Question
I am 51 years old.  I had a hysterectomy when I was 40.  I am not in the high risk group for osteoporosis but took Actonel for a while.  My DEX scan showed I lost 10% of bone mass in my spine the first year after my hysterectomy, but overall I'm still within the normal range.  I stopped taking Actonel for about 9 months while getting some dental work done that has yet to be completed.  About a month ago I heard a clicking sound in my neck like a stack of poker chips falling on each other.  I don't have pain but wonder if I should be concerned about it.

Answer
Dear Dolores,

From what you have described, I am not too concerned with the clicking noise in the neck.  If you are worried about compression fractures, they are rare in the neck, and are usually the result of a compressive type of trauma.  However, a simple x-ray can clear the whole thing up.

Clicking in the neck is usually the result of cartilage damage, or fixations of vertebral movement that begin to move.  The fact that you do not have pain is a good sign.  Additionally, you are not reporting any loss of function either.  Bottom line...nothing is raising a red flag.  That being said, just because you are pain free, that doesn't mean that you are dysfunction free.  There could be underlying degenerative changes in the neck that are responsible for the clicking noises...these aren't life threatening issues, but are often enough to seek out care to prevent further degeneration of the joint spaces and disks.  

The choice is really up to you.  If it will make you feel better, just go get an x-ray to rule out anything serious...very simple.  Your family doctor can order it or your chiropractic physician.

In the mean time, check out this website:  www.idealhealth.com, and look up information on the osteotest.  It is a functional metabolic tests to check the dynamic markers of bone loss in the skeletal system. I utilize it with my patients, and it is even more sensitive than a DEXA scan. We use this to help patients with bone loss without utilizing pharmaceutical drugs that have side effects.  You may be prompted for a referral code, feel free to use our clinic code  5582806.  I think you will be impressed with the test.

Good Luck Dolores.

Respectfully,
Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman
www.suncoasthealthcare.net