Expert: Gerald Anzalone, D.C. - 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
John,

It sounds like you're experiencing a combination of joint and associated muscle dysfunction.

Typically, cold therapy (ice) is recommended for a recent (acute) injury to reduce pain and inflammation, while heat therapy is recommended for chronic pain.

However, it sounds like you might need some manual therapy (such as chiropractic, massage therapy, or acupuncture) following an appropriate assessment of your present symptoms for the muscular component. The crepitation (creaking/cracking) sound you're experiencing in the neck may be due to a degenerative joint disease such as osteoarthritis, but your chiropractor can evaluate this possibility. It may be that you have some tight muscle groups causing joint dysfunction, arthritis, or a combination of those conditions.

I hope this answers your question.