Neck making loud cracking noises

B9Exchange Crepitus: A clinical sign in medicine that is characterized by a peculiar crackling, crinkly, or grating feeling or sound under the skin, around the lungs, or in the joints. Crepitus in soft tissues is often due to gas, most often air, that has penetrated and infiltrated an area where it should not normally be (for example, in the soft tissues beneath the skin). Crepitus in a joint can indicate cartilage wear in the joint space.

Years ago I noticed that my neck creaked when I moved it. I got really anxious about this. I thought my neck would crumble away and I would have to wear a collar. For some strange reason I saw people wearing collars wherever I went. Eventually I plucked up courage and went to the doctors. He said it was probably just two tendons rubbing together. After that ,I stopped noticing it, and it went away.

I try and do very gentle head rolls every day, from shoulder to shoulder and backwards then down to my chest (^very slowly^) as my neck bones always creak and my neck feels slightly stiff. So far so good, but the creaking noises are incredible. No pain though, so I am thankful.

? Auntieflo

Is that why some of us are decrepit?

It is harrigran.

Yes, I get this too. Probably fairly common with age, wear and tear.

Your own built-in castanets !

SalsaQueen that is crepitations in your lungs, but I love the idea!

I've got the same thing - a cracking noise when I move my head about. It doesn't hurt and doesn't bother me, so I haven't been anywhere about it. I think perhaps mine is caused by poor posture/being in one position for too long (hunched over a keyboard or book).

Crepitus can occur in many parts of the body (I get it when my Asthma is bad - in my lungs of course)

my MIL has cracking in her neck but she has pain with it ,I'm sure it was ankylising spondilitis ,she was taken into hospital and had weights put on her neck and the bed inclined ,the weights were increased over a week .Her problems with it aren't nearly so bad now.

It does sound like "wear and tear" arthritic changes. I know anything wrong with your neck is very tiring as it's very difficult not to move it! Maybe some glucosamine or something similar would help, but if it is really painful you should check with your GP.

Crepitus just means the ends of your joints are rubbing together and grinding, rather than moving smoothly.

Thanks for sharing tanith. I didn't know whether to go to the doctor or not, but I don't have any pain.

Anja I didn't ask for details of the op as it was very sad for my friend. She was unhappily married at the time and had repeatedly asked her ex husband to help her with this door. I seem to remember it involved her pushing her body weight against it, lifting it with one hand and reaching up to the bolt with the other. Repetitive strain injury, I believe. I don't think she has osteoporosis. I see her now very happily walking her dog with her new partner, she has full movement in her head and neck.

Thank you for the reassurance.

Goodness! A ceramic replacement atlas bone? Never heard of that before. What will they think of next?

Query? How did they re-fit the spinal chord? Any one know?

I’ve had crepitus in my neck and various other joints for years I also have Osteo-Arthritis in many joints too. My neck is very noisy and somewhat stiff now. It’s just one of those things I put up with.

do you have pain in your neck ?