neck crack and sharp pain, now other issues

[imanursenscared1]

HI. I am a 27 year old female. I have always cracked my neck on my own for years daily. I know it's not a good thing to do, but what can I say, it became a habit. Anyways, a few months ago I went to crack my neck to the left side, my palm under my chin and my other hand supporting the back of my head, I turned to the left, and cracked it, and immediately felt a SHARP shooting pain go down the left side of my neck towards the back of the neck into my upper left shoulder blade area. It almost made me cry out and I was afraid to move my neck back to normal position. But it passed quickly. It has happened a few other times since then, not constantly. But even when it doesn't happen, I seem to be getting random pains and I'm not sure if these pains are related to what I did? I get very quick jabs of pain in my left upper shoulder blade, almost my neck area, out of nowhere, but they are so quick, they do not last or linger. Also at the end of my collar bone on the left side, like almost where it meets my shoulder I get pains out of nowhere, come and go just as quickly. What could I possibly have done? Do you think these random pains are related to whatever I may have done to my neck? Then I went and googled this neck/shoulder/back thing, and of course heart attack comes up! So I have myself all worried now...please help thanks!

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

Well, without a clinical evaluation it would be difficult to determine the cause of your symptoms. Likely possibilities that may need to be considered include neuro-muscular causes such as muscle sprain, nerve impingement, injuries to muscles/ ligaments, inflammations, postural issues, fractures/ dislocations, referred pain from other regions, micronutrient deficiencies etc. I would suggest getting this evaluated by a primary care physician initially and depending on the cause diagnosed/ suspected, it can be managed accordingly or specialist care may be sought.
Hope this is helpful.

Take care!

[imanursenscared1]

any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!