Neck Clicking

[tiffferoni]

Has anyone experienced their neck clicking when turning head from side to side?

[finallyadx]

Yes I do all the time...do not know what it is from though.  If anyone has ideas it would be great to hear them! 

[Dee]

Yes so have this and it has been constant at times and worriesome, so loud prob due to proximity to ears. 

I am convinced that Vit D shots I get help this, in fact, before last shot this was acting up and only recently started up again about a week ago. 

I am about due for monthly D B12 B6 injection.

If it subsides with this shot I will consider it a valid pattern and that the D is the answer, what I often btw tell my bf  .

Dee

[grettajo48]

I have had this for years and it's from arthritis in my neck.

[Carolina]

This is the beginning of Degenerative Disk Disease, at least it was for me.

You don't want it, but there's not anything you can do to prevent it that I know of.

It is the source of my most persistent pain.  I won't have surgery unless the nerve damage affects my hands and arms, which it doesn't yet.

Hugs,  Elaine

[SjoGirl]

Oh yes but mostly when I bend my head back. Sometimes it's so loud my husband can hear it. I wonder if my head is going to pop off and roll around the floor.

I too have degenerative disc disease and suspect it's a result of that. The more I keep limber the less of a problem I have.

[Skylar]

yes - and I find it's a reliable indicator of my general level of inflammation - when I'm flaring or something is swollen, the clicking is louder and I have more limited range I can move my neck. When I'm doing well - no noise and fuller range of motion.

Edited to add - am I the only one who is annoyed and embarrassed by the noise? I'm so afraid others standing near me can hear it although no one has every said anything.

[powderpuff]

Oh yes!

Mine was not only clicking, but cracking, and crunching. It started for me months ago and now my neck is a horrible mess. It is sore 24/7 and gives me headaches.

My neurologist ordered a C-Spine MRI but still waiting on appointment. My neck and back are the source of unbearable pain and now affects my shoulders and hands.

I stopped driving because I cannot turn my head most days. Long ago MRI says bone spurs and bulging disks. I am sure I have arthritis now.

When in a flare, the pain is indescribable.

Hugs,
PP

[Ark mom]

I have this, too.  I have disc disease in my neck from trauma as a child.  I also have a bone spur.  So, basically, I have bone on bone when moving in my neck, and you can hear it!  It hasn't hurt in a few years, but I went to physical therapy for exercises to do and also have a neck stretching device (cannot remember what the technical term is called). 

[Carolina]

Ark mom, it's a traction device.  I have one, but it only helps while it's on, really.  And it hurts the sides of my head.

And YES, the flare combined with my DDD is agony.  But I try to forget that.   All of my osteoarthritis is unbearable during a flare, OR an infection like a cold or the flu.

But I try not to think about it.  Stuff happens, life gets a bit harder, and the best thing for me is to accept that this is what it is.......

But my neck started with clicking.  It doesn't click now, by the way.  It's way past clicking........

Hugs, Elaine

[Jenny]

Oh yes!  I have disk issues in my entire spine and mentioned my neck popping sounds and the pain to my pain management doctor. He ordered an MRI of my cervical spine.  It showed 3 degenerated disks that are "bone on bone".  I'm putting it off as long as possible, but I guess I'll have my third spine surgery in the future.  I just had a 3 level lumbar fusion 2 weeks ago. I've often wondered if Sjogren's has anything to do with drying out the disks.

[Skylar]

I've often wondered if Sjogren's has anything to do with drying out the disks.

I wonder too - I think it effects many organs in our bodies, not just the eyes and mouth that we "feel". However this is pretty common among older people so it could be indicative of our age? Maybe we get it earlier than the average population?

Traction - OMG I thought that was from back in the Dark Ages during the time of the Inquisition torture devices but, at least for me it made a huge difference - the one at the physiotherapist. I bought an expensive home version and it really didn't work as well. If traction therapy with the physiotherapist is an option give it a try. Chiropractors also perform traction - but the one I was sent to also wanted to do all this additional neck manipulation and which scared me and my treating doctors - so I was switched to the physiotherapist who also had me do neck exercises which helped too. the Physiotherapist also pointed out my poor posture which I think was part of the problem or at least didn't help the situation. I've worked hard to improve my posture and that has also made a difference - something else to consider.

[Skylar]

My phiosotherapist got me a lay down home traction thingy, which is soooo much better than the typical over the door traction. Easy to operate and does not in any way aggravate soft tissue. I know it sounds like dark ages. But it sure resolved for me a few years back most of my bulging disks and I am hoping for similar results as I am back again to multilevel bulging disks.

@Jenny, That's a good question as to whether sjogrens has anything to do with drying the disks. I've had prior MRI's come back with disk dehydration, so I have to wonder the same.

litliwlowa - years ago I was given that silly thing that hangs over the door with a bag of water- and frankly that is a piece of carp and uncomfortable to use. But the one I was referring to was the one that you lie on the floor - it was expensive because I think I paid a couple hundred dollars after insurance kicked in some money. Frankly at one point I wanted to buy the table and the professional traction set up that the physiotherapist used - there was no comparison. I went on line to see if I could find what I had - but I don't see it. Maybe they don't make it anymore? I did see they are still selling that over the door one with the bag of water.

Which one are you using that you love?

I haven't had any problems or pain with my neck since I improved my posture and changed my diet 5 years ago so I hope that I never need to go through this again. Of course you never know what is in the future. I will say I was impressed with how quickly the head traction at the physiotherapist helped.

I hope you find great success with traction for your back - when it works, it's fantastic.

[Skylar]

Yeah I HAD the over the door piece of crap for home use. My physiotherapist ordered me the Saunders cervical traction device. She says I am never to use the over the door kind ever again. Too much soft tissue stuff in my face (like major salivary glands inflammation) and neck itself), so never again for chin strap traction.

No water crap to deal with. It comes with a hand pump and I love it. Sometimes I lay on floor to use it, other times in bed. The pump is what sets the weight pressure. Instead of like the over the door kind where those chin straps which never fit or position properly, it has these two sort of like cushioned pads that are positioned at base of skull/top of neck, adjustable at that, and a single strap that merely holds head in place,

Best thing I've had since baked bread and bottled milk. And it does NOT aggravate soft tissue in my face.

Thanks - that looks a little similar to the professional traction the physio used - not exactly but along the same lines and now I understand why you are so happy with it. I wish they had those back when I bought mine.

If I ever need one again (fingers crossed, knocking wood that I never need one) then this is what I'll look for.