Noisy joints esp in neck

marie48

Those who suffer from arthritis of the neck, do you find you can hear and feel clicking and grating (crepitus) every time you move your head or rotate your neck? Although not painful, it is very upsetting as if my neck needs oiling. If yes, what can you do about it or is it something serious? I have been trying to do some neck exercises whilst waiting for my physio appointment but I am not sure whether I am doing it right and the clicking noise frightens me. I do suffer from creaking joint in my knees, but only hear them when I climb stairs. You can imagine with your head & neck how many times you have to turn it and if you are new to all these, the worry can make it worse. The only positive thing is I can sleep quite well & feel comfortable in bed. I find my memory foam bed and pillow a bonus.

To those who are suffering from pain, my thoughts are with you. I am 60 so cannot complain too much, it is the younger members I feel sorry for. I used to feel sorry for myself but coming to this site has helped a lot and have met some wonderful people who are very supportive.

debsmartin

Hello Maria

I was relieved to read your post, I suffer from RA and I have been experiencing clicking in my neck as well, I told my doctor earlier this week and he tried to re-assure me that it was all perfectly normal but I was still worried.

debs

elnafinn

Hello

I have been seeing a physio for quite a few joints ie sciatica, neck and shoulder and she also reassures me that neck creaking and all the rest is ok. Just keep using the neck.

She told me to exercise my head up and down, turn and look over one shoulder and then the other. Do not rotate the head which I did used to do as an exercise but that is a no no as it is not a natural thing to do. My friends was also told that by a physio.

The other exercise is to tilt the head to the shoulder imagining you are trying to touch your shoulder with your ear.

Take care
Elna x

lindalegs

My neck is 'musical' like yours as are my other joints especially shoulders when I try to rotate them. I don't mind the noises now as I'm used to them - what I hate is when it accompanied by pain and they reach a point where you know it's going to click and that click is going to hurt :shock: - no wonder arthritis stops us wanting to move :roll:

Luv Legs

woodbon

My neck makes quite a racket! If I think about it it gets on my nerves, the noise is nothing to worry about, but if it hurts thats different. My joints can be embarrisingly loud sometimes and people ask if I'm all right! I just laugh, mostly they don't hurt when they crack, just feel strange. :roll: Sue

skezier

Hi Marie,
Mine clunks all over the place and when I lie down my lumber has to really clunk before it shuts up. It hurts far less once its done it one way but the other way ain't so good. My knees do, my neck does it and my feet are learning to sing a tune I almost recognise. :shock: Its part of the territory I'm afraid. Take Care

magenta

Hi Marie,
I've noticed recently I've been getting alot of clunking at the base of my neck and a bit lower. After reading your post I tried to move my head around and I have limited movement, something I've not really noticed before. When I do rotate my neck/head it sounds like it's crunching :shock:
Take care,
Magenta x

Wonkylegs

you should hear the creaks and groans (from the joints that is!!) during our Tai Chi sessions!!!!

Not everyone has arthritis but almost everyone has a 'talkative' joint or three!

Like others have said, mostly it is 'normal' but if you have any pain I would say ask your GP to check it out just in case.

colinone

Hi Marie
Your not alone as you can see its all part of the Arthritis but I agree it sounds awful and it can be quite painful. I suffer bad with the noises it makes because it’s in my jaw as well as the neck. When I eat I make so much noise that I can not hear when people are talking, all I hear is the grating noise. However it has its uses when I forget something I always say o I must have been eating when you told me. I could do with having little holes either side and in my neck and just keep them topped up with WD40. I would not do any exercise until you seek advise, I was referred to the phisio and was told not to exercise instead they stretched my neck and it done the trick but alas it returned.
I agree with you about the younger people on the site its so sad that they should suffer the way they do, young Children having so much pain and so much to cope with. Then the young couples just starting off in married life trying to cope its just so sad. Take Care
Colin

marie48

Thanks very much for all your responses. It is very re-assuring to know I am not the only one with this problem and it is not in my head. Take care all of you.