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Cracking sounds in skull/brain. Should I be concerned?

Posted by romanthegreat @romanthegreat, Dec 9, 2023

I was experiencing a few symptoms as I was laying down on my bed yesterday, falling asleep. The symptoms are still present today:

- Cracking/Clicking sounds AND sensations from the inner center of the brain/skull, it seems.

- As if there is something in there moving/'digging'? Could it be a parasyte?

- Sensation comes and goes, usually lasts a few sec. when it comes.

- More pronounced when laying down I think and when there is no noise around so I can focus on it (maybe thats why I heard it the first time as I was about to sleep, because it was so quiet in my room).

- Wanted to mention this cause it may be connected to the brain/skull stuff -> Last weeks I was feeling some weird sensations in my right ear, as if it was somewhat a little clogged or something, can't really explain it. The day of the incident I didn't really have this symptom with the ear though, only the clicking coming from the CENTER of the inside of the skull.

- Blood pressure and everything is good, I feel good and there are no headaches.

I tried to be as detailed as I could. If anyone knows anything I would appreciate it a lot. How concerned should I be?

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science333 | @science333 | Aug 17, 2025
In reply to @suzq14 "It took a while and I was in a major medical center...started with primary, referral to..." + (show)
Profile picture for suzq14 @suzq14

It took a while and I was in a major medical center...started with primary, referral to a very busy ENT. One of them did temporal CT after I kept pushing for answers. That showed the diverticulum but the doc didn't think that was causing the problem, so it was kind of dropped by the specialists. So my primary referred me for an mri. (I have a great primary.) I was also seeing a spine neurosurgeon for some other pain, and he referred me to a brain neurosurgeon because I was having increasing pain in the back of my head. By 8 months in, I started having debilitating migraines. I'm not sure if that was from not being able to sleep at night or the pain from the pressure from the growing diverticulum. The brain neuro did a brain mri/mrv/mra and said he could do a procedure to fix that but didn't think it would solve the pain I was in. I agreed to an angiogram to see what the pressures were, and after that I agreed to have the stent and coil done to fix it because I couldn't keep going as I was. Once I recovered, the pain has been gone as long as I don't overdo it, but even then it's mild. That also solved the noise and blocked ear feeling. He said that was caused by turbulent blood flood in the diverticulum which was right behind my ear, so pressing on parts of the ear. I'm grateful I had great insurance bcs all of that was very expensive.

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How are you now? any problems from stenting?

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sungaltoo | @sungaltoo | Aug 18, 2025

Mine were clicking and cracking noises and shaking of my head. My neuro insisted they were seizures from abnormal electrical activity in the brain and put me on Vimpat and Gabapentin. I’ve been on them for 9 years and tried to wean off them but the activity came back, even though it’s never shown up on EEGs over the years. I also fall and have gotten hurt when I tried to get off them

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chrissy45 | @chrissy45 | Sep 15, 2025
In reply to @dablues "I could be wrong but it sounds like Brain Zaps. I've been getting those all the..." + (show)
Profile picture for dablues @dablues

I could be wrong but it sounds like Brain Zaps. I've been getting those all the time for a long time now. They say it comes from depression medicine and if you stop then you get these zaps. I got them stopping the meds. Then it went away and came a few years later when I wasn't on any meds like that, so I'm wondering if it could be related to my neck as that is a mess and my hearing getting whacky. So don't know but if you think it could be what I'm saying then maybe that's what it is.

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Never thought what I’ve been experiencing could be described so well. And yes I’ve been pretty negligent on taking anti depressants. Now all of a sudden I get these sensations of waves and a crackling sound. Almost like the start of a vinyl record playing.. I was beginning to get very concerned. Always thinking of crazy stuff like a brain aneurysm is gonna happen in my sleep. But a “brain zap” sounds way better. And a more logical explanation. Thank you. I think I will get back on the anti depressants asap. And also talk to my primary care very soon.

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emkate | @emkate | Sep 18, 2025

I have this too. When I shake or move my head it seems like it moves around almost but yes right in the center somehow and I haven’t seen anything else online with the exact same thing. Did you figure it out? Are you still having it?

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orbo45 | @orbo45 | Oct 1, 2025

Hey @romanthegreat im currently going exactly what you went through. Did you get checked out? Also did it go away? Thanks

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delly5 | @delly5 | Nov 1, 2025
In reply to @queencity86 "I was taken off klonopin (a benzodiazepine) way too fast in June 2022. I’ve had ongoing..." + (show)
Profile picture for queencity86 @queencity86

I was taken off klonopin (a benzodiazepine) way too fast in June 2022. I’ve had ongoing brain zaps that feel like constant pulsating and pressure in my head since June 18, 2022 that does not go away. Feels like someone is jolting and electrocuting my brain non stop, it does not stop pulsating. I just know if I cut all my hair and shaved my head you could see this pulsating on my head. I’ve gone to my primary doctor, neurologist, and now next month I go to a top neurologist here in NC at Duke hospital about this. Idk how I’m even still alive from experiencing this all day every day over two years. Its effected my vision as well, my ability to drive and work, I’m constantly sleepy and feel zonked out because of this. No one seems to know what I’m talking about when I tell them this came on as a result of being taken off a benzodiazepine way too fast. This is chronic constant torture.

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@queencity86
I also stopped my Cipralex, gradually, on instruction by
GP, and am getting electric sparks in my head and neck.
Never related it to the Cipralex, very informative

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tarmansbks | @tarmansbks | Nov 2, 2025

Rice krispies crackling in right ear when I lie down at night in certain positions. Never when I am sitting or walking. ENT unremarkable and neurologist on Friday didn't attribute too much to it. I take gabapentin and baclofen for pain and neuropathy. Sometimes I don't get the noise.

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ehdog | @ehdog | Jan 22 4:05am

When I shake my head I can hear something grinding at the base of my skull.
It's so loud and it happens no matter how my head is positioned when I turn it at all

I can hear it in the back of my skull and it didn't do that before now

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2 replies
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Ashyn | @ashlynnmae | Jan 22 4:06am
In reply to @ehdog "When I shake my head I can hear something grinding at the base of my skull...." + (show)
Profile picture for ehdog @ehdog

When I shake my head I can hear something grinding at the base of my skull.
It's so loud and it happens no matter how my head is positioned when I turn it at all

I can hear it in the back of my skull and it didn't do that before now

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It sounds like you might have some gas bubbles popping in your joints, or your muscles or tendons could be inflamed and rubbing as you move. Things like TMJ, poor posture, and general tension can add to the irritation. This can happen occasionally, and even if it’s new, it isn’t a sign of anything serious.

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gmarosie | @gmarosie | Jan 22 7:17am
In reply to @ehdog "When I shake my head I can hear something grinding at the base of my skull...." + (show)
Profile picture for ehdog @ehdog

When I shake my head I can hear something grinding at the base of my skull.
It's so loud and it happens no matter how my head is positioned when I turn it at all

I can hear it in the back of my skull and it didn't do that before now

Jump to this post

Sounds like me—severe degenerative disc disease in the cervical spine. It was diagnosed with an MRI after I started to suffer with cervical occipital neuralgia symptoms suddenly in May ‘25. After PT and a lot of upper body exercises I am feeling better and have weaned off gabapentin. It was a long 4 months. Get your arms and neck moving everyday. Light weights and stretches. Strengthening those muscles helped tremendously because your head is heavy. Some grinding noise is normal.

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