Expert: Dr. Victor Dolan, DC, DACBSP - 8/7/2008

Question
About 5 weeks ago my neck started cracking continuously when I turn it to the right. I feel the cracking in the bone about an inch under the right ear. There are about four separate snaps when I turn it completely to the right. I am 40 years old and I do have TMJ and see a chiropractor every month.

About three weeks ago I was throwing a football(distance throwing contest) and felt a pull in my upper right collar bone area; it has been sore for the last week. (the collar bone area near the neck) Is there anything I can do to help treat the area myself( Do I use hot or cold packs?) Is there any excercise I can do to help the constant neck cracking? Thank you

Answer
neck creaking, neck cracking, TMJ,

Hello John,

Sorry to hear of your aches and pains.

You seem to have a lot of aches, pains, joint problems.  How is your nutritional intake?  Do you eat/ supplement well?  Given your short description I would recommend some bone/ joint/ muscle support:
Calcium, Magnesium, Vitamin D, Glucosamine sulfate, Chondroitin Sulfate (see "the Arthritis CURE"- theosadakis, MD);  MSM, SAMe, proteolytic enzymes, Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids.  Ask your family Doctor of Chiropractic about supplements.

On the joint noise,,, joints make noises.  Creaking, cracking, different sounds--- without pain, can be normal.  The body makes noises, hearts beat like a drum, stomachs growl, lungs whoosh, joints creak,,, but these noises should be WITHOUT pain.  If WITH pain, then it is a problem, and needs Xrays or MRI to evaluate the joint surfaces.

As to 'treating' yourself, here is some information I hand out in my Staten Island Chiropractic Office:

P.R.I.C.E. = P protection. R rest. I ice. C compression.
E elevation.

Hurt yourself ?? injury/ trauma/ bruise/ not even sure - - a broken bone ??  You should certainly get to the Doctor or trained health professional to be  looked at if you think it is bad enough. BUT in the meantime, some simple  steps may help. PRICE.

The PRICE protocol will usually help just about any musculoskeletal injury.

P = Protection; protect the area from further injury- stop what you are doing,  can you  pad or bandage the area ? Tape the area? Do something to protect the area !

R = Rest; rest the area as much as possible, if a part is damaged, give the body time to  repair the area

I = Ice; ice is a potent anti-inflammatory; it will slow swelling, help with pain control  (ice is analgesic), place ice over cloth over the injured area for 5, 10 minutes, off the injured area for 30 minutes; then back on again

C = Compression; to help prevent swelling compression may be helpful- for example if it is an ankle, wrap the ankle with an ace bandage and ice the area. Many body parts may not be applicable to compression.

E = Elevation; again to fight swelling and pain, raising the injured body part above the heart may be helpful- ie raise an ankle or knee, you lay down, raise the injured part

PRICE may help : Sprains, Strains, musculo-skeletal injury, bruise,
contusion

Sometimes a slip, trip, fall, heavy lift, athletic injury, or a motor vehicle accident can cause a bump or bruise, sprain or strain. Sometimes also involved with the injury is a vertebral subluxation (or other joint subluxation) (subluxation is a mechanical problem- of any joint- and requires a mechanical correction). In the spine, a sprain/strain is a misalignment, a ‘kink’ in the joint, a stretch of the muscles, tendons and/ or ligaments:- more properly
termed a Vertebral Subluxation.

Sometimes symptoms can come immediately,
sometimes days, weeks or even months later!- Well after the actual trauma !!!
Spinal = Vertebral Subluxation Complex (a.k.a.
‘subluxation’) ; ( subluxation COULD be any joint )
The vertebral subluxation complex is the underlying cause of many healthcare problems.

A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system (the master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.

This is a serious condition identified by its five parts:

Spinal Kinesiopathology:
This is fancy way of saying the bones of the spine have lost their
normal motion and position. It restricts your ability to turn and bend. It sets in motion the other four components.

Neuropathophysiology:
Improper spinal function can choke, stretch, or irritate delicate
nerve tissue. The resulting nerve system dysfunction can cause symptoms elsewhere in the body.

Myopathology:
Muscles supporting the spine can weaken, atrophy, or become tight and
go into spasm. The resulting scar tissue changes muscle tone, requiring repeated spinal adjustments.

Histopathology:
A rise in temperature from an increase in blood and lymph supplies
result in swelling and inflammation. Discs can bulge, herniate, tear, or degenerate. Other soft tissues may suffer permanent damage.

Pathophysiology:
Bone spurs and other abnormal bony growths attempt to fuse
malfunctioning spinal joints. This spinal decay, scar tissue, and long-term  nerve dysfunction can cause other systems of the body to malfunction.

The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal movement patterns and position.

Automobile accidents, improper lifting, improper posture, alcohol,
emotional stress, chemical imbalances, and long periods of sitting can cause the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.

Vertebral Subluxation cannot be corrected through chemicals
(medicine), stretching, yoga, vitamins or physical therapy alone. Subluxation-  a neuro/skeletal/muscular- mechanical- problem requires a mechanical correction-
- - a manipulation, best performed with the chiropractic adjustment.
For good health- Treat the Cause, not just the Symptoms. Sprain/ strain/bump/ bruise?= may result in subluxation of the nearby joint. CORRECT the subluxation !!!!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Neck pain, mid-back pain, Lower Back Pain (LBP): Neck pain, midback pain,
Low Back Pain can be caused by many different things. Big, BAD, catastrophic
things like a tumor or a cancer can cause low back pain (only a proper exam by a
licensed doctor, like your Doctor of Chiropractic, or your family Doctor of
Medicine, can evaluate your signs and symptoms, and perhaps refer for testing).
Big, bad things like a Herniated Disc, sciatica, possible fracture or
dislocation can cause pain (again, best evaluated by your DC or MD, and perhaps
referral). Bad things, like - Sprains, Strains, contusion, or Vertebral
Subluxation Complex (all very efficiently diagnosed and treated by your Doctor
Of Chiropractic. Pain can come from a motor vehicle accident, sport injury,
slip, trip, fall, arthritis, lifting improperly, or even bad posture in
standing, sitting or sleeping. All of these things often have a Lumbar (Low
Back) Vertebral Subluxation involved.
Vertebral Subluxation Complex (a.k.a. ‘subluxation’)
The vertebral subluxation complex is the underlying cause of many healthcare
problems.
A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system (the
master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and
may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.

This is a serious condition identified by its five parts:
Spinal Kinesiopathology:
This is fancy way of saying the bones of the spine have lost their
normal motion and position. It restricts your ability to turn and bend. It sets
in motion the other four components.
Neuropathophysiology:
Improper spinal function can choke, stretch, or irritate delicate
nerve tissue. The resulting nerve system dysfunction can cause symptoms
elsewhere in the body.
Myopathology:
Muscles supporting the spine can weaken, atrophy, or become tight and
go into spasm. The resulting scar tissue changes muscle tone, requiring repeated
spinal adjustments.
Histopathology:
A rise in temperature from an increase in blood and lymph supplies
result in swelling and inflammation. Discs can bulge, herniate, tear, or
degenerate. Other soft tissues may suffer permanent damage.
Pathophysiology:
Bone spurs and other abnormal bony growths attempt to fuse
malfunctioning spinal joints. This spinal decay, scar tissue, and long-term
nerve dysfunction can cause other systems of the body to malfunction.

The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose
their normal movement patterns and position.
Automobile accidents, improper lifting, improper posture, alcohol,
emotional stress, chemical imbalances, and long periods of sitting can cause the
Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
Vertebral Subluxation cannot be corrected through chemicals
(medicine), stretching, yoga, vitamins or physical therapy alone. Subluxation-
a neuro/skeletal/muscular- mechanical- problem requires a mechanical
correction- - - a manipulation, best performed with the chiropractic
adjustment.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Chiropractic certainly should help you. You may try the PRICE treatment in the along with Chiropractic Treatment.

Good Luck and Good Health Naturally,

Dr. Victor Dolan
http://drvictordolan.chiroweb.com (email newsletter)
http://www.GoodHealthNaturally.info
http://www.DocDolan.net