neck 'cracking'

[chikp]

About 3 years ago I was in a minor car accident.  Rear ended not hard enough to cause significant damage to the car but hard enough to make my sun glasses fly off of my head and land on the dash board.  I never followed it up with insurance or dr since there was no physical evidence of damage (me or car).  However, for the next day or so I felt a little 'out of it', but that passed.  

Fast forward to about 6 months to a year ago and my neck has started tightening up and cracking several times a day, sometimes hourly.  I usually remedy the pressure by tilting my head to one side or the other until it cracks.

I am just wondering if the two can be related.  The pressure and subsequent cracking seems to have come out of nowhere.  Any information, advice will be appreciated.  Thanks.

[Prem Pillay, MD]

Sometimes a whiplash injury can cause or accelerate disc degeneration in the neck.
I would suggest you get a spine specialist to do an evaluation and an MRI.
Simple physical therapy could be helpful in alleviating your symptoms.

[chikp]

Thank you.  I'll have it checked out.