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
