By Johanna on Sunday, June 04, 2000 - 05:27 pm:

Lately when I move my neck it sounds as if there were sand in it, it hurts too. Anyone else knows this?

By Gwen on Sunday, June 04, 2000 - 05:27 pm:

Me too. I think mine is a combination of HMS, a couple of whiplash injuries and general deterioration on cervical vertebrae. I think mine feels more like gravel than
sand but, yes, same sort of sensation. It is probably due to the protective soft tissue having been worn or ossified and the bone surfaces actually coming into contact
with each other. I find the sound of it quite nauseating even though I've had it for years.

By Johanna on Sunday, June 04, 2000 - 05:28 pm:

It is nauseating, isn't it. My back, does it too sometimes, when I move it sideways too quickly (when attempting to dance for instance). That's even more nauseating,
when it happens it makes me feel sick for a while afterwards.

By Angie on Sunday, June 04, 2000 - 05:28 pm:

Hi. I'm just going to make a pitch here for chiropractic, although I've also heard people say it's not a good idea for people with hypermobile joints. My chiropractors
have told me that if you are "self-adjusting" as you describe that it indicates a deeper problem. I don't think this is just them trying to rack up business. If you feel you
need to crack your neck, you probably have some neck muscles that are stronger than others and doing more of the work. So your neck is not balanced musclularly.
This can cause the weaker muscles to tense up and lock the bones in unpleasant ways. "Cracking" your neck releases this tension but doesn't solve the underlying
problem. A chiro who can align the bones will help.

Now, I will say that, having learned more about hypermobility in myself, just seeing a chiro is not enough. You need to strengthen the weak muscles. Some chiros
will give you exercises to do that. Or you might visit a physical therapist. The PT can give you strengthening exercises AND use muscle tension and release to move
the bones back to where they are supposed to be.

I get that sandy sound in my neck when my bones are subluxated but not too much. If I move a certain way, the subluxated bones may move and that's what causes
the sound for me. So it's not a constant thing.

By Eve on Sunday, June 04, 2000 - 05:28 pm:

I have had terrible probs with my neck, it's the worst affected part of me, I have to see a chiro every two - four weeks, I can't put up with the neck pain the awful
headaches and dizziness when my neck is 'out'
My neck never stays in more than a couple of days though, it's expensive to get treatment all the time and really gets me down.

By Paul on Sunday, June 04, 2000 - 05:29 pm:

Hey there. I have the same problem in the neck and back.
The neck problem followed years of self-manipulation (e.g.
cracking) which probably screwed up my neck. I don't know
why my back does it nor do I know the proper treatment. I need to be
treated soon because I am sick of needing to crack my neck and back
all the time. It probably makes the problem worse.

Please post if you make any progress. Good luck!

By Greg on Sunday, June 04, 2000 - 05:29 pm:

My neck has made those cracking and grinding noises for years, and I have heard all kinds of explanations for why this is. Recently I brought it up with my
prolotehrapist and he said that the grinding noise when I turn my head is sound of the facet joints in my upper neck grinding against each other because my muscles
are trying to hold them too tightly together to make up for the ligamentous laxity. He told me to notice that when my neck is more sore, it is more noisy. I have since
found this to be true, and I believe his assessment of this because he is the only doctor who has ever been able to really help me tighten up joints. Good luck

Greg

By mrsmeek on Wednesday, July 12, 2000 - 10:52 am:

I think if you are going to see a chiro you should go in to a massage therapist first to get those tense muscles relaxed, allowing for easier manipulation. Then it's important to follow that with careful exercises that will build up the weaker muscles so that you won't have to go BACk to the chiro.

By glenn on Saturday, July 22, 2000 - 09:06 pm:

I jerked my neck while lifting a heavy box and my neck has felt funny ever since. I cant bend my neck downward or it hurts. The weird thing is, whenever I swallow I feel 2 bones rubbing together. Its very annoying. Is this grounds for seeing a chiropractor???

By Gwen on Sunday, July 23, 2000 - 11:03 pm:

YES, YES, YES!