Does anyone have constant neck cracking?

If it's on your mind and it has to do with multiple sclerosis in any way, post it here.
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RedSonja
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Post by RedSonja »

I worked on a project in a container for a few years. The monitors were atteched to the ceiling, so you could only work while looking upwards. During this time we all got headaches and neck pains.
Anyway, my doctor sent me to a specialist, who took an X-ray. Some of the neck vertebrae are damaged but nothing is actually broken. I had therapy for a year, they put me in a machine like you sometimes see in mediaeval castles, to stretch my neck. And it really helped. Also I started going to a fitness studio, and they showed me the right exercises to strengthen neck and shoulder muscles.
So these days it's a lot better. My neck still goes click when I turn my head, it just doesn't hurt any more.
But when I got my first bi-focal glasses it came back, because you have to tilt your head to read the screen. So I got some reading glasses set to 50 cm, for working and for music.
And I have to watch out when weeding the garden or so, don't tip my head. If necessary I wear the reading glasses to dig, but then I can't see when people come in the garden.

What this all cost? I am in the German health system, it cost nothing more than the 250 Euro a month I always pay. This seems a lot when you are young, but when you have MS it is brilliant.
Bibo ergo sum
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jimmylegs
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Post by jimmylegs »

wow sonja you remind me of my failed attempt at a chiropractic regimen. it was while i was at school in australia and they had the student chiro clinic. in my consultation the intern manually lifted my head up and so much pain in my neck disappeared - pain i hadn't even really registered because it is so status quo - it was such a surprise that i started to cry (he thought i was laughing so i didn't correct him hehe) but the next time they put me in a machine and it was pretty bad. i think there was something wrong with it but it just felt like it was squeezing my jaw shut instead of stretching out my neck. what was your machine like?
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RedSonja
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Post by RedSonja »

It sounds the same. It really was like something out of a domina studio - not that I would know. My head was put in a network of straps and the rest of me kept still, and the machine pulled gently back and forth for 15 minutes.
If I held my head at the wrong angle it didn't work, I had to be sure and keep my chin down. And after a while it started hurting my jaw-joints so I gave up, but by then my neck was so much better. The nurse always wanted to increase the weight, I always had to insist that it hurt.

I find I can reproduce the effect a bit by lying on the bed on my stomach and letting my head dangle over the edge. I do this when I have, for example, been painting the ceiling. Also, lying on the sofa with my head on the armrest and a hot-water-bottle under my neck is very useful. If I am not careful I can get neck problems again. But someone has to paint the ceiling!

I like to punch my pillow in bed until it supports my head at just the right angle. I took some of its stuffing out so it is just right. When in hotels I notice the pillows are often much too fat. Then I get a towel and fold it to the right height.

Playing the sax spoilt my neck too, if you have a thin neck strap it cuts into the neck right there. You have to shorten the strap so your neck is straight. A lot of musicians have neck problems. Just think of violinists and flautists.
Bibo ergo sum
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jimmylegs
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Post by jimmylegs »

wow sonja that's lots of great info. thanks! i do some similar things. i've been pretty paranoid about the forward bend because when i had a neck lesion that would set off my lhermitte's, but it would be fine now so i will try stretching that edge-of-the-bed way. thanks again!
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tarmale
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Neck Cracking

Post by tarmale »

Hi, I have not been diagnosed with MS but after five years of symptoms I've finally found a great neurologist who is sending me for all the necessary tests.
I noticed the neck cracking post and wanted to comment. I have herniated and bulging discs from a chiropractic visit five years ago. My neck cracked for a couple of years. No dr. could tell me why. It was the most annoying and depressing grinding sound that finally went away. One thing I can tell you is that I upped my olive oil intake as I never really ingested any before. However, now I think I'm in the middle of a flare up and nothing seems to help. I've given up sugar, alcohol and processed foods in the hopes that it helps with the numbness and twitching. I truly hope I don't have it but my heart goes out to all of you who do. I've been numb and had other strange episodes for years and it's been very depressing.
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