I have been suffering with persistent neck cracking, spasms and pain in my neck, ive had the issues for a few years but managed to cope with it but recently its got alot worser and is starting to effect my life.
I have also noticed on days where my neck pain is worser that I feel dizzy when moving my head left to right to the point where sometimes I feel like im going to pass out.
My neck can also go very stiff and I feel like I need to crack it to loosen it which makes the pain worser in my neck!
I have a doctors appointment tomorrow to have it looked at but just posted here to see if anyone can possibly give me any idea what the problem could be.
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Aidy50
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Hi, I obviously don't know what is exactly causing your neck problems but I'd suggest going to a chiropractor and have it checked out. If it's muscles and joints then they can help you and if it's not then they are trained to refer you to the correct health care professionals
My advice and that of my consultant is to avoid a Chiro! I had exactly the same and visited one; and the result was amazing.... for one day!! After that the pain tripled.
In my experience book a physio as opposed to a neck crunch
I'm sorry you're having such horrible problems but we aren't medically trained here and couldn't advise. Visiting your doctor is a very good first move as they will be able to organise effective treatment for you. Wishing you all the best for tomorrow
The chiropractor i went to wouldn't touch me until she had taken her own x-rays which i believe is what they are required to do anyway. I know oesteropaths don't x-ray, but get a proper diagnosis from your dr/rheumy first. My dr thinks my neck is muscular and is getting me some psychio,another dr says it is arthritis. We will see if the psychios can help me.xxx
I suffered with very similar problems in my neck for a few years and my Rheumatologist kept saying it was arthritis, but I wasn't convinced eventually I was sent to a neurologist and straight away told my I had Cervical Dystonia. X
I had same symptoms and after MRI i was diagnosed with Cervical spondylosis. I am now on pregabalin which I only take at night as i didn't like the daytime side effects, it has now improved it to let me sleep.
I would say do Nothing privately until you have a diagnosis. Who knows quite what the problem might be and without x rays and most likely a scan, you won't.
Hiya Aidy50. As has been said we're not medically trained here, just RD patients, so general advice is initially go to see your GP as it could be any number of things. Many years before I was diagnosed I had cervical spasm, simply medicated by paracetamol & ibuprofen plus a neck brace (prescribed by my GP & measured for, importantly) worn only at night in bed. Dizziness was a problem at times when I was able to move my neck which suggested to me there was something not right going on, it abated when I didn't move my neck so that's what I did but it's not the answer. I did have an appointment to have it manipulated (pulled & clicked) back into place but, stupidly, decided I didn't want to have that done. Years down the line I have cervical spondylosis. Yours could be something else but the only way to go is to first see your GP, neck problems can be painful & debilitating.
I would recommend you don't have a Chiropractor look at it until you know what is going on. Some GP Practices will refer, others don't believe they help, it's down to the Partner's belief in them, they all have to agree for a GP Practice to refer on the NHS. Generally though you're referred to Physio.
I just saw your post, so you may have already seen the doc. I still wanted to reply though, as I have the EXACT symptoms. Stiff neck since the age of 15 (I’m 32 now), I crack it ALL the day long, I get constant dizzy spells that directly coordinates with the intensity of my neck pain, and my neck is one of, if not the, worst area of pain I have; the pain is particularly horrendous near the top edge of the skull and causes headaches ALL day EVERY day.
I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia since 19 and Psoriatic Arthritis and Psoriatic Spondylitis within the past few years. I recently read an article stating that among doctors it was a shared belief that Spondylitis pain typically manifests in the hips initially, but current research has shown a majority of women diagnosed with Spondylitis report their pain starting in the neck. Based off the fact that our symptoms perfectly mirror one another, I would definitely look into Spondylitis. Although it says it’s mainly women that report the pain starting in the neck, I would disregard that statistic and explore this possibility.
Also, a side note: it’s my personal opinion that you should avoid a chiropractor. I have previously worked for a chiropractor and observed the following:
-The treatments (typically electrical stimulation, cervical decompression and lumbar decompression) may offer relief after a few sessions (particularly bad/painful situations can result in worsening pain and THEN relief), but require you to continually receive them.
-The frequency at which you have to receive them and the cost isn’t worth it.
-It’s not a long term solution, but it will be sold as one.
PLEASE- once you see the doctor report your findings! As we have so much alike I’d love to hear what you’ve been told/found out! Good luck!
All your symptons are the same as mine, when my neck flares up I feel like I need to crack it and it releives the pain but then start to develop a headache exactly where you do too!
I have seen the doctor this morning, she did not really know as its hard to diagnose without proper testing. I should of included that my actual spine and back also click often, so she thinks the two are linked together. Ive been told possibly it could be early signs of arthritis which im really confused about because im only 26 years old, but she has said they wont know anything until ive been tested! She booked me in for blood test at the hospital so once I get that done and my results back they should be able to rule out any medical conditions.
It took 15 years from the onset of my pain to be diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis and Psoriatic Spondylitis (only 4 years to get the Fibromyalgia diagnoses), but you’re never too young for arthritis. Do you have psoriasis? If so, look into Psoriatic Arthritis and Psoriatic Spondylitis. It is the only form of arthritis that there’s no specific test for and therefore people tend to not have an accurate diagnosis for years. My back pops just the same as yours as well. I should also mention that a small percentage of people can have Psoriatic Arthritis and not have psoriasis. There’s also juvenile arthritis. When they do your blood test they should check you for ANA (anti-nuclear antibodies) which, if positive, can point to an autoimmune disorder. Be persistent and stick at the tests no matter how long it takes or how many doctors. Early detection is key and I wish I would’ve caught mine years ago.
Here’s an article discussing the different types of arthritis:
Here’s another article discussing that people with arthritis may “pop” due to a loss of cartilage in the joint, thereby making it rougher and “popping” upon moving.
Speaking as someone who’s recovering from neuro-spinal surgery on my cervical spine, I’d urge you to be very cautious indeed about your neck. I had your symptoms for years and eventually bad headaches. I knew several vertebrae had fused spontaneously very early on in the 38 years I’ve had RA so I never made a fuss about the cracking and stiff neck. Eventually I had muscle weakness to the point that I couldn’t make one leg take my weight to climb stairs and several other problems which I put down to getting older with RA. Then I got pins and needles in my hands and forearms so was sent for MRI. The scan showed I had a severely compressed spinal cord as a result of progressive damage to my cervical spine and I was literally liable to become paralysed at any moment! There followed the most excruciating surgery I have ever known but a brilliant result.
I don’t want to alarm anyone. Some cracking in the neck is I’m told a positive sign but it’s sensible to insist on an x ray or MRI if symptoms persist. I hope you get a reassuring diagnosis.
The chiropractor won't do anything, as he clicked my neck a few times before I had R.A., he will say you have to deal with it. It's no harm in asking,?
I’ve had exactly the same problem. It was my RA and stress makes it worse.
Get a diagnosis first and insist on some X-rays. A good chiropractor won’t do anything without a formal diagnosis. I go to a chiropractor and she works on all areas not just one isolated area.
For example for 6 months I was seeing a physio for back and hip problems and was discharged as they had done all they could. A few months later my back went completely. I saw a chiropractor who said the problem was my right ankle and that was putting my body alignment out. She treated the problem not the symptom and my back and hip have been absolutely fine since. Sometimes I need a tweak after a big flare.
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