Neck Cracking & Shoulder Pain: Causes, Symptoms & When to See a Doctor

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
Hi John,

I would be talking to the chiro about cracking. You could have strained your SCM and need to get it loosened up. You can get a massage for that, but as far as the cracking goes I have nothing to do with bones, only muscles. You can use heat to loosen the muscle up, but if it needs to be worked on the heat won't do much good.

Zira