Clicking in head

[4inline]

I know this is a weird question and I never thought about it until very recently.  I was dx with CM1 about 5 years ago for headaches by MRI.  I was told by my Dr. and a friend who is a nurse (now nurse practitioner) for a neurosurgeon not to worry about it.  I might get headaches, which I do, but that was about it because mine was mild.  Long story short, about 3 months ago I began to have tremors (at rest)  that came on suddenly.  I also began buzzing and vibrating and having muscle spasms which is still happening and for which there are no answers at this point.  Anyway, I began to research and read the forums and someone, I have no clue where, said something about the clicking in her head.  My head has clicked for 20 years.  It clicks on the right side at the very base of my head.  It's not like a pop really, just like the sound of fingernails clicking together.  It used to happen when I would lie down to sleep (I used to sleep on my stomach) and it would click in succession right after I lay down.  I remember thinking how weird it was.  That doesn't happen anymore.  It used to happen when I would run....every step there was this one click.  Now it's just mostly when I turn my head or look up, etc., but not every time.  I've gotten so used to it over the years that I've never really thought about it.  Just wondered if it could be related to CM or if anyone else has had it.  Thanks.

[selmaS]

Hi...I would suggest as the above poster is , that it is possible you have other issues/conditions that may be related to Chiari that may be the reason for your clicks. Ehlers-Danlos is one that many with Chiari share....and it can do so much to affect us on a daily basis and also if we have surgery, it can affect how we recover.I would strongly suggest, you have EDS ruled out as well as other possible conditions.

[Mward85]

I have Chiari zero. Ehlers-danlos. As well as Parry Romberg syndrome and temporal arteritis. The only time I get the pop rocks is during the headaches. Because of my combination of disorders They also tend to put me in sinus hell and cause my lymph nodes to become severely inflamed. Sometimes rubbing lymph nodes at the base of the occipital bone can help relieve the pressure. Before all of my diagnosis is I thought I was going nuts because of the pop rocks and clicking. When I tilt my head to the left the right side will click but not vice versa. The only headache relief I could get was to have someone literally lift me off the floor by the hair on the back of my head. As you can imagine many people were very reluctant to do that. I have discovered that a good chiropractor with knowledge of ehlers-danlos and subluxation of Atlas and axial brings extremely appreciated relief. I had to go to a specialist neurosurgeon and have a certain kind of Imaging done 2 have Chiari zero diagnosed. Another specialist musculoskeletal Dr for Parry Romberg. And a vascular specialist for temporal arteritis.

[*Stormy*]

That was sort of what I was going to say...

Do you think it is something clicking close to your ears?? I get that clicking right in my ear at times, I never can really figure out what is triggering it.

When running and going upstairs..I would hear this loud clicking too. Finally, I realized it was my hips!! Probably not what is happening to you...but at first I couldn't figure out where it was coming from.

All the vibrating and spasming you are mentioning, is exactly what I have too and is definitely caused by the Chiari...or the effects of it.. I vibrate 24/7 now, it never goes away but gets a lot worse after I exert myself. On my EMG it was noted that I have tremulousness in firing pattern in all muscles...which basically just confirms what I said..tremoring all the time..

I hope your DR's are now taking Chiari seriously??

Carolyn

[EdwardPB]

Oh, one more thing:

About all of these clicking, and buzzings and noises people talk about....

The bones are an excellent sound conductor.
Actually, vibrations in general. That's why a tuning fork is a great tool to check for broken bones.

So, and problems that are close enough for the bones to transmit the wave into your auditory nerves, (ears) you will hear.

[EdwardPB]

You need to describe, and pinpoint, the clicking more accurately.
It, as it appears so far, sounds skeletal. (bone) There are many reasons for this, and you don't mention injury history. (or lack of)
Some cause lead to increased symptoms of neuro disorders, to include Chiari. Some are a result of disorders, such as Chiari.

Which came first? The chicken or the egg?


Trying to figure that out, when it comes to a majority of medical problems, is one of the biggest hurdles.

[selmaS]

U r deff not alone.....in how u feel or the way the drs make u feel about ur symptoms.

AS long as u research drs and get to a true chiari specialist the road to dx should not be near as long as what some have gone thru.

"selma"

[4inline]

Thanks for repsonses.  At least I don't feel like I'm all alone here, or nuts as the Drs. sometimes make me feel.  I'm realizing that this Chiari thing is a big deal although the Drs. don't seem to think so.  I'm also realizing that whatever my problems are it may be a long road to diagnosis.  Thanks again!

[DechenDolkar]

When I really feel the pressure build up I hear a crackling sound near my occiptal bone on the right side. I wish you the best!

Dechen

[selmaS]

Hi...I have seen many chiarians mention a clicking sound....and as bbisweary  said DDD could be what u r hearing...everyone gets DDD as they age, and for us lucky chiarians we tend to get it  earlier in life.....there r so many things that may cause the click sound....a bulging disk...the herniated tonsils.....

Many of us also have connective tissue disorders as well as autoimmune conditions like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome...which can cause our joints to sub-lex.....

Even a muscle that gets so tight and in knots can click.....

I pray u get answers that can make sense and help u move forward with ur condition : )

"selma"

[bbisweary]

I have a crunching noise in my neck.  I don't know if it is the same as your clicking, but it might be.  I think you should have another MRI to see if your herniation is worse (mine grew 2 mm in 10 months) or if you have anything else going on. I have recently found out after years of seeing Dr's and NLs that only a neurosurgeon can diagnose you correctly.  The NS found that I have a bone in my neck putting pressure on my brainstem in addition to the 11mm CM .  I have had probably 7 to 8 MRIs, CT scans, and Xrays in the last few years and not one radiologist or NL ever diagnosed this problem.  They said I had degenerative disc disease. So you should really see a NS to get a proper perspective of your condition.