explain it to the doc.
He couldn't even hold his head up during classes it was like it was to heavy! He would also feel some relief after he would here a popping noise while cracking his neck.

Hi!

I've had this same problem for many years. It started slowly probably about 25 years ago. I first noticed it when driving...turning my head to back up was getting uncomfortable and my neck would crack and pop. I ignored it and just learned to live with it since I didn't have insurance at the time.

Fast forward to about 1999, give or take a bit. I was having back pain so doc was thorough and ordered MRIs and X-rays where appropriate. What came back on my neck showed a significant amount of arthritis! As I thought about it and did some reading in addition to what doc told me it made perfect sense...in MY case. I have no idea if this applies to you but since our symptoms are similar I thought I'd share with you.

Currently my neck is in awful condition. I've been way over-doing it and that included my neck which is often the first area of pain. Also, the muscles at the base of my neck and out to my shoulders are some of the most painful due to fibro. Combine these and it's no fun sometimes. If I do a better job of resting and not lifting and doing things I shouldn't, then the pain is greatly reduced. One other thing you may have going on also is when my neck hurts it often spreads up and turns into a very prolonged headache.

I hope you can get a doctor who will listen and find out what's going on. Just because somewhere on our body 'pops' or makes noise that doesn't always mean it's something serious. BUT if it's causing you pain, problems with movement, or in any way hinders a quality life then your medical team needs to find out what's going on. Please don't be pushed off by your doctor. Find a new one if need be. It's open enrollment time also, just as an aside... Another 'trick' that often helps if a doctor is brushing you off is to take your husband along with you and into the exam room. Doctors aren't as apt to poo-poo your problems if he's in the room too. It's not easy for those of us who prefer to do it ourselves, but when the pain gets bad enough I put aside my ego and take him along. It worked wonders a couple of times when I was sent to specialists who were 'goofballs'?...lol

Warm hugs,
Chutz

Thanks everyone, I'm going to see a spine doctor (chiropractor) next week who treats fibromyalgia patients with oxygen based therapy. I'll bring it up to him because no one else is listening.

I take lyrica 50mg 3 x daily and hydromorphone when the pain is really bad.

I'm not surprised that I have found other people here with the same problem. I know it probably isn't serious. Most of the time it is just plain annoying, but at times when it is worse I think it contributes to alot of this neck/shoulder muscle pain.

Thanks everyone for your input!

Hi Krista,

I have the same as you...popping and grinding and clicking in the neck. I've suffered several neck traumas in my life (whiplash and concussion diagnosed together each time my neck has been hurt) and I'm sure it's probably related to that, but I'd like a scientific explanation for all those horrid sounds. Sometimes there's no pain when I move my neck, but still all the noise.

I hope you get some answers at your appointment. I'd like to ask you a question now too...what is your opinion on the Oxygen treatment for Fibromyalgia. I don't think I've heard of that before - can you tell me more about it?

I hope you feel better soon.

Hugs,
Pam

Ya know, I went to the ER one night after taking the 8th dose of wellbutrin (yet one more attempt for pain relief before I got diagnosed). The wellbutrin caused me to have a migraine worse than any headache I've ever experienced. I didn't believe in going to the ER for headaches but after 36 hours of this grueling pain, my husband called my PCP and asked what he could do. He said I was having a reaction to the wellbutrin and to go straight to the ER. When I got there, I explained that one of my symptoms aside from migraine was a "Grinding feeling like I have broken glass in my neck when I turn it." the ER doctor held his stethascope (sp?) up to my neck and when I turned my head, the sound was so loud in his ears he jumped. He rushed me for a CT cuz he "swore my neck was broken!!" I told him I KNEW it wasn't broken, had this grinding before, was just really bad at the same time as the headache. Anyway, the CT was negative except for arthritis (which I already knew I had) and a reverse curve of the C-spine (which I knew I had). They gave me pain medication to help my head while the wellbutrin worked out of my system. That was NOT fun. I'll be curious to know what you find out, if you find out anything!! Good luck!

Interesting subject!  My neck constantly hurts and could be adjusted everyday by my chiro but I can not afford it.  My pain started with the neck pain, especially while driving.  My chiro told me that the popping was air escaping from the joints and to drink a lot of water after adjustments to help the toxins leave the body.

I usually lay on the floor with a rolled up pillow and move my head from side to side which causes the popping sounds, sometimes pretty loud.  It usually helps somewhat.   I have bought every massager, a hot tub, and creams out there just about.  Bed buddy helps the most so far.

I also bought a new shower head that is pretty forceful that "used" to feel good on my neck but now the jet hurts my skin, same with the hot tub jets.  I guess that is the progression? 

I looked up the Oxygen therapy and it is the hyperbaric chamber and should be done in a medical setting (Krista, I hope it is not just at a chiro office)

I know there isn't much helpful in my post, I'm babbling

Hi there!

I am currently suffering from the same neck issues. It's good that you are going to the Chiropractor because he should be able to help you.
I try to go as often as I can afford to go and he always sets my straight! lol (little joke)
The neck muscles (due to fibro, stress, accidents etc.) get really tight and constrict causing the vertibra to mis-align so to speak and also compress pressing on nerves and in turn building more tension and block signals from the brain to the rest of the body.. Which can result in different symptoms each time depending on which nerves are effected and so on.

It can cause pressure and tension to build and make you feel sick, irritable and cause other problems in other areas of the body, have you had any other problems pop up since the neck stuff started? They could be related so pay attention to them and write down any changes after chrio treatment so you can remind yourself what may be affected by this so you are not searching for other causes to pains/probs that seem unrelated to your neck...
I also get increased pressure in my neck and head especially when I try to bend over and pick something up sit a certain way or even when I lay down.

Some doctors will say it is normal or whatever but they are wrong! I have felt what you are feeling , it is not normal and can be helped and treated by a GOOD Chiropractor, rest and a few simple exercises. I also have an inversion table and a neck traction device that just hangs on the wall and is easy to use. All of this helps a lot. so, don't take normal for an answer and find a good chiropractor I recomend one that uses more "gentle" techniques like flexon/distraction (spelling?)

Any way that's just my experience with similar situation and 3 years plus of pain, agony, trial and error. Keep us posted so we can all learn from your experiences too.

oh and a good cervical neck pillow and an ice pack are bees knees!
Good Luck and take Care!

ps when your neck is really popping and grinding really bad, rest is best!

My son had the most popping and cracking of his neck when he was put on homebound instruction for Cronic Daily Headaches. That was before this illness move to every other part of his body. He even got a nerve block in his head with very little relief. I think the nerve block only made things worse...who knows if it was done right our docs aren't the best...

Son did the Oxygen therapy in the hyperbaric chamber...It did offer some relief but as everything that seems to work...It doesn't last him for more then an hour or so.

It was a very expensive choice of treatment but I was very desperate to try anything that would help. (Insurance didn't pay for this.)

I also read about oxygen therapy to help for Cluster Headaches. But that is administered through a mask and works very well for Cluster Headaches.

Best of luck to you... what works for one doesn't also work for another.
I Hope You find the relief you are searching for.

Thanks everyone, some really great advice here. So I saw this chiropractor today who seemed amazing. He did a full neurological exam and was very thorough. I believe the oxygen therapy he does is witha mask but I'm not positive because we didn't really talk about treatment yet. He wants me to get an xray on my neck and wants my blood work results and then we will discuss what options are best. I'll keep you all posted!

Sarek2k: OMG!! I have been having the identical symptoms for the last 6 months and now am suffering from excruciating neck and shoulder pain. I've tried chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy and am starting physio on Tuesday. My family doctor says the lightening bolt neck crack is normal. Xrays show slight osteoarthritis which apparently everyone gets as early as age 9. I too have terrible anxiety and carry it between my shoulder blades .. As soon as I am stressed or anxious, the burning sensation sits there until I can relax with a glass of wine or a heat wrap .. lol. Please please update your post as to the outcome of your appt. Looks like you posted in October ..

Signed, Desperate For Answers :~)

I also have a very "noisy" neck. It has gotten more noticeable the past couple of years.

I have had a cracking neck for about 6 years. It started with just a very small soft noise, but has gotten worse over the years. Now it is very loud and cracks and pops constantly and also is painful. When I lean my head to either shoulder it feels like a really tight rubber band trying to stretch..very painful. Sometimes it seems my neck gets "caught". I have to do a quick jerk forward and down with my head which causes a loud pop & it releases. The noise and the pain are pretty constant.. Bending over makes it way worse. Just like every one above the doctors say it is normal. I did have a MRI, showed a little degeneration, which is normal with age.. It concerns me what it will be like in a few more years.
Debbie