Question
24 year-old female

Background: A few years ago my legs got to a point where they were hurting whenever I laid down, I had to put a pillow under them in order to get to sleep.  That summer my mom convinced me to go to a chiropractor, after a few weeks of getting adjustments 3 times/week I was amazed at how much better I felt.  No more pain in my legs at night, and my back felt tons better.  Unfortunately, I graduated from college last year and now my private insurance doesn't cover chiropractic care.

I have always "cracked" my own back, which I know I shouldn't do but it's very difficult to stop and I've been doing it for years.  Recently, my legs started hurting again, until three nights ago when I was in the middle of sleeping (I move a lot while asleep) and I woke up to a loud "crack" while I was twisting my body in order to turn on my side, this crack was accompanied by pain which is why it woke me.  I am not sure if the "crack" came from my spine or my ribs on my right side, but my muscles around my right ribcage/back now hurt to use.  I am worried that I may have hurt my ribs somehow, but am not sure why this would have cured my legs from hurting unless it was my spine just relieving a whole lot of tension.  But why would my spine relieving tension hurt my side?  Do you have any idea what this could be?  I am mostly wondering if I need to go get x-rays of my ribs/spine or if resting for a while will help.

Also, I don't know if it would make a difference, but I recently had mono and my liver was still sore from the illness (and it's around this area that I am feeling the soreness/pain, it's just a whole lot more now, but while walking straight or bending over forwards I don't feel any pain, mostly I only feel the pain when trying to get up off the couch or sitting on the floor).

Answer
I would say you may want to revisit the chiropractor.  They would probably take xrays given what you describe, and would make a referral if it is out of their realm of practice.  It sounds as if your body is out of alignment, made easier by having had the bout of mono, and the twist set it off.  Re-alignment may be just what you need.