Question
Hi,
I've had the worst neck and upper shoulder/back pain for the past 2 days. I've always cracked my neck, I know it's bad, several times a day. The other day, I was walking while I cracked my neck; I'm pretty sure my head went to my right shoulder to pop the left side. Immediately after, I had horrible pain all down the left side of my neck going into my shoulder. I put heat on it several hours later when I got home, but the pain has only gotten worse. It feels a little better after massage, but only for a few minutes. It hurts the most moving my head side to side(like ear to shoulder), but also hurts moving up and down(chin to chest and opposite), especially up, and turning my head left and right. The pain was immediate, so I'm not sure if it's a pulled muscle or not. Could I have twisted my neck or pinched something? If you're familiar with this, please let me know how long it will last and how to care for my neck. Thanks,
Parisa

Answer
Parisa,

Stop self cracking!  Your desire to do this means that there is something wrong.  People who repeatedly self-crack their necks usually have neck pain or headaches.  The "cracking" is stimulating and reduces the symptoms, but never gets at the problem.   Now you have an irritated joint, or possibly an irritated disc.  Each can affect the nerve that exits the cervical spine.  The nerve radiates pain into the arm, hand, fingers and also the inside of the shoulder blade area of the upper back.   You need to get this examined and treated properly.   Find a good chiropractor for evaluation.   Let me know if I can help any further.   

Dr. G