The short answer to this question is that you’ve injured a structure in your neck. Finding out what injury you have may require visiting a medical professional, such as a physical therapist.
Neck pain is something that many Americans are familiar with, and it’s reported that about 5.8% of women and 4% of men are feeling neck pain at any given time. Crackling and popping sounds may be normal for you, too, and are commonly known as neck crepitus. However, these sounds aren’t normal if the loud pops in your neck are followed by pain.
A physical therapist can help you figure out what injury happened when you heard the loud pop in your neck followed by pain. These specialists can help you find effective treatment for your neck pain as well.
Three neck injuries that can lead to a loud pop in your neck followed by pain:
- Tendon or ligament injuries — Tendons and ligaments are two types of connective tissue found in your neck. Tendons attach muscles to bones, while ligaments connect bones to other bones. A sudden tear, ligament sprain or tendon strain can all lead to popping noises and trigger significant neck pain.
- Muscle injuries — Your neck is supported and moved by a total of 26 different muscles. Putting too much strain on a neck muscle can cause a strain, and in extreme cases, the muscle may even tear, with a loud popping sound followed by pain. Often, such injuries occur during automobile accidents or while playing sports.
- Neck joint injuries — The neck is a structure that contains many joints; these joints are known as facet joints. These structures allow your neck to bend and flex the way it does. The facet joints also contain cartilage that can tear. Such cartilage injuries can easily lead to the popping sound and pain you experienced.
Find help for your painful neck injuries at Border Therapy Services
Not sure where to turn for help after a loud pop in your neck is followed by pain? Our Border Therapy Services team is primed to help you address a wide range of painful neck injuries. Our physical therapists can start by doing a free screening on your neck for physical therapy near me to uncover the source of your pain. They can then construct a customized physical therapy plan for you that’s designed to:
- Reduce pain.
- Speed up healing.
- Improve neck mobility and flexibility.
- Decrease your risk of future neck injuries.
Contact our team today for more information about all the ways we can treat your painful neck problems or to schedule an initial appointment.