Expert: Dr. Man Tran, Ph.D., D.C., L.Ac. - 1/23/2009

Question
Last March I went to a chiropractor for mid-back pain.  Without me knowing she adjusted my neck.  Since then I have this awful gravel, grating, grinding noise every time I turn my neck. I also have rt. arm pain.  I've been to two other chiropractors, a neurosurgeon, and a pt.  Nothing has helped.  And no one can tell me what happened and why my neck makes this noise.  Can you help me with this question.  I would really appreciate it.  Thank you, Cindy

Answer
Hi Cindy,

Your condition is difficult to diagnose or find the culprit to the problem without examining the neck.  The "grinding" or cracking noise that you hear from your neck COULD be the vertebras are hypermobile or the ligament holding them together are lax or loose.  A chiropractic adjustment would not precipitate this in my experience.  Do you adjust your own neck frequent?  Whether when you were young or recently?  If that is the case, then the joints are loose.  Have you been in an accident involving your neck whether in the past or recently?  That could be damage of the ligaments and surrounding tissues of the neck.

This is why I have stated earlier that your case need a thorough history and examination to determine the cause.  

That is the best I can offer.  I hope that help.