Question
Dear Doctor,

I am 37 years old, and I have a problem with chronic neck cracking. I believe it somehow originates from a tightness I feel at the top of my neck/base of my skull below/behind my left ear. The cracking can occur as often as several times per minute, usually when I turn my head to the right (and sometimes when I turn my head upwards).

I also have also have an occasional "sort spot" on the left side of my top vertabrae.

I have been treating by a chiropractor and naprapat, but neither seem to have been able to treat or accurately diagnose this problem. They say that the cracking is not itself a problem as long as no pain is associated with it. But has become a major distraction and nuisance for me, and seems like it is not all that healthy of a situation.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Eric

Answer
Hi Eric,

I tend to agree with the other doctors, what you have is a vacuum release that builds up and pops when the joint uncouples, this is clinically insignificant. If it repeatedly "grinds" then osteoarthritis may be an issue. If so, an OTC supplement 'glucosamine sulfate' at 3000mg/day will prevent and possibly reverse any joint deterioration that has occurred. Without an x-ray showing OA, it's just "cavitation", annoying but harmless.
Try another DC that uses a different technique and it may re-align itself so it doesn't pop anymore. Muscle imbalance in the neck can also contribute to this, getting some home cervical isometric exercises may solve the problem as well.

I hope this helps!

Good Luck!

Dr. Timothy Durnin
drs.chiroweb.com