Neck injury from prolonged cracking?

1. 82

   ii3rittlesposted 11 years ago

   Neck injury from prolonged cracking?
   
   Just wondering is years of cracking my neck could damage it? I have been doing it since I was 15, now 24 so 9 years. The past 3 it has been getting worse and worse and now I have a constant clicking sound in it. I also get some bad pain. I had an x-ray done a year ago and it didn't show any damage. Ice helps and using a tennis ball relieves the pressure and some pain but it comes back. Anyone have any ideas on what it could be? I don't have insurance yet (should have it in a month) but I do want to see a chiropractor and get it checked out.

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2. 83

   Laura Schneiderposted 11 years ago

   A chiropractor or better yet orthopedist should be able to get you back on track. I wouldn't mess around with it--make the appointment for the day after you get your insurance coverage. I think (think) an orthopedist is the specialist I personally would see first for this type of problem, rather than a chiropractor or physical therapist. Sports medicine doctor might also be an alternative if you don't have an orthopedist in the area.
   
   Good luck!! I hope you can get this pain to stop permanently!! (and with no long-term doctor's visits of any kind)

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3. 81

   badeggposted 11 years ago

   You might be experiencing the early stages of arthritis. When I was your age and younger, I was always cracking my neck and knuckles. Now at 55 I have a serious grinding in my neck when I rotate it on it's axis and I have some pretty bad arthritis in my knuckles and fingers.
   
   The orthopedist xrayed my neck and hands and there was a cloudy mass around each joint and vertebrae. He said that the mass was an accumulation of bone dust and chips from the worn away bone tissue in the joints. Eventually, these small bits of bone work their way back into the joint and act as more grit to wear away the bone faster.
   
   Stop while you're ahead! And remember...chiropractors are NOT real medical doctors! You would be causing yourself more harm than good by going to one of those "bone crushers".

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      Pamela Kinnaird Wposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Chiropractors in all the states I'm aware of do have to be licensed.  An experienced, skilled and knowledgeable chiropractor can do a world of good.  The best way to find a good chiropractor is through your friends and the chiro's good reputation.

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   2. 83

      Laura Schneiderposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Pamela, I agree with badegg. Chiropractorss are NOT medical doctors. An MD diagnosis of what's wrong (if anything) should be a first step, the MD can refer her to a good-for-her-condition chiro, phys. therapy, meds, or even surgery.

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   3. 82

      ii3rittlesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      There are Chiropractors out there with MD licenses. They are able to do x-rays, prescribe pills, ect. like regular MD's. I am going to have to go to a standard MD with my insurance anyways to get a referral. I think I damaged me ligaments not spine.

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4. 0

   paxwillposted 11 years ago

   The issue you have to worry about with excessive cracking and stretching is muscle strain, not bone injury.  That popping sound you hear when you "crack" your joints is actually air bubbles in the synovial fluid.  If you think cracking your neck is the source of the pain (maybe it is, maybe it isn't) then just hold off until you get a professional's opinion.
   
   This is a link that explains the popping sound:
   
   http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/joint.html
   
   http://health.howstuffworks.com/human-b … ion437.htm
   
   (sorry about the format of the second link, I can't get it to post correctly.)

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5. 71

   livingabroadposted 11 years ago

   I asked a similar question recently and got a similar amount of responses, that also varied greatly. I can't seem to get a direct answer as each individual has their own experience and own research to claim whether it is a good or bad thing to do.
   
   The general consensus is if it causes you pain then it's not good for you as mentioned already here. You obvioulsy need to get medical treatment for your specific problem.
   
   I regularly click my spine and neck but have had no pain or problems whilst doing so. I am 27 and started about 10 years ago. I have noticed though that I have further range of movement in one direction, the direction which I click my neck in. I can only assume this is not a good thing.
   
   What I find helps is regular stretching, exercise and massage. This releases the tension and reduces the need to try and click my neck. Not sure if this would help with your situation but it might be worth a go.
   
   Hope this helps, good luck.

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   1. 82

      ii3rittlesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Mine seems to come and go but when its here it stays awhile which makes me think its not my spine in my neck but the ligaments. I get occipital pain and headaches with it as well.

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6. 59

   landscapeartistposted 11 years ago

   My son and daughter both crack every bone in their body.  They have been doing it for years now.  The thing they have found out is that once you start doing it, you find that you have to do it or it hurts. 
   Cracking your bones promotes Arthritis, which will come on later in life if not sooner.  My husband used to grab my hands all the time and crack my fingers.  He did it alot for years til I left, and now I have Arthritis in those fingers.  I have to take Arthritis pills everyday now.  Both my kids have the onset of Arthritis because they crack their bones.
   Try taking an Arthritis pill (Tylenol for Arthritis).  You might be surprised.

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   1. 82

      ii3rittlesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I noticed this as well. Its hard not to crack it. If I don't it gets really stiff. I been using ice to keep me from cracking it. Sometimes all I do is turn my neck and it cracks though.

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