Question
I am a 22 year old male and have been having back problems since I was 16.  My back can crack so easily that even when i take a deep breath it will crack.  If I am laying down reading, but I am propped up by my elbow, my back will align with this position and I will have pain.  I have constant knots in between my shoulder blades, and this area is constantly tight.  If I push my shoulders forward (one at a time) I am able to crack something behind my shoulder blade.

What can I do to get my back to stop realigning so easily?

Thanks,
Matt

Answer
Matt,

When you feel popping in the back, it doesn't mean that the spine is re-aligning. It means that simply stated, a joint is suddenly moving, creating a cavitation noise.

I have had patients in the past that are able to get a grinding/moving sensation in the shoulder blade whenever they moved it.  Once they stopped trying to pop it all the time, the joint stabilized and they stopped having the popping and  grinding.

Back pain can be caused by a number of conditions, from joint fixation to excessive joint play, organ issues, disc injuries, arthritic joints, other health conditions.

I never am an advocate of self manipulation or self adjusting.

What you need to do is to get to the cause of your back pain.  Only a good examination can help you to do so.

Good luck,

Keith Biggs, DC