It seems like almost everyone has had that annoying feeling of needing your neck to crack to relieve neck pain. Many people crack or manipulate their own necks without thinking twice about it. This may actually give you some temporary relief. But, is it safe? We will take a closer look at this later in this article. First, let’s see some reasons you may feel like you need to pop your neck. If you have any of the following symptoms or conditions, you will want to make an appointment to see an upper cervical chiropractor as soon as possible:
- Middle or lower back pain
- Scoliosis
- One leg being longer than the other
- Vertigo and dizziness
- Soreness behind the ears and below the back of the skull
- Headaches and migraines
- Numbness and tingling in the hands and/or feet
- Feeling clicking in the neck when moving from side to side
- Oversensitive vision
- Head or neck trauma
- Loss of range of motion or problems moving the head from one side to the other
- Shoulder and neck pain
Neck Pain and Neck Cracking
You may feel as if cracking your neck is the fastest way to get relief from tension in your neck area causing your neck pain. However, it is true that neck cracking can be dangerous. It can lead some people to have a stroke. Others may develop osteoarthritis over time, especially if you are older.
When you manipulate your neck, you may hear a cracking sound. It is similar to how people crack their knuckles. People often crack their necks first thing in the morning or when they have been sitting for a long period of time. You may hear a pop along with the cracking sounds, and you may even feel a little better after doing so. Why do the bones crack?
Seven bones make up the cervical vertebrae which is supported by ligaments, tendons, and muscles. The head and neck are supported and allow the neck to be mobile and move smoothly. If the neck is tensed up and under a lot of stress, it may crack when twisted. It is generally not harmful, but if pain is present, it is time to seek the care of a professional.
Why Does the Neck Make a Cracking Noise?
The joints in the neck are surrounded by synovial fluid acting as a lubricant when the neck moves. This fluid contains gasses like nitrogen and carbon dioxide that forms bubbles. If the stress on the neck is increased, the result may be a popping sound. This is called cavitation. There are also other reasons for this noise:.
- Ligaments: The ligaments have the job of providing flexibility and mobility to the joints. Sometimes, the ligaments may get caught by bony projections. When the neck is rotated or twisted these ligaments are let loose and cause the cracking noise.
- Previous neck injury: If you have injured your neck due to heavy lifting or other stressful activity, this can cause some issues. Athletes and gymnasts are prone to getting neck injuries. This can stress the neck joints and cause neck cracking when you move.
- Joints: Such medical conditions as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis can cause your neck to crack.
How Dangerous Is Neck Cracking to Relieve Neck Pain?
There definitely are some dangers that accompany cracking your own neck:
- Osteoarthritis: Getting into the habit of cracking your neck repeatedly can stress the neck joints and overstretch the ligaments. This causes the ligaments to become unstable and bone bridging begins. This means the bones start forming calcium to stabilize the neck. This leads to osteoarthritis.
- Neck pain: While the end goal is to reduce your neck pain, neck cracking may have the opposite effect. Habitually cracking your neck results in reduced range of motion over time and cartilage being damaged because of constant stress and movement of the neck. This leads to the bones degenerating and can cause arthritic conditions.
- Stroke: It has been proven that people who crack their own necks may end up having a stroke. The blood vessels in the cervical spine become damaged. The arteries can rupture and cause a very high risk of bleeding and, in turn, formation of blood clots. Once a blood clot is created, it acts as a blockage to blood reaching the brain, causing a stroke. If you cannot stop the habit of cracking your neck, please keep the following symptoms in mind. If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should seek immediate medical care:
- Unrelenting headache
- Dysphasia
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Blurry vision
Finding Natural Relief for Neck Pain Without Cracking the Spine
You may find it hard to believe, but upper cervical chiropractors do not crack or pop the neck or spine when people visit us for an adjustment. We find the source of neck pain often has to do with a tiny misalignment in the top bones of the neck. The atlas and axis bones, or the C1 and C2 vertebrae, are often to blame for neck pain. They are more susceptible to misaligning than other bones of the spine because of their location and mobility that allows the head a great range of motion. When they are misaligned, even if it is only by ¼ of a millimeter, they can cause neck pain along with a number of other health conditions.
We use a method that is low force and gentle. It works to encourage the bones to move back into place on their own. This results in a longer-lasting adjustment after the body heals from the damage done. Many people see relief from the desire to crack their neck and their neck pain after seeking our care.
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