Neck cracking while I'm breathing…

Jellyboo

Hi there, I created my account a while ago but only just found it again now. I want to really apologise in advance for this massively long post.. I just need to vent. I'm getting desperate for some answers to this; none of the doctors think there's anything wrong with me, I've had x-ray of neck but it's just getting worse.
Some background info: I'm a 16 yr old female.

Basically, whenever I breathe in, my neck cracks. I've noticed the sound is one of two: either a squishy crackling sound with no actual crack, or a big dull sickening cracking sound. Every single time I take a breath. I can't stand it any longer. I've had this for 11 months now and it's just getting worse. I don't know what it is and am getting two panic attacks a day at the moment.

Also, I have an aching pressure feeling all up the back of my head, and am almost always lightheaded. I'm so scared it's something serious. It feels like there is a hole in my spinal cord, and it's pushing and catching on the vertebrae.. I just can't cope with it anymore. My mum doesn't know what to do either. I'm going to a psychologist to try and manage my panic, but I just keep thinking what if it's NOT just panic and anxiety, and it's something serious being overlooked. I'm just really scared.

I have to sit with my head poked right out rested on my hand because if I have my head straight up, it just cracks and cracks and makes my neck hurt to the touch. This is making my posture terrible 'cus it's making my head stick out and shoulders rounded. If I sit up straight, it cracks between my shoulder blades and hurts.

When I move my head to the side it grates right at the top. And also, I can make my neck do the dull crack by putting both of my hands on my shoulders and dragging forwards, then breathing in. When I do this, if I put my hand at the top of my chest, or the side of my jaw, I can feel the crack vibrate through my bones.

The squishy sound coming from the top of my neck near the base of my skull: I'm scared its the sound of the blood vessels being severed and that's why I'm dizzy and get sharp pains in my head.. I also have terrible depersonalisation and it's making that worse. I've read articles about there being a link to stroke and neck cracking, but I'm not even cracking my neck on purpose..

Been to a phsyiotherapist and I'm hypermobile so I suppose that could explain the squishing sound..? The ligaments between the vertebrae? The doctor says my neck muscles are very tense too and because I'm hypermobile my muscles are weak. So I suppose this could be what's causing it? My phsyio hasn't even given me any excersises or anything though, everyone just seems to be shrugging it off. I really don't know what to do.

I'm sorry for posting all this, I just had to get it out. Thankyou so much if you've read all this; it means a lot. Any advice/ comments at all would be appreciated if anyone has any information or anything at all. I'm desperate..
~Jelly

dj100

I have EXACTLY the same problem.

I'm 19, and have had this since I got punched in the neck by someone called sam bodmer when i was 13.
Click, click, click, it automatically clicks all the time.

And the "grating" you mention, I know exactly what you mean, I think its the ligaments though not blood vessels.

Some questions:

How/when did this cracking suddenly start? Can you think of an event where you might have damaged your neck?
Not a question, but I really really feel for you.

BigFire

go to a good and highly recommended chiropractor. Your physio did nothing.

dj100

@BigFire:

go to a good and highly recommended chiropractor. Your physio did nothing.

I can't afford it.
And we're in the UK we dont have insurance like in America.

So yeah, the NHS (free health service that Obama was talking about) dont even allow chiropractors, so I have to paay which me and my family genuinely cannot afford.
I wish I had the money but as a university student money is hard to come by.

brianR

@Jellyboo:

Hi there, I created my account a while ago but only just found it again now. I want to really apologise in advance for this massively long post.. I just need to vent. I'm getting desperate for some answers to this; none of the doctors think there's anything wrong with me, I've had x-ray of neck but it's just getting worse.
Some background info: I'm a 16 yr old female.

Basically, whenever I breathe in, my neck cracks. I've noticed the sound is one of two: either a squishy crackling sound with no actual crack, or a big dull sickening cracking sound. Every single time I take a breath. I can't stand it any longer. I've had this for 11 months now and it's just getting worse. I don't know what it is and am getting two panic attacks a day at the moment.

Also, I have an aching pressure feeling all up the back of my head, and am almost always lightheaded. I'm so scared it's something serious. It feels like there is a hole in my spinal cord, and it's pushing and catching on the vertebrae.. I just can't cope with it anymore. My mum doesn't know what to do either. I'm going to a psychologist to try and manage my panic, but I just keep thinking what if it's NOT just panic and anxiety, and it's something serious being overlooked. I'm just really scared.

I have to sit with my head poked right out rested on my hand because if I have my head straight up, it just cracks and cracks and makes my neck hurt to the touch. This is making my posture terrible 'cus it's making my head stick out and shoulders rounded. If I sit up straight, it cracks between my shoulder blades and hurts.

When I move my head to the side it grates right at the top. And also, I can make my neck do the dull crack by putting both of my hands on my shoulders and dragging forwards, then breathing in. When I do this, if I put my hand at the top of my chest, or the side of my jaw, I can feel the crack vibrate through my bones.

The squishy sound coming from the top of my neck near the base of my skull: I'm scared its the sound of the blood vessels being severed and that's why I'm dizzy and get sharp pains in my head.. I also have terrible depersonalisation and it's making that worse. I've read articles about there being a link to stroke and neck cracking, but I'm not even cracking my neck on purpose..

Been to a phsyiotherapist and I'm hypermobile so I suppose that could explain the squishing sound..? The ligaments between the vertebrae? The doctor says my neck muscles are very tense too and because I'm hypermobile my muscles are weak. So I suppose this could be what's causing it? My phsyio hasn't even given me any excersises or anything though, everyone just seems to be shrugging it off. I really don't know what to do.

I'm sorry for posting all this, I just had to get it out. Thankyou so much if you've read all this; it means a lot. Any advice/ comments at all would be appreciated if anyone has any information or anything at all. I'm desperate..
~Jelly

I think the issue to deal with is hypermobility.

In my case, strengthening exercises have been most necessary. Strengthen the muscles around what is hypermobile, to provide more support.

Clearly, if there is cracking, there is rigidity beneath the hypermobile area. So, loosening up the rigid areas also helps incredibly. But it takes a long time. Long time or not, it is worth it since anyway what choice do we have?

I have turned myself into almost an athlete in terms of how strong my back and abdominal muscles are. Also neck muscles.

That is my take on your situation, Jelly. I wish you the best.

Enigma

Jelly..
This is your lucky day.

Here are the solutions:

Do not dare go near a chiropractor if your joints are loose…learn from others mistakes...been there done that.
2)Go for neck flexion and extension xrays...not the normal ones..they wont show anything when your joints are hypermobile.. and the neurologist will end up recommending you see a psychiatrist...been there done that.
3)Take these said xrays down to your nearest prolotherapist and ask him to give you some double dose shots with some irritant (sucrose what ever) human growth hormone and some platelet rich plasma. Explain to him in as much detail as you can about the areas with the cracking,squishing and pain.
4)When you have rested after prolotherapy, read Lance Armstrongs "Its not about the bike" book...get mad with life and start going to the gym..plug in some trance music and work hard! Push light weights but pump those reps like crazy...always keep a good posture ..don't strain joints. Always walk when you can..it helps a lot...2km a day if you can.
Start swimming when you are stronger and maybe use a snorkel and do crawl so that you don't strain your neck.
Panic attacks..it is very useful to to shut your mind out like in a meditation type thingy...I don't get involved in all the wierd stuff out there but I know what works...
a)Sit on the edge of your bed feet on the floor, back straight, good posture hands on knees.
b)Begin to breathe deeply and slowly...close your eyes...empty your mind out completely..dont let imaginations materialise in your brain..espcially the negative ones...fight them calmly...empty your head...now this takes practise and time...just get to the state where you are calm...tell yourself good things like...I'm ok...its gonna be fine..I am in control. You will get to the state where all your panicky emotions are shut out, your pulse has slowed a lot and you are breathing very slowly and deeply..you just spend 5 or 10 mins in that space and then open your eyes...you will be calm and relaxed.

Let me know how it goes.

Hope this helps

brianR

Enigma: Your reply to Jelly is really good, IMO. I hope others get around to seeing it here.

Thanks! I will remember this!

And by the way, I also had Prolo treatments. I agree with that idea. Smart of you to mention it. We need of course to find someone who knows how to do it well. Luckily there is one in my area. I hope the practice is catching on and spreading, since it is very helpful for strengthening ligaments.

I might also add that there are concentration style meditation methods that some people prefer. Google 'passage meditation' for a good example. But what you say is also very good, for those who take to the 'blank mind' style.