Why does It Feel Good to Crack Your Neck and Back?

I crack my back and my knuckles and my toes and knees and my neck for 6 months and now my neck has an aching pain but besides that nothing hurts. I'm confused if it's bad for you or not.

I'm 17 and you know I crack my neck and back all the time, and it feels great.! As soon as I wake up I crack my neck and my back. And I do both about three to seven more times throughout the day and then once before I sleep.

I never have had a stroke and I've been doing this since i was 10. I don't have aching pains. Don't believe in all this crap on the internet. It feels great. Keep cracking your necks people!

I'm 22, and I have sharp, tender pains in my fingers, neck and back every minute. I used to feel them every 30 minutes when I was 15, but now the pain is so hard and painful, I can't take it. The only way it relieve is when I crack the part that's tender and it comes back in like 10 minutes. What should I do? The pain makes me want to cry.

I'm 18 and have been an active horseback rider for five years now. I've have a good amount of spills just like any rider. But my first fall when I was 13 years old was the worse. I was slammed up against an arena wall when the horse spooked and reared up into the wall with me on his back. Since then I've had incredibly severe back and neck pain. Just a month ago I started getting a zapping feeling in my fingers and toes, so I went to the doctor to get checked out.

After a long X-ray, my doctor stated I have a extreme case of arthritis that someone my age shouldn't have. I'm getting an MRI done in a couple days to see if a fragment of bone is poking my spinal cord (causing the zapping) and if so they will want to go through with surgery or else the bone could penetrate and cause me to be paralyzed.

What I know as now is that I'm forbidden to ride ever again and I'm not allowed to pick up heavy objects. (Still debating on the on riding thing though) but I crack my neck and back all the time as a form of pain relief. It works better than the pain meds in my opinion. If anyone has these kind of problems they should get checked out by a professional. There can be more underlying problems than just the cause of the pain.

Hope this helps someone reading! --Brie 18 OH,USA

I'm 18 and I took a really bad fall from a horse last May. I fell under the horse during a jumping competition because I was being stupid and reached down the pat the horse as I came off the last fence after a good course. I slipped underneath him and he stepped on my leg (which had swelling between the bones in the lower leg), my back, and I was kicked in the back of the head (luckily I had my helmet on and I was just knocked out and had a severe concussion.)

But I have this really annoying popping feeling/sound in my neck that is close to the base of my skull and when I turn my head 45 degrees to the left it pops. It is not painful in any way, just really annoying. I don't know if I should go to a chiropractor, massage therapist, or doctor. Any ideas? I just want the ridiculous popping to disappear.

I am 14 and I've been feeling a stiffness in my neck for almost two years now. It cracks very regularly and hurts a lot. What should I do?

I crack my neck and sometimes I have a weird pain in my neck, like a spasm. What could this mean?

@anon258709: I'm 22, have been rear ended three times and have horrible chronic back pain all day every day. It's like a large knife is stabbed into my lower back all the time. I've been to chiro and physical therapist and got no help from either.

After taking mountains of pain meds with no real relief, I stopped with all of the pills and just started smoking weed. Doesn't even take much and voila -- all pain gone.

"...you might consider visiting a chiropractor or other medical professional."

That's completely irresponsible. Chiropractors are not medical professionals. They have not been to medical school, and they do not practice science-based medicine.

Please stop helping these quacks promulgate their mythology.

My neck is what is popping. I went for a massage and she twisted my neck and massaged it a lot. Now I have a constant popping whenever I turn my head. I'll probably have to go to an orthopedic doctor.

I have the answers you have been looking for. Let's look at a few designs of the body. First, I would like to tell you that I have rehabilitated myself from two head-on collisions. Popping your neck or back is good and bad, depending on the situation. The nerves that operate your motor function are the insides of your nerve, like a coax TV cable. The outer sheath is like the black outer cover on the aforementioned cable.

The sensory input that you feel with is this outer layer. The inner is what you move your muscles with. Here's the kicker. When the outer layer is compressed enough to mix the signals, the sensory nerve system activates the motor nerve system, causing a never ending loop cycle. The only way to stop this is to remove the pressure causing the cycle. Hence, the popping. Whatever caused the problem is irrelevant, whether you were in a car wreck or straight legged yourself walking off a curb.

Diet also plays a part in recovery. As a child growing, you stretched until you were finished growing. Then stretching was not normal to do except upon rising from bed. Sorry, this is just a five minute summary,

First, the muscles support the bones. Then as we get older, the muscles no longer support the bones. We do a balancing act the rest of our lives. The damage done and the degenerative action over the years will decide what ailments you have. Neck and back pressure is relieved from the pressure released from the nerve, then the muscles relax, and blood flow can continue as normal.

I didn't think it would take this long to answer this, but I have waited my whole life for this answer. I got it from experience. It is factual.

I'm 14 and I crack almost every joint. I feel a real stiffness in my shoulders and back and a constant niggling pain in a lot of my joints and I feel cracking my joints relieves a bit of pain.

I have been to my local GP about it and he said he would get me a chiropractor. I was just worried if cracking my back makes it worse. I had these niggling pains for as long as I can remember when they first started. I need a solution. I mean, I'm 14, yet I feel like an old man sometimes. When I sit down on the floor for about five minutes, my back feels like it's going to explode.

@anon258709: Nebumatone (spelling?) worked pretty well for me while I took it. It is an NSAID and you need a prescription, so it's not ideal for long term due to the side effects, but It may be an option to lessen the pain in the short term to get it more manageable.

Can somebody tell me what I can take apart from glucosamine/chondroitin/msm/fish oils to stop my back/neck from cracking? I've been in pain a long time and yes, I've been to see a lot of physios/chiros/osteopaths and so on. I have pain because I've worked in manual work. I now don't work. I've got chronic pain from morning to night. I don't really sleep much and I suffer from depression.

What I want to know is, is there something else I could take to maybe oil my insides so I don't feel as much pain? I've tried taking a lot of herbal medicine over time but nothing, so please help. Anything. Tips, anything. Thank you for listening and sorry for any spelling mistakes.

I'm 16 years old and have been cracking my back and neck for about five years now, but not forcefully but by stretching.

I've been training and still am training in four sorts of kung-fu, wing-chun, chi-cong, tai-chi and baguazan. After I read that cracking the neck could lead to a stroke I'm a bit afraid of stretching my body. I never force it to crack but it just happens when I like, turn my head or torso, should I take it more carefully or is it okay if I do it naturally like this?

Please help me out and I apologize for my bad grammar/english. I live in Sweden. Thank you all in advance!

I'm 34 and used to crack my knuckles and neck all the time. Then I had a stroke because of a vertebral artery being cut off from cracking my neck. I don't care if studies don't show increased risk -- there's still a risk.

I am 34, and I started cracking my jawbone, neck and knuckles when I was 12-13. It was like a tic, and had a lot to do with self consciousness (I think). I would also close my eyes until they hurt. Anyway, not anymore. Now, I do mostly lower back and hip manipulation on my own. I think that it relieves some pressure, but it does not relieve the cause. I don't think it worsens it, yet I believe it might help you focus and reeducate it? How about, instead of cracking it, keeping it relaxed and open at all times? Is it possible? I think it might be. (Here I will be talking about lower back only) For example, laughter is very good exercise. Sometimes, just sitting and relaxing your thoughts will crack your lower back, no? So improve your life in ways to enjoy every moment, and keep those muscles relaxed. plus you need to work on muscle imbalances (very important).

I will talk about a discovery, that I myself have to work harder on. if I had more discipline it would be much better by now. When you crack your back, you can start dancing, moving, walking, jumping, etc., accompanied with rhythmic breathing. This (I believe) is a small window where you can re-educate the muscles around the joint, so that they will not close back on you. It won't happen overnight, and it will require attention, focus, concentration, but the more you do the breathing in-out, and letting your body with the flow into motion, the longer lasting relaxation your body gets, and less frequently you will need to realign it.

To my mind, it is similar to the euphoric state some native dancers get. After a while you might have your own dance ritual, or exercise ritual, which will lubricate all your joints.

Again, I never had this, except a very few times, but it's worth a try. What I mean is, don't just rest on the window until it shuts by itself. When it opens, do what is necessary so it remains open.

I am fourteen and i play soccer three to four times a week, and do various other sports and a range of stuff and my bones crack without having to force them. My back cracks when i breathe and various other bones crack without warning but when i crack my back with force it feels really good and it does relieve tension and pain. i get one day out of my entire week without doing something. I think i might have scoliosis but not sure. My friends say that even when i am asleep, as soon as i move or turn my bones crack. Every single time. So is that normal? -- denah

I had started cracking my neck a few days ago and whenever i had done it, there was a slight cracking sound and now that i have done it a lot, i can hear it more loudly and something rubbing on it and now my neck has been aching.

I crack all my joints (or ligaments i guess) been doing it for over 11 years now, to my back, neck, tail bone, shoulders, elbow, collar bone, ankle, knee, fingers, wrist, jaw, hips, and toes. I love it. It feels amazing.

I only have one issue. I broke my big toe when i was six years old. I didn't go to the doctor and so it healed on its own, with no problems, except every time I take a step with that foot, the toe pops, every single time, since I was six years old.

I'm 23 now, so that's 17 years of constant cracking, every single step. my doctor said that's equal to 113 years of normal cracking, and nothing has developed. no arthritis, no pain, nothing. zip. So I don't know if popping your joints is bad. All I know is it feels so good.

Cracking your back and/or knuckles doesn't increase the chances of arthritis. My proof is, a few decades ago a man decided to crack his left hand knuckles for 50 years but not his right hand. at the end of the 50 years he had no more arthritis in his left hand than he did in his right. And I can also prove it as well. I had an x-ray on my hand before I started cracking my knuckles and neck and so far after three years of cracking, I have no problems whatsoever with my knuckles or neck, which I have been doing for two years. no change to my physical condition.

I have been cracking my back and neck for months now. I'm 14, turning 15 soon and I have noticed the amount of injuries I've recently had. A few nights ago I was taken to hospital as I couldn't move my neck or back, and it took three doctors to crack my back. They said they have never seen such a bad condition for my age, I asked if it was due to my recent neck and back cracking, but they didn't know. They just told me I did it because it relaxes my neck and back for a short amount of time before the stress builds back up.

So I have to ask: did my back cracking lead to my hospitalization? or is it something else? I know back cracking and neck cracking is bad for me but I'd rather crack my neck and back and risk arthritis than to walk around all tensed up. As I'm a massive sport lover I can't have a tensed up neck or back and I do crack it before all sports. Is it really that bad? What's worse? Tensed up or arthritis? --Tori

My back just started randomly and it cracks the most when I wake up. I also can crack my knuckles, ankles, shoulders, knees, neck, back, and elbow. I'm 12.

i am 13 and have recently figured out this year how many times i can crack my back. i have back issues and i crack my back at least seven times a day and there are about 5 cracks each twist (twist back two; left, five times. twist back to right- five times, stretch backward- five times) and it feels really good and kind of relieves it. i don't know if its bad for me though, because it seems abnormal. How many times i can crack it?

I'm a 20 year old female and I experience a very odd sensation whenever my back cracks due to stretching in the morning or just during the course of my day. (I never do it on purpose) After the crack it almost feels like my body goes limp and I kind of fall over if I'm standing up or slump over if I'm in bed. The sensation only lasts 2-3 seconds, but I find it extremely bizarre.

I haven't asked a doctor about it, since it's not really too big of a deal, but I must admit, the first few times were scary, and it must look pretty weird when I'm standing up and just suddenly slump over. Any ideas what's going on?

I began cracking when I was around 10. I got out of bed by doing a push-up and noticed my elbow cracked. Then I found out my shoulder could if I rotated it. I didn't have pain; it just felt good.

I'm 16 now and still doing it. I crack: fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders, neck, jaw, back, shins/lower part of leg, upper thigh bone, ankles, and toes. The ones I crack most of the time are my fingers, neck, back, and wrists.

When I get out of bed I can crack my neck and back like crazy. It feels great! It even does after. It's an addiction or something. I'm always cracking something on my body. Also in the morning, I can stand up and twist (not my upper body) and my legs will crack. Or if I'm sitting Indian-style I usually can get a crack out of a thigh bone.

My dad keeps telling me that I'm going to get osteoporosis/arthritis, but I'm not so sure. The cracking thing isn't to relieve pain; it's just to feel good. Although I do admit that sometimes it relieves pressure, specifically in my back.

I guess I'll just to wait and see what happens.

So I am 26. I never really cracked anything in my day. I was injured 3 years ago which left me with severe back neck and nerve pain that radiated through all my ligaments.

After several surgeries to relieve the pain, I decided to see a chiropractor. It was a godsend! I now have little pressure as I have not finished all of my treatment. I am now able to run, I was barely able to walk less than a two years ago! If popping does cause problems after 50, I'm okay with that because it has cured the worst pain anyone can ever feel.

Spasms are like having a charlie horse through your entire body! I am so glad I don't have to feel that anymore! It also helped with problems in my wrists from years of sports and painting (I'm a professional freelance artist)

i crack mostly my pointy finger. i never used to do it and it kind of aches when i think about it. i really want to stop this habit. help me please thanks -A

I'm a dancer and have done ballet, jazz, and lyrical since I 3, so about 13 years. And ever since I can remember, every time I point my foot in tendue in front of me, my big toes and pinky toes pop. I shift weight onto it, my ankles pop. I bend my knees, my knees pop. I kick my leg, well what do you know, my hips pop. I flick my wrist, and my wrists pop. I stretch up and over to one side to stretch out my sides and my upper back pops. I'm sure you understand the cracking now. None of it do I do on purpose, except my knuckles when I am stressed, but every joint in my body will pop within the first 15 minutes of dance class every day.

My point to all of this? I believe that your joints popping is completely natural and your body is meant to pop. But not forcefully by having your head slammed side to side or twisting you neck or back further than normal. And if it hurts to pull/push a joint that far in that direction, than it is probably not normal.

Then again, I am young,what do I know? Maybe I won't have a single problem when I'm older and neither will all my friends who go to chiropractors or forcefully crack their joints. Or, maybe I'll be severely unable to move when I'm 50. But, for now, I'm perfectly healthy and have no pain anywhere from naturally letting my muscles stretch or slowly tilting one direction or the other. -Skye

I am currently 15 and have been cracking my joints since I was 10. So five years. I can crack every finger in two spots, all my toes, two bones in my foot, infinitely crack my wrists and ankles. Crack wrists and ankles in another way too, my back in four places, my neck in one place and sometimes in two. And I think that's it.

I sometimes worry that I am going to become an arthritic old lady, and I am positive that I am addicted, since I crack all the above joints unconsciously. I have tried giving up and failed a lot, but I have found that fiddling with things like detailed small toys and stuff help a lot. You just have to be committed to remembering the specific toy, which I failed in doing. If anyone can help me give up, I would heavily appreciate it.

I'm 25 and I've been popping my joints since I was about five. I pop my knuckles 3 different ways, my elbows, neck, back, knees, ankles, and my toes. No problems as of yet after 20 years of popping my joints.

i am only 11 years old and my older sisters always warn me and tell me to stop! people just don't get how hard it is to stop! when you have been doing it for five years, you just can't. i wake up and have to do it! so i know it is bad to crack your body, but still, i was six when i started!

I'm 35 and I've been cracking my joints since i was a little kid. My mom always told me don't do that, you'll get arthritis.

I have a lot to say about this after over 20 years of cracking my joints.

a) I definitely still believe it to be a good thing, cracking my joints, as regularly as possible.

b) I think there are some unknown external causes which can exacerbate the frequency and need.

c) Apparent negative effects of cracking joints may be attributable instead to the cause of the need for cracking in conjunction with not exercising the required regimen of regular joint cracking.

d) Related to c): If you need to crack your joints you need to crack your joints. Stopping cracking them is when the problems arise.

e) I am inclined toward the belief that going to a chiropractor at an early age kicked off the cracking. Once my joints were being cracked the barrier was opened or something and now they won't stop. If I don't crack my joints an inflexibility builds up, which just goes right away as soon as they crack. I can even feel it in my sleep. At night I periodically lean a certain way to crack a certain part in my back. It requires only a slight movement on my part and to me is basically a custom and complete remedy for whatever causes the anomaly.

To summarize, it is what it is. I don't think it's bad, and if you feel your joints cracking I suggest you learn to crack them. It did literally take me years of progression to learn how to crack all the various things that need to be cracked on my body. My neck i tilt just a certain way, With my back, all up and down my back i can wiggle and adjust the whole thing, and that causes a chain reaction that tends to make my wrist and fingers pop, and lately my face. Yes, that's right: the bridge of my nose, the bones and cartilage in my nose and under my upper lip, even my skull joints make a miniscule pop and i feel relief when i press on my forehead and different parts of my face.

Another thing about it: there is a little bit of a pain threshold you have to learn to cross right at first to be able to really crack the joints. Remember this can take years to develop and only certain people experience this, others do not.

I'm almost 50 now. I've popped and cracked my neck and fingers since I was about 15 when I noticed when I did this it felt pretty good. Now that I am older and 35 years into popping and cracking, I can't close my hands completely. My grip is weak. My neck hurts all the time. I can still crack my fingers sometimes but am completely unable to crack my neck. It is always stiff and my head feels like a 15 pound ball wobbling atop my neck sometimes. My advice to all you joint crackers: don't do it.

I've been cracking for years and my knuckles aren't stiff. It started when I was getting out of bed in the middle of the night to get some water; I did a push up and my elbow cracked. Then I found out I could rotate my arm in a circle while on my side and my shoulder could crack (not pop) every time. Then I started pulling my fingers to crack them. Nowadays I can't pull them. Well, I can, but it doesn't do much for me. Instead, I have two ways of cracking my knuckles: folding and pressing and twisting.

I also crack my wrists, ankles, knees, shin, toes, the bones at the top of my food near the ankle, and especially my neck and back. In the morning I'll twist both ways and my neck and back will crack like 10+ times, no lie. I do it because it feels good, and it does relieve pain. I do have some back problems as in it's difficult for me to sit upright because it isn't comfortable to. I also constantly have this slight pain/discomfort in my back lingering in the back of my mind, but I can easily bear without really noticing it. But anyway, nothing serious has happened to me yet, and I just hope nothing will.

I am 26 and I have been popping all my joints since I was a little kid about six. So I have been popping for over 20 years. I have never had any pain or condition.

So I'd say this myth about popping your joints is bad for you is busted. It's really not. It's just bogus misinformation.

okay so I'm 12 and i don't really have a date where i started cracking, but my dad used to crack my toes for me. now i just bend them and only my big toes crack i crack my knuckles a lot. i have scoliosis so i don't really crack my back -- only when I'm stiff from sitting in class with bad posture.

but my problem is my wrists. i crack my left one constantly and i can't stop. it sometimes burns because i do it so much. it feels good, though. i make a fist then snap and oh yeah. i do it with the other one and it hurts because it's not used to it so i don't do that one and it cracks a lot. Anyone know why or how i can crack anything else? and i play a lot of sports. can this affect it? -S/A

I wouldn't go cracking my knuckles when I'm off training from mixed martial arts. Why? because they're not warmed up (which lubricates them) and so you can cause them damage! Warm them up by doing something active and natural and there won't be many problems.

Top tip: consume regular omega 3 (mostly from fish oil) and omega 6 (mostly from vegetable oil) to lubricate your joints that is great for arthritis sufferers and healthy joints. Top tip 2: Buy some Glucosamine/chondroitin/MSM supplements to regenerate your cartilage that is caused by wear and tear, particularly from not warming up! PS I went to physio the other day for a professional opinion, which I would always recommend and she cracked my back by putting her hands on it when I was lying on my front and By, oh boy, did that feel amazing! She relieved me of a stiff joint in five minutes, which I've had for over a decade because I refused to go to a professional! I'll need to go again though it's much better now!

I am a 17 year old girl. Both my neck and back cracks all the time. Sometimes I do it forcefully but its gotten to the point it will do it by itself. The pain is unreal when it comes. Even after it cracks the pain returns, most of the time even worse. I am going to see a doctor soon, but any help with what can be happening? And ways I can try and prevent the pain, if there is any?

My doctor says cracking joints does not cause arthritis.

I'm 14 years old and i crack my back, fingers and toes.

I am 10 and i crack my toes every time i take off my shoes and immediately after i take off socks. I crack my toes so much i am scared!I am quitting cracking my fingers but i can't stop cracking toes. I do other things like bite the skin off my toes and beside my nails, and i eat the skin off the insides of my mouth. Help me, give me advice!

I'm 16 years old and I've been cracking my knuckles for five years and know my knuckles can't move anymore. please help me! only one arm is damaged so that's why i can type.

i am 12 and every day i crack my neck more than 50 times a day. is it possible that i have an addiction?

I'm 15, and I always crack my neck and back in the morning. My neck especially cracks a lot, and if I turn it a certain way, a light pop occurs. Occasionally, I get headaches from doing this, but nothing like a migraine. Do I need any help? Please respond.

I crack my neck once or twice most days and have done for a year or so, but it is not for relief from pain, it just feels pleasant. over time, could this lead to my neck feeling stiff and thus me having to rely on cracking my neck for relief? I really don't wish to become reliant upon it as I do not think it's necessarily good for you.

After reading so many comments on the subject of "joint cracking", i must say that i am disappointed by all the misinformation that still exists.

I have earned a chiropractic doctorate over 20 years ago and can tell all of my professions critics out there that chiropractic manipulation is a very safe mode of spinal health providing that the doctor performing it does so after careful examination and consideration.

Very often there are dramatic improvements to all sorts of painful maladies. Most back and neck pain mechanical in nature. There is much too much to comment on but I feel compelled to answer those critics about stroke potential.

Ask yourself this question: "Why is chiropractic malpractice insurance premiums among the cheapest in all of the healing professions"? It is very safe, that's why. A good chiro knows when to adjust and when not to.

If a chiro hurt you, find a new one. I had a bad experience with a dentist. Do i now believe dentistry to be quackery? Of course not. Let's think! Best to all. Sorry if i ran on a bit. Dr. Jim

I'm 15 years old, and I'm a female. I try not to but ever since I was in 6th grade I want to say, I'd crack my back. it wasn't until last year where I began to crack my back as well as my neck, knuckles, wrists, knees, elbows, toes and ankles. I crack my back by holding the back of my chair and twist myself around, and I crack my neck by leaning it to each shoulder. I also have scoliosis. How serious are my actions?

Ever since I cracked my knuckles, it was hard for me to stop. On the same year, my knuckles can't crack anymore. Is that bad?

i am 11 years old am i am addicted to cracking my knuckles. it has been a huge problem since i was 7! My fingers are all stiff now. please help me.

@anon122179: Why see a chiropractor?

Probably for the same reason that brain surgeons advise allowing them to operate on you instead of doing it yourself. Chiropractors may not have a Doctorate, but they are qualified to do their work. Physical therapists and nutritionists don't need Doctorates either, and yet we trust them with our bodies. It's not like any of them don't deserve to get paid for what they do.

my name is asmina. I've been cracking my fingers since i was 13 and now I'm 14. Whenever i crack my fingers, they really, really start to hurt and my dad tells me to stop and my mom. i do what they say but after a long time i start cracking again nonstop! as i crack they feel weaker and weaker.

my dad said if i don't stop i could get arthritis. i very scared now and even more scared about my future! i need help.

Yeah, I'm 37 and have been cracking my fingers, wrists, neck, back, knees, hips, toes, and ankles since I was about 10. I typically crack everything upon waking and then maybe through the day a few times. I feel stiff beforehand and better afterwards.

I never have any joint pain. Ever. I have mild genetic hypermobility, but I work out a lot and have fairly good muscular support around the joints. People experiencing pain associated with hypermobility are not making it worse by cracking. They are making it worse by not strengthening the muscles that support the joints.

I am 15, and I have genetic hypermobility. For years, my back, shoulders, and neck need constant stretching and cracking, or else I am too stiff to move.

Once I do crack them, I am pain free for about 5 seconds, then it gets a little bit worse every time. I also have a couple of disgustingly flexible fingers, and my feet can do weird things too. I have gone to countless doctors, taken tons of meds, had an MRI, and went to physical therapy, which also made my condition worse.

I've tried heat and ice therapy, but that didn't help. I really don't know what to do about it, I think I am too young to be in constant screaming pain. Sometimes I can't even sleep because of the pain.I'm scared of the chiropractor, and I did at one time consider acupuncture, but then again I'm a trypanophobia. Damn my genes. What do I do?

Studies show that cracking your back may actually be good for you. Cracking your fingers is harmless as well. However, cracking your neck is bad. This is because there is a nerve that connects to the brain that may snap if you crack your neck, causing a stroke that could paralyze or even kill you,

I'm 19. Like what others said, cracking your neck feels good, and I've been doing it two or three a times a day, for about two years. Suddenly after I cracked my neck about an hour ago, the left side of my neck is aching, and when i turn my neck to the left it was aching and when i turn my neck to the right it was O.K.

I think the left side of my neck is stiff, but I think this is not an ordinary stiff neck. what should I do?

I am quite sure "cracking" you knuckles, or popping bubbles that dissolve into the synovial membrane does not drastically affect your body.

The only thing I would not recommend doing is cracking your back, unless for exercising warm up purposes. Back pain is very common due to the recent "twisting of the back" on the chairs which mess up your disks. But, this tells you, kids are starting to hold onto bad habits because of school.

Cracking your knuckles, in fact, isn't as bad as people say. If you do it too much though, you will begin to shake your hand uncontrollably once you become old. Cracking my neck for several years, I have found no problem with pain or any of the sort. Even if there is pain, I guess cracking my neck again solves it all. Get occasional check ups, for maintenance purposes. I recommend at least once every year.

Anyone in her who knows anything about scientific research knows that anecdotal evidence is not sound evidence. Cracking has never been proven to increase risk for stroke, or paralysis or arthritis. Chiropractors (of which i am definitely not an advocate) will crack your neck in extension (like you are looking up at the sky) in some people with what is called a vertebrobasilar insufficiency (the arteries that run up your vertebrae to your brain) this *could* cause damage.

Easy way to solve this: perform the cracking in flexion (chin tucked to chest). There has never been a case reported where this is a problem when performed correctly. I would personally see a physician (Osteopathic, D.O.) if i needed cracking.

Chiropractors are not real doctors. So when they say that it's great for *them* to crack your joints, but terrible for *you* to crack those same joints, why would you take them seriously?

i have been cracking my thumb a lot lately, about 5-10 times an hour. now my thumb is turning a purple color and the skin is sort of ripping. should i see a doctor?

I am 15 and I can crack my fingers, toes, back, neck, knees and hips. Every time I crack one of these, it feels good. I have never had any trouble or problems with any of my joints due to cracking them, and I have been doing this ever since I was seven.

After reading most of the comments, I have noticed that I can't sit still for more than ten minutes, and that I often wake up feeling back pain. I can't be sure that the pain I am receiving is from cracking my joints, or from something else. The next time I do see a doctor though, I will ask him if this pain is from cracking, or if it is from bad posture or something else.

I'm 24 and have suffered from hypermobility all my life because of a genetic condition.

I can crack every single joint in my body and not always on purpose. I now suffer from severe back pain and have not been able to walk pain free for four months.

I also get trapped nerves in my back which (when it happens) is so painful I can't move at all, not even to yawn. I used to crack my fingers and now I get pains in the joints so bad you can't move them.

Although this all happens totally at random it is still very debilitating and you have to rely on others quite a lot. Please, before it gets to my stage get it all checked out by a qualified, reliable chiropractor. Strengthen muscles around weak joints and don't crack joints voluntarily.

I'm 18 and have been cracking my back for four years and every time I crack it it makes me feel better for about 2.5 minutes then makes it feel worse, even though I know someone who has had their back "re-allocated" and it resulted in paralysis from the neck down, so I really would suggest not to do it!

I am 14 and for years my mom and the rest of my family has been warning me that cracking my back, neck, fingers, toes, knees, elbows and most recently my shoulder is not a good thing to do.

When I was younger I broke both my arms at the same time and some strange thing happened to my shoulder. I could pop it in and out of place without any pain. It actually feels really good. But, I popped it too many times.

One day in PE I was playing dodgeball. I threw a ball and my shoulder popped out of place and wouldn't pop back in. I stood there like an idiot and got pelted with balls and holding my shoulder. I felt like crying.

I didn't pop my shoulder for a week after that. But stupid me started popping it again. Although that never happened again, I still worry about it every time.

Just about everyone now cracks their fingers. But not as much as I do. And it's really hard to stop cracking when you see everyone cracking their fingers every second of the day.

I also pop my neck and I have been doing that for about a few months. But even those few months I can already feel my neck muscles wearing out. I have pains in my neck when I move it too much and I have pains in my neck when I don't move it at all. I'm 14 and I wake up in the middle of the night my back aching and wishing I can go back to sleep.

I can't stay still during class because of my back and neck and I get pointed out by my "friends" sometimes saying that i look weird when I always move my neck around.

So, it seems very impossible to stop popping my neck, back, shoulder, fingers, and everything else, but I will try to do my best. Hopefully I will be able to get through and not wake up in the middle of the night wishing to go back to sleep.

Advice? If you have just started popping anything, then stop! Now. Or else you will be in terrible pain like me.

Note: While typing this out I have popped my neck three times, fingers twice, and shoulder ... I lost count. I did this not even having a second thought of it. I warn you to stop.

I'm 13 years old and i crack my neck. From what i heard from peoples' writings on here, it's extremely bad to do this but I'm not completely sure. can someone give me advice? -Amber*

i am 23 years old and i can crack several different joints in my fingers and toes as well as my entire back, my neck, my elbows, knees, shoulder, ankles, and also that joint where the femoral bone attaches to the pelvis.

i do this routine a few times a day with the exception of doing my back only once and my neck whenever it feels like it needs to pop, usually about 10 times a day. i do this in addition to eating healthy and exercising thoroughly. i have been doing this since i was about seven years old (for 17 years) to relieve pressure in my joints and it works magnificently!

i have learned how to position my joints right so that i do not pinch any of the nerves that are very close to the joints. mainly it's just keeping your body aligned and breathing out when you pop (mostly back and neck).

as long as you exercise your ligaments, tendons, etc. on a regular basis i don't think there is a problem with cracking the joints, in my opinion.

You won't get arthritis from cracking any joints. It's just a release of air, and it feels good because it reduces the pressure from between the joints. You do it slowly every day, just making it crack quickens the process, which isn't any more harmful.

The best thing to remember is to trust your body. We all forget our body doesn't want us to hurt ourselves. So if it hurts, stop doing it, if it doesn't hurt, then there's no issue. If it hurts it's your body saying chill out. Our body is more intuitive than we give it credit for.

I'm 19, and have been cracking almost all my joints for about ten years with no ill effects. All my fingers still work extraordinarily well, as do my toes and ankles (which is great, since I am an artist and a dancer).

I will say that my pinkie fingers have a little bulging at the joint, but it's far from noticeable and doesn't affect my ability to type, draw, etc.

I'm 12 and I have heard my arms and legs crack constantly. One time I was with my someone and my arm cracked and they thought I broke my arm! so is that bad? and also my back hurts so I crack it/stretch it but sometimes I do it just because my back hurts. Also, my knuckles get stiff so I crack them and also my wrist, arms, and legs crack very easily and I also crack my neck a lot. Is that bad?

I'm 28 and have been cracking various parts of my body for almost 10 years now. The most notable is my back however. I used to crack it in back in college using the student desk we had. It often made the best cracks when pushing my spine against the backrest. That was five years ago and I missed how good those cracks were, so much so like it was a drug or good sex from an ex girlfriend.

I've always considering buying one of those desks for home but I don't know how I would explain having one of those to my friends and family.

Two days ago I popped my neck -- not forcefully, just tilting it side to side. Immediately I felt like I had been hit by a train. I have had migraines for 15 years, but never one like that. Shortly after that I started vomiting.

The next day my neck was swollen and bruised. That day I also had bouts of tinnitus and tingling in my face. I finally made it to the doctor today (two days later) and I was diagnosed with whiplash.

Personally, I don't understand after popping all my joints for many years, how I could now cause myself to get whiplash, but the pain is excruciating. If you pop your joints, I would refrain from the back and neck area as these could both cause serious damage.

I'm 19 and have been cracking my fingers since i was 9. at the age of 10 my uncle told me to stop it or i would regret it, and he was right. When i pinch something and i release, my fingers hurt like hell! I tried stopping with it for years with no success. it just happens.

I am 18 and I have been cracking since I was 15.

I crack my back, neck, hips, fingers, knees, toes and elbows very frequently, but the most severe is my back. I crack it several times a day because it is so stiff. It feels amazing when I crack it, although it still feels so stiff after.

Also, my right hip has a strange 'hip click' that constantly occurs, but not intentionally.

I think it would be a great idea to start a cracking support group/club because seeing people with the same condition as me is definitely very helpful.

Hypermobility? Wouldn't that be useful for

escaping a straight jacket? Useful. Very useful.

I was cracking my knuckles while reading this. lol.

i crack my whole spine, sometimes my neck, toes and knuckles. it's a bad habit because my fingers and back always hurt. i try not to, though. some mornings my back is stiff. i used to crack my jaw and stopped because i popped it one day and couldn't move it for a couple of days. time for some quit cracking joints patches and gum.

I crack my thigh bone all the time. I don't mean to do it. I move and and it cracks, but it feels so good!

Cracking is very bad. Why? You make the muscles in your neck work very hard to keep your neck stabilized after cracking. This is how it looks.

Crack >>> Ligaments stretch >>> Muscles tighten >> Crack >> and so on. It's a vicious circle which will end up with hypermobility. Search it.

I've been cracking all my joints for about four years and still do, but with as much caution as possible. one day I attempted to crack my neck and poof! i felt i could not move my head either left or right without severe pain. i was terrified! i was in bed for week before my muscles has repaired and relaxed. It's not a nice experience and I don't advise anyone to try it.

If you are already doing it, then when you need to crack, say no and take the pain. Slowly, after a few days, you will no longer have the same urge.

Anything which is habit requires willpwer to stop, e.g. cigarettes, popping, drugs, alcohol, gambling. Say no!

Hope you learn. By the way, I am 16 years old.

I crack my neck and back at least two times a day. I can crack my neck just by tilting my head. I don't even have to force it and every time before I go to bed I have to crack my back or I can't sleep because it aches so. I twist and you can hear a series of cracks. it's nasty and a habit now. it won't go away and I'm only 14.

after reading these comments I'm seriously freaked out about cracking stuff except the knuckles and toes because i read some comments that they weren't the bad crackings but now I'm never going try to crack my neck or my back.

Thanks to all of you who warned me and i give you luck that someday your pain and suffering will end.

I have been cracking my neck about four to eight times per day since I was 11 years old. now I am 17. I have big problems with my neck. it's very stiff and when I look to my side I rotate my whole body instead of just my head. i have much pain in the top of my neck because I am sleeping with my head totally wrong, with the nose pointing right up.

I have earlier asked both my chiropractor and my doctor if it's dangerous, but I haven't got any no, just "oh can you do that?", so I thought it was okay. If I don't do it at least three times a day, I get very, very stiff, and feel weird, and sometimes if I forget to crack my neck, I get a kink and need help from my chiropractor. what to do?

my body is probably already destroyed since I started cracking my neck so young. By the way, I am dizzy all the time. I can't exercise or anything because of that. At school I can't join the gym and I haven't for a year. I can't even walk to the bus in the morning because I am so dizzy. I can't be around many people or light or colours because I get so dizzy. I am only seventeen. I hate it!

Don't crack anymore! yea it might feel good at 1st but then you'll always need to crack again just to feel that temporary relief. so stop! and after a while, you won't feel the need to do it anymore. I've been cracking almost every crackable place you can imagine and my cartilage has become crap. It really freaking hurts! Not kidding.

If you're wondering why yours doesn't hurt then it might be because I've been cracking for a really long time, which means my cartilage has already been ruined while yours is on the way. also, my bones stick out a lot now.

i was in a car crash just over a year ago, and my neck and bottom of my skull always feels sore, and gives me severe bad headaches every single day.

I've had enough. I've been to physio and an osteopath, and still no difference.

i crack my neck every day up to 20 times and it feels like the pressure has gone but not for long. any suggestions on what to do next! I'm only 19.

I crack most of the joints in my body. Sometimes it cracks without my initiation. But, I feel good. Neck cracking happens whenever I remove my helmet after a ride. If I try to avoid it I feel some kind of uneasiness and Uncomfortable. Most of my friends are surprised to see me cracking various joints, and I wonder, is it not applicable to everyone.

How come two guys do same kind of work at same time and have different after effects on their body? Well as long it does not cause any vein rupture it's safe. But I feel this varies according to individuals. -Douglas-

I crack my fingers, knuckles, toes, ankles, knees, neck, back, wrist, and elbows. It's been an on and off habit since I was 10 and I'm 14 now. I can't stop, especially my back. But apparently it's just your joints loosening. So I guess it's okay just once a day?

I started cracking my neck, back, and knuckles just a few months ago and now it feels like I can't stop. My neck starts to get really stiff when I don't crack it.

I wish I could stop because I'm afraid it could terribly damage my joints. I got really worried the other day about it because the cracking got louder and I'm doing it more frequently -- a lot of times a day. Some people say that it doesn't cause arthritis, but others say that it does and I don't know which one to believe. I just wish I could stop.

Does anyone know a way to prevent this? If you do, I really need it!

I'm 38 and i pop my fingers, wrists, toes, ankles, knees, neck and back.

I've been doing it since 12 yrs old. it's a great reliever. no problems.

I am 10 and i have been cracking since i was 5. not a single joint hurts. i just started flipping my neck back and it actually feels good!

I am 25 years old and have been popping my knuckles, knees, wrists, neck and back since I was 15. I developed this habit from exerting my body when I was dancing, and when I was in marching band and other sports. I never used to be able to pop anything till i started to exert my body with sports and such, and now I have horrible lower back pain and can pop my back in ways that you shouldn't be able to. Fact is, make sure that you stretch after all activity.

Everybody read this unless you want to suffer like I do.

I am 20 years old and I started cracking my neck when I was about 10. I cracked it every day three times a day around three actual clicks per day until I was around 18. That's about 80,000 in eight years. by then, I couldn't even put my head on my pillow without being in serious pain. I would go to sleep in agony and wake up in agony every day and pain tablets would do nothing. I knew I had to stop doing it. I stopped for around three months and my neck got so much better, then like an idiot, I started doing it again and after about a week, I was in intense pain again so I had to stop but I was too late. My neck started cracking on its own when I would move, then my upper spine then rapidly down into my lower spine it would crack constantly every time I moved, even when I breathed.

After a few days my back was cracking 100-200 times a day on its own and after a few weeks the muscles in my back were destroyed. I developed a disease called neuropathic pain and I would get frightening chronic pain and massive shooting pains and intense spasms. I would wake up in the morning and I couldn't move. I would have to roll out of bed and make my way to the fire to put heat on my back. If ever I started shivering, all my muscles in my body would instantly seize up and I couldn't move.

In the end, all the medical world offered me was counseling to help deal with the pain. I just laughed and went home. Luckily, I have a strong body and I am now a lot better through doing my exercise from physio. My spine still cracks like 10-20 times a day every day and I get the chronic pain a lot. If I could describe the chronic pain... For example, if someone in my house shuts a door too hard, it feels like I've just been slapped on the head because my nerves were so hammered because your nervous system is connected to your brain down through your spine. Also, I would get this very sharp, stabbing pain in all my joints. It would hit me for like 10 seconds to the point of a panic attack then go for 10 seconds then hit me even harder.

If you ask me, it's worse than cancer because I don't know how I was still alive. I wanted to die. I was putt on to diazepam and I had really bad side effects. I was hallucinating in my sleep. I woke up like 10 times in a night and one minute I'd be awake and my mum would ask me a question and I'd turn around and she wasn't there and at that point I'd wake up (freaky). I was so scared and wound up I would punch myself in the face as hard as I could to calm myself down.

I think I am very lucky to be alive so do not crack your neck and if you think you can't, just think one day you will have to and you might end up like me. If anyone wants to say anything or if anyone can help me, I would very grateful. Thanks, dave.

if you are addicted to cracking your fingers do what i do. i clench my hands together behind my back

or you can wrap a rubber band on your wrist and sting yourself whenever you have the urge to pop.

there actually has not been any study that has prove that cracking your back causes arthritis. They have studied it but results have not shown an increased risk of arthritis.

I can get you to stop cracking your neck by your or chiro. I will send you a picture of my neck MRI. I had severe neck pain after seeing a chiro and he said "oh, that happens sometimes", then did the whole electricity, massage, ultrasound, whatever.

Turns out, two discs were herniated. I cannot pin it on him, but I had to have surgery a year later because I started dropping things. So, having had c4/5, 5/6 fused, after time, c3/4 and c6/7 wear out because they are doing all the work that 456 were doing. I after 13 years, just had c3 fused, so in a sense, my neck is fused. I am 99 percent certain it is from a chiro adjustment.

Also, if they say you have a subluxation, run. A subluxation is an orthopedic or neurosurgical emergency. Your spinal cord is about to be if it hasn't already, pressed very hard on by a vertebrae that has come out of place for some reason, usually trauma.

People do not walk around with "subluxations". Look it up and see. These guys are dangerous, doing these violent adjustments on people's necks. I should have not listened to him and when I was in so much pain after his "adjustment", I should have gone to the ER. Then I could have sued him for making my life one of spinal surgery and potent narcotics to keep it in check.

I have been disabled for 18 years, and I am not 50. Do *not* crack your neck.

Cracking joints like knuckles is harmless. I am talking about the violent cranking of the head to the side that chiros do. I see people do it on their own. They are playing with fire!

I crack my fingers in two places, toes, ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, elbows, wrists, back, and neck. The worst is my neck. I have got so used to cracking it all the time that now I cannot stop. It makes a grinding sound when it's about to crack and if I try not to crack it, it will be quite painful and stiff. And sometimes one slight movement and it will crack automatically. I really need to stop as I don't want it to become a problem in the future. I have a terrible fear of getting arthritis when I am older. I am 16 and have been cracking my joints since I was 10. Anyone know if I will develop it and how to stop it?

I cracked my back today. It sounded like I had a nice crack and then ten minutes later I go to stand up and I couldn't. I was not able to stand up and my back is still killing me every time a lean backward or bend over. Is this a problem?

I just can't stop cracking my neck and back. That's just it -- I can't.

I started off cracking my knuckles about five years ago but now on a daily basis i crack my fingers, toes, knees, elbows and back. I crack my back as it relieves the pain i have in my lower back but when i crack other parts of my body it is just habit. Anyone got any advice on how to stop this?

Sorry, forgot to add in my other comment. I've been doing this since i was like 15. (I'm 17 now-- 18 in five months.)

i click my neck almost every day. It's turned into a habit and i don't think i can stop. my neck feels tight and i just have to click it and when i do it makes a very loud noise and people around me can hear it. is there any way i could stop?

I am 15 and have been cracking my knuckles, back, neck, ankles and toes since i was maybe 8 or 9.

i have bad lower back problems, from bad posture. The only way for me to relieve the pressure is to crack it. same with my knuckles. I've jammed almost all of my fingers, so now if i don't crack them they get stiff and i can't move them.

Same with my ankle. I sprained it in sports, but it feels good to relieve the pressure. I have been doing this for six or seven years and have never had any issues with my joints.

I crack many body parts multiple times a day. I take Tae Kwon Do classes where we crack our backs. I've been cracking my knuckles ever since I was 12 (I'm almost 17 now) and have not had any complications yet.

It feels great after cracking, but I'm worried that I'll develop certain complications later on in life. I feel the need to stop, yet I can't help it because it has become a such an involuntary action. If you don't crack, I don't advise you start, and if you do, at least take it easy on yourself.

I am 16 years old and feel the need to crack my neck about ten times a day and my back maybe three times a day. When I crack my back, it usually pops about 12-14 times. When i crack my neck, it pops around 6-8 times. Is this normal?

i cracked my neck like i usually do and i felt and heard something tear i don't know what happened. I'm 14 years old. it hurts real bad.

anybody who's cracking their necks, stop right now. I used to crack mine all the time! I'm 14 and thinking there was no harm. Well yeah, i just stopped doing it. It's my second day and i do feel like I want to crack my neck but I'm stopping. A bone popped out behind my ear and that's why I'm scared to crack my neck ever again.

But now I'm going to the doctor to get an x-ray, so don't crack your neck!

i was playing basketball and just tried to lean over and my neck cracked. Instantly, i felt pain and now i can't move my neck to the left or there will be a lot of pain. I'm only 14 but this has never happened to me before.

I would warn against cracking knuckles when too young. My daughter started when she was six and is now having problems at the age of 11. --J Man

sometimes after i crack my back i feel dizzy and i puke.

I am 11 years old and constantly crack my back and neck because my joints feel locked up. Now every day I am in pain because of it. The worst is my neck. How can I fix this? -Madison

I've noticed that kids at age 12 start to crack body parts. i am really smart and got arthritis in fifth grade. i also cracked my back and went to a physical therapist and she said it was because of bad posture.

Then i noticed the more i stand on my toes and stretch as far up as i can, my back pain goes away. So here's some advice: crack your back for relief but stretch like five minutes after back cracking for no pain.

I'm 13 now. I used to crack my neck, until my brother told me that if I go too far, I will be messed up. lol

I just started cracking my back few months ago, and for some reason if I don't, it's really uncomfortable.

I cracked beyond my range of motion just about thirty minutes ago and i am in serious, and i mean horrible pain. i am hurting and feeling this awful pain.

the worst part about it though, is that i don't know how long this pain will last and if it will have any effects on me later. it's scaring me to death. Do not pop forcefully too far! If your neck doesn't want to pop, just wait until later. I'm only 13 and if this causes permanent damage, then I'm kind of messed up.

Does anybody know which studies link this to strokes and what the percentage of increased risk is. I have been cracking most of my body for years but do take care not to over pressure when dong so. It can be worrying but happens naturally.- Leeroy

I crack my back almost everyday and i'm 13 yrs old. I always crack my knuckles, toes and back. I don't seem to get any pain. I am trying to quit but its so hard. It is so tempting to just CRACK. People who are wondering how to do it... DON"T DO IT! I think it could lead to arthritis. I hope not.

I can crack every single joint in my body. I have extreme hyper-mobility due to a genetic condition and my muscles don't really hold my joints as stiffly as everybody else's.

My back cracks in my sleep, my tail bone will pop out and it hurts when I walk or sit until it pops back into place. Is there some sort of help I can get with this? I know I'm going to have arthritis when I'm older, I just don't want to make it any worse.

I have been a chronic joint cracker since before I can remember. I may be young but I know how it's done.

I can crack nearly every joint in my body and it feels fantastic when I do; it relieves pain and gives pleasure. The only problem with this is that it only relieves pain for a while, today I am in agony because I am cracking my neck too much.

I find cracking my fingers, toes, wrists, ankles, knees, elbows and hips do not give pain, but after cracking my neck and back I become in serious pain after about five minutes. To all of you who are also chronic neck and back crackers, stop while you can. You do not want the pain I am currently in. You're fine with everything else but for your own safety, stop cracking your neck and back.

If you do often crack your neck and back and do suffer from serious pain, seek a doctor quickly!

I hope this helps.

i don't really crack because im in pain i only do it cus it feels good and i never get any pain after doing it.

i am 21 years old female, and i crack my neck two to three times a day, and sometimes i pull a muscle while cracking and find it difficult to sleep at night, but when i don't do it i feel really uncomfortable. rizwana

someone told me that your bones crack because you eat too much red meat and sugar. I'm a healthy vegan who doesn't eat any sugar, unless you count a beer here or there. so is that person right?

i crack everywhere and now my joints hurt so much. i can't stop because it helps stop the pain, but only for like two or five minutes and it comes back.

i have been cracking my neck recently, for about two weeks, and now i feel sort of lightheaded when i roll my head or move it quickly. is this a problem?

I crack my neck, back, toes, legs, hands, arms. I need to stop but I just can't. help me!

a physical therapist cannot adjust the spine -- only a doctor of chiropractic or osteopathy.

Chiros do a thorough exam, can diagnosis disease, and they will refer out if it is not spine related or needs treatment by drugs or surgery.

To the poster who claims that subluxation is "quackery," explain that to my left knee which was subluxed back in April.

I have cracked my back, neck, fingers, toes and wrists for 25 years. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis now. Is it related? Could it ever be proven or disproven?

I crack my knuckles, fingers, toes, back, lower back, hip, elbow, neck, ankles and knees everyday and I love it. It feels great. It relieves pressure and stiffness.

I also go to the chiropractor regularly which is also amazing because he can crack things i can't, and in different ways. He seems to think self cracking of knuckles/neck is OK, but he actually showed me how to do it correctly to not have to worry about the artery. Happy cracking!

Well, it sounds to me like some people need to crack their bones, and it feels more comfortable when they do.

I have always been a popper from as far back as I can remember, first knuckles, (which I don't feel the habit to crack anymore - don't know why) but now I am regularly in need of a back crack throughout the day. I do have a misalignment due to my right hip being slightly lower than the other, which I believe comes from a weak arch in my right foot.

This then leads to a slight scoliosis in the middle of my back just below my shoulder blades, and subsequently my neck is giving me quite a bit of grief.

So, my conclusion is this: it's not cracking that causes the problem, the problem is most likely already there, and the cracking is like the scratch that soothes the itch. If the "itch" happens to be something more long-term or sinister, then the "scratch" is not going to get rid of it. But heck it feels good.

The very word "subluxation" is flat out quackery. Superstitious thinking.

I often have tension in my neck and it feels really tight, so I just do that exercise when I roll my head around and then I look to left and then the right. My neck pops and it feels better, but it comes back. Do I need to see someone?

I’ve been doing it too long. I didn’t know so many people have the same problem., I do it from built up tension. I’m sorry to say that I can crack every joint in my body all alone with no help. I’m 42 now and I’ve been cracking my neck, back, fingers and toes, knees and elbows on a daily basis for 30 years and I can feel something going on with my neck now. I’m trying to quit and it’s very hard, but I’m going to keep trying. my best advice is don’t go on with it for too long if you’re young. you will thank yourself later. trust me.

I am 28 years old and have twisted and stretched my neck and spine regularly for as long as I can remember. While it feels great and definitely causes pressure relief I have started to notice the sound in my neck is now a bit gristley and sounds like the joints and grinding. I wonder if this is from my habit?

I've been in numerous accidents. I've had very bad whiplash, and have dealt with major pain and stress for the last eight years for a number of different reasons. As a heads-up for any other chronic neck cracker, I believe some of this is addiction. I crack my neck almost every day as it gets really painful without it, but I also noticed sometimes if I forced myself to stop I seemed to stop needing it and the pain or discomfort subsided. On the other hand the day after drinking too much or when i really stress my body out I get crazy pain in my back and neck. Then a day or two later, when I'm feeling rested and recharged my neck pops so loud with this kind of echo sound and it feels so good all this relief at once. Which makes me think it may be something I just have to deal with because of prior injury. In the end though I'm going to really pay attention now and stop cracking the joints to see if I can avoid it all together. Oh and I'd say a visit to the chiropractor is long overdue as I've never been to one.

please justify your statement, jeniifers. thanks.

I crack my neck many times a day as it feels stiff if I don't. I just have to tilt my neck very hard and it cracks. Have been doing this since I was 15 (I am 19 now) and have no desire to stop as it is very uncomfortable if I try now.

Cracking your joints on your fingers and toes is perfectly fine, it doesn't lead to arthritis or damage of your joints. However cracking your neck or your back, can only be done without any additional pressure. If you are going to crack your neck do it by tilting your head but *do not& use your hand to crack it, this leads to hypermobility. Chiropractic is something completely separate to cracking and popping, an adjustment is an adjustment and it may or may not include any cracks or pops. However one thing to keep in mind, if you believe that cracking your joints is going to cause you to get a disease or symptom, your body will accommodate the result on your body. So if you keep thinking that you're going to have joint problems due to what you're doing now, chances are you are going to develop join problems, but not from the cracking of fingers but rather the meaning you added to the event. Correct your thinking, because naturally you cannot develop problems from cracking your joints. Best Regards: Dr. Chen M.D.

To be quite honest, I am an intense joint cracker, because I am always cracking my joints all over my body. I can crack the three levels of my fingers, my toes, my neck, my back time after time, my knees, also time after time, and many other joints. I just cannot quit, because I'd feel under too much pressure if I stopped cracking my joints. I am very worried about my future, and I cannot seem to stop cracking. My neck feels under pain all the time. I do not have to use fingers to crack it, I just push it in and then out, and I hear a popping noise, which gives me a release for two seconds or so. I just want to stop doing all of this cracking. Does anybody have a good method of stopping it?

can some one tell me if cracking my neck by a chiropractor is OK or not since some studies say it relates to a stroke?

I am a 30-year-old woman and i have been cracking my neck, back and shoulders since i had my severe car accident at age 16 years. after i was in the accident the insurance company told me to go to Chiro-Med. this was the worst mistake i had ever made. i believe it was because i went to the Chiropractor and he started the cracking of my neck, back and shoulders is why i feel the need to do it now. I believe if it had never been done i would not have had to continue this for 14 years. Take my advice or leave it. Chriopractors are bad for your bones.

at least 15 times a day. yes 15 maybe even more I crack my back, neck, and knuckles intensely. I have been cracking my knuckles since i was 9, my back and neck cracking started in high school. i am now 19. I realize that i might be doing future damage to myself, but i don't know if its become a a common habit or a necessity. It's a huge wake up call though, I need to stop.

Chiropractic is not simply "cracking" of joints. The chiropractor is manipulating the bones into spine back into place to correct a misalignment/subluxation. A cracking sound will often occur as the bone moves back into proper alignment. This is different than just cracking a joint to relieve pressure.

I am 33 years old. I have a very stiff back. Not even a chiropractor can crack my upper, middle, or lower back... When I was 18, I was in a car accident. Someone rear-ended my car while I was at a stop light. They were traveling 50 mph. Needless to say, it was an intense accident. I was luckily at the time driving a commercial 10 passenger van. The van was totaled and I was pushed into the intersection. My rear view mirror flew and broke one of the back windows on the van. Luckily again, I was wearing my seat beat. I had no major injuries because of the seat belt except for I suffered severe whiplash.

It caused the ligaments in my neck to be stretched beyond repair. I now suffer from chronic neck pain caused by my muscles over exerting themselves in my neck, middle spine, and shoulders. I feel intense pressure to crack my back at times but like I said not even a chiropractor could crack it. However, when they crack my neck (since the ligaments have been already damaged) I feel absolute relief and pressure for about 2 days. Then, the pain and stiffness returns.

In my personal opinion, these bubble releases in my neck bones are what gives me relief. They must somehow build up and overpressure the tissues around my damaged neck tendons. Then the cracking releases them, it takes awhile for the pressure to build back up...

Anyone who *knows* what they are talking about, as written above, the constant "cracking" or "popping" of the back, or other joints can lead to hypermobility, the losening of ligaments and pain.

I was in a car accident and now have a bulging disk. They didn't MRI me immediately thinking the pain would go away. I was "adjusted" and "cracked" by a physical therapist. Now my back hurts all the time and pops regularly, but I didn't even go that often, no more than 2 times a week.

Could this be hypermobility? or just me thinking too much and not understanding that I was indeed in an accident? Please someone educated give me your best shot.

Back Pain Sufferer,

P.S what could and should I do? As of now, I'm just waiting for a recent round of facet shots to work, so far they have not.

Im 14 years old and have been cracking my back since i was 12. I get mum to push on my spine which makes a clicking noise.It seems to relieve pressure but i still have a dull ache in the middle of my back.Do i need to see a professional for some sort of treatment?. I also feel the need to crack my knuckles and elbows(i have been doing this since i was at least 10) is all this cracking going to cause me any harm in the future?

So is back cracking okay?

The most recent research seems to indicate that cracking joints does not, in fact, cause arthritis.