strange click/pop sound with strange sensation

ok ive been googling everywhere and everything ive read so far, the people posting them kind of explain what im experiencing, then they all say 'no pain' ...

this has happened before but i noticed its been happening a lot more frequently, and its when i breathe or 'sniff' with my nose, i get this weird feeling on my left lower side of my skull, like the base of my skull, and i can hear a sound that i cant really explain except for click or pop.. it doesnt sound like a 'knuckle popping' and its no where near or inside my ear.. but along with the sound i feel a sort of sharp sensation, it only hurts along with the sound, which is like not even a second long.. its not a ringing in my ear, or a buzzing although i do get that from time to time, and along with that ringing, it sort of seems as if my ear kind of stuffs up.. but the stuffed/ringing ear thing has been happening way longer than this other strange thing..

so im just seeking any advice, professional or experience, etc..  
im not sayin i think the strange sensation n click has anything to do with the ear thing, i just want to know more on the clicking and pain, any advice, experience, theories??

thank you

[Red_Star]

There is a condition called Arnold Chiari Malformation that mentions clicking or popping sound and/or pain at the base of the skull. Symptoms can also include a feeling of fullness in the ears and noises in the ear. The most common symptom of this condition in a headache but you can have no symptoms with this condition too. It depends on the person to what symptoms manifest themselves. Just a thought. :)

[stellavip]

i looked up Arnold Chiari Malformation and theres so many medical sites but on a few, I read causes could happen while developing before even being born, and trauma/injury.. but i couldnt find what KIND of injuries... if you know a good site to read about this please let me kno! thank you

[stellavip]

also i forgot to mention in 2002, a friend of mine jokingly tackled me but i landed on my tail bone and heard a crack, and instant pain and tears of course.. but after a few weeks the pain wasnt so bad.. but in 2006, i had a MRI and catscan on my ovaries and kidneys, and in the results, it says:
"Bilateral pars defects are present at L5-S1, resulting in mild grade 1 L5-S1 anterolisthesis, aka spondylolisthesis (sp)
BUT, when they accidently found that 'fracture' on my lower spine, i was in no pain at all.. but i do notice my bone sticks out, and according to the many sites ive searched on, my bone (vertebra) in the lower part of the spine slips out of the proper position onto the bone below it... but i didnt FEEL pain back then, like i do NOW.. but also, i have the same bone/sticking out feeling not just in my lower back, but also in the middle upper area between shoulder blades, and my neck.. my neck bone sticks out the most out of the 3.. i havent had any scans done on those spots cuz i cant afford it, but im almost positive theres other 'defects' or 'fractures'..
Also, i get headaches everyday, migraines run in the family, since i was little ive been getting them.. but for the past few years, ive noticed my headaches are always when i wake up, and my neck, temples, everything hurts or feels stiff..  no matter what kind of pillow i use, no pillow at all, sleeping on a bed, couch, or even the floor.. i always have a headache when i wake up...

just thought i should add a few more details

[Red_Star]

Based on a number of different websites, i found injury can be due to neck or head injuries such as a car accident or whiplash or an injury that lowers the cerebrospinal fluid (the low spinal fluid pressure draws the brain down into the spinal canal). A mild head or neck trauma may cause the onset of symptoms in an asymptomatic (no symptoms) patient with Congenital Arnold Chiari Malformation.

Causes of Arnold Chiari Malformation:

Primary or Congenital Arnold Chiari Malformation -  a genetic component is possible.  As with other neural tube defects, low levels of folic acid during the first months of pregnancy may lead to this condition.

Acquired or Secondary Arnold Chiari Malformation can also be caused later in life by:

Spinal fluid is drained excessively from the lumbar or thoracic areas of the spine either due to injury, exposure to harmful substances, or infection.

Head or neck trauma (eg: car accident, whiplash)

Conditions that cause instability of the craniocervical junction are more susceptable to develop Chiari - such as Ehlers Danlos syndrome or Marfan Syndrome

[Red_Star]

I haven't seen any information on a spinal injury causing Arnold Chiari Malformation. I'll send you a good website on Chiari and migranes (migraines).

Other medhelp members describing their Chiari headache:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Chiari-Malformation/Describe-your-Chiari-headache/show/1412351

[stellavip]

thank you for the information... i just have a few questions about the spinal fluid being drained excessively from the lumbar or thoracic areas of the spine... in this picture diagram of the spine & nerves:

http://tomsteffen.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/spinenerves11.jpg

I see the L5 right above the S1, and if I'm reading it correctly, L5 is part of the lumbar, right? Also in that diagram, near the top by "T1", i'm going to guess T stands for thoracic, correct me if im wrong, but thats an estimate where I feel the same 'slipped vertebrae' that i do down on L5 S1.. also, i feel the slippage near the top of my neck, pretty much at the base of the skull, id say around C1 according to the picture..

I also get shooting pains down my hip/thigh/lower back/upper buttocks, all on my right side... sometimes on the left but mainly on the right.. I'm just curious if an injury like being shoved to the ground and slipping my vertebrae, which feels like 3 different places, could that cause 'spinal fluid to drain' ???

Im just lookin for opinions, advice, other helpful medical sites, etc..
thank you for your time.

[stellavip]

sorry i didnt see that other post until just now, i will take a look at that link..
thank you again

[Red_Star]

It is possible to have a chronic (ongoing) CFS leak.

The symptoms of a CFS leak include:

Many times, there are no symptoms in a CSF leak.

The most common symptoms of a CSF leak include a watery drainage from the nose (most commonly one side) or a salty taste in the back of the throat.

Severe headache, worse when upright and relieved when reclining.

Dizziness, vertigo and/or nausea; numbness or weakness in the facial muscles.

Strange neurological sensations or sensory impairments, including possible symptoms in the ears, eyes, mouth or nose.

Occasionally, recurrent bouts of bacterial meningitis are the only clue to diagnosis.

CSF leaks are typically at the level of the spine, particularly the thoracic spine (thoracic is T1 - T12) and cervicothoracic junction (cervico-thoracic region is C7 - T3) .

Your shooting pains down your hip/thigh/lower back/upper buttocks may be a due to sciatica.  

[Londres70]

I am not so sure about this being Chiari's, however, will recommend you post in the Chiari's forum as well.

I do know this is obviously a spine issue and would recommend seeing a Spine Specialist or an Orthopedic Specialist dealing with spine disorders/diseases.  

[stellavip]

well im still not so sure and of course a medical professional of some kind will have to be the one to 'diagnose' anything, but im just lookin for advice and what not since i cant afford that right now...

but just one question about the watery drainage from nose, (most commonly on one side) ... << is this ALL the time or a once in a while thing, not like a cold or flu... and how obvious is this leakage?

[Red_Star]

"Patient complaint having clear fluid dripping from the nostril especially upon straining or coughing. Unlike running nose, this fluid is watery and clear in colour unless there is blood present." You can see a video on youtube - Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Leak. Ugh. :)

[stellavip]

ok i just didnt know if the leaking described was like, uncontrollably leaking all over making a mess.. but i read about the Chiari and the symptoms and what not, and half of them sound like what ive experiencing, and some of them sort of, or not at all..  but i havent really read anything that is described or sounds like it could be what im feeling/experiencing, when i describe the click/pop sound, i dont even want to use those words because its not a pop or click or buzzing or anything.. but if u move your jaw bone back and forth, kind of like a cow, where it kind of sounds like the knuckles or bones (not exactly sure what to call them right now) sounds like theyre rubbing together, just the way it sounds internally since the sound is coming from the jaw, pretty close under our ears, i hear a sound like that, but i FEEL it as if theres a blister in there that busted to CREATE the sound, and its seriously in one spot, as if i got poked, but its the same spot in the back of my skull near the base on the left..

sorry to ramble and i cant describe it as well as i really want to, but ive felt it before, without really thinking too much about it, but since it happened again recently, its been happening a lot, at first only when i would breathe thru my nose, when i was crying/upset, but today it happened while i was drinking and swallowing, and after i feel the 'poke/pain/hard-to-describe sound... it kind of feels like my head is getting goosebumps, as if i can feel every single root of each strand of my hair growing (like when you just shave your legs then u get goosebumps and u feel ur hair pushing back thru sort of?)

im terrible at describing and im ranting on and havent slept in over 24 hrs, so im very sorry- thanks to those who took the time to read this- lol
and im sorry if this doesnt make any sense..