crunching and grinding in fused neck

I was fused to c4 by TCI in 2006.  I have had so many problems in the last several years and was diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome 2 years ago.  It is very active in my face and neck glands, joints and nervous system.  Yesterday, sitting at the dinner table, my fused area of my neck popped hard and then went through several more pops, cracks and grinding.  It was painful.  After that, it began grinding and crunching with movement in my skull.  I can hear this noise in my head, but anyone else can't hear it.  The sound is like when you accidently get sand in your mouth and you crunch on it.  My neck and jaw hurts with a dull pressure pain.  But the actual grinding is very intense and comes with certain movement and walking.  Has anyone had this happen with their fusion and should I be concerned, or will the bone that is grinding just settle in my muscles and leave me alone?

Sorry that this is so long.  I just need some advise.
Thanks in advance,
Cindy

[selmaS]

Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

I am not too familiar with Sjogren's Syndrome except I know it can cause dryness of the nose, eyes and other areas of the  body...it makes me wonder if it has dried out the cushion btwn the vertebra and that is what u hear.

Have u talked with ur Dr in regards to this?...I have not had the fusion, but it was advised and I also have EDS.....

Since u have EDS, I also wonder if it could be scar tissue that has built up since the surgery.....

   "selma"

[ceckols]

I am not in contact with TCI, so I plan to call my GP, who has kept me together for years.  I have also considered the scar tissue issue.  If it didn't sound like grinding bone so much, I wouldn't be so concerned.  I just wonder if, over time. and wear and tear, if the vertebrae bones around the screw hole could break and leave the screw just floating and moving incorrectly.  It feels very odd, compared to anything else that has happened in there.  I have had scar tissue issues before, but this is different.

[selmaS]

  Not knowing from my own experience I have no idea ....but I have not heard of this happening.Could be u have some calcium deposits building up.

   "selma"