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Neck popping - crepitus - constant

Discussion in 'Support Subforum' started by tmser, Nov 7, 2021.

  1. tmser

    tmser New Member

    Greetings,

    I'm a long time TMS patient. I'm slowly recovering from a "real" frozen shoulder injury earlier this year. That has caused a fair amount of muscle tension in my shoulder and neck area, but I'm at the point where it's not really bothering me that much anymore and my range of motion is slowly improving on its own. I stopped doing physical therapy and exercises a while ago.

    Anyways - a couple of weeks ago I noticed the left side of my neck was unusually tight in the mornings when I woke up, which I figured was due to sleeping in an awkward position or just some residual tension from the frozen shoulder which can cause tightness all over. No big deal. Several days ago, it felt a little worse, but didn't really bother me. However, a new symptom appeared in the middle of the day: my neck "pops" whenever I turn my head to the left and then pops again when I bring it back to the center. I'm not sure what could have caused it - I remember trying not to baby my neck one morning when lifting my head off the pillow, but don't remember anything super painful or traumatic happening.

    This is not an occasional pop, but it happens every single time I do it. I did some research and it seems like "crepitus" due to gas bubbles is common and harmless, but I don't think that's quite this, because that will come and go, whereas this happens every time. Dr. Internet suggests it could be beginnings of arthritis where the bones / joints are rubbing against each other due to wear / tear or perhaps some tendon is snapping against something. But I'm only 45 so don't think I'm ready for degeneration yet. It makes sense that if I have some overall tightness in the area (perhaps due to stress) that could lead to a tight ligament / tendon expanding and snapping something, but I was wondering whether anyone ever had a constant and consistent clicking sound that went away on its own.

    It doesn't hurt to move my neck but it's extremely annoying.

    I appreciate any advice.

    Thanks!
     
  2. Baseball65

    Baseball65 Beloved Grand Eagle

    Yes and NO, Noises do Not cause pain or tightness. My hips, jaw and Neck pop and make all sorts of noises... the noises themselves come when I am under pressure, BUT they never ever cause pain, and when I am not paying attention to them they go away.

    That neck thing always happens to me in bunches...and always when I am in a rage inducing something or other I am not aware of yet.
     
  3. Bitzalel Brown

    Bitzalel Brown Peer Supporter

    Hi,Tmser
    I have over my 57 years exsperianced many times pops and cracks in so many places its hard to remember but funny enough they go away on their own. Well if there is something really "physically " wrong how did they disapear on their own. Well it becomes clear that it just another diatraction syndrome trick. Focus on the emotion that this uncomfortable poping is awakening in you. Like when I had poping in my knee, insteading of adjusting my physical life around my possibly poping knee, I focused on the feeling that my poping knee awakened which was ,omg i am going to be burden on others. This method is really powerful in treating all iterations of TMS. Keep at it.
    Bitzalel
     

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