My neck started cracking. Arthritis? Any ideas?

i had serious neck pain so much so I could barely move my neck. I ended up with a Pain Management doctor. I didn't have much confidence in this but as it turns out she fix it. I went in as an out patient just like you would any surgery and was put under a local and she went in and burned the nerve endings in my neck. No slicing or dicing. No scares just a needle I guess. When I woke up in the recovery room got dressed and went home. I had to have someone drive as usual. She said the nerve endings would grow back and we may need repeat the procedure again some day. That was a year ago and I'm still with no pain in the neck. Oh, BTW I'm 75 years old.

@wgatap21 It's natural when we get older and have arthritis in our necks I've had to get exercises for my neck P.T.was nice enough to write the exercises down when I was done seeing him Putting some heat on that area will help also after the exercises

Great HONEST therapist! My neck cracks normally ALWAYS. My pain guru suggested burning nerve endings BUT I have no pain. Don't see how that would help cracking but for $$$ for him. Instead I got an epi which disabled my larynx for hours, too much anesthetic. The WONG decision, Palm Springs, CA.

2023 I think I know what started this very loud internally heard crack. 18 months ago bought an adjustable bed and keep it in raised position during day and down at night: lately I leave it half-raised ... so my head is raised with pillow for my digestive tract and eye pressure re glaucoma....it is fine when laying or lying on my back but I wake up sleeping on my side and therefore my neck/top of spine is crooked... I doubt if will be able to fix and not sure where to go as am 79 ... agree does not hurt but many other things do and this is a bit disturbing and I feel I caused it myself!!! I already have tinnitus etc. etc. so more noise in my head!! I would suggest if you have a bed which can be raised, to keep it flat at night...... J.

There is also prolotheray. Cervical joints are made of ligaments and they can be tightened and make the joints work better. I have had 4-7 tightened and the joints now don't move so far as to disrupt the blood flow to the brain which they had done. I had a digital motion Xray that showed that number 4 was the worst. Evidently 1 and 2 can be tightened with prolotherapy, but they are different from the rest and require a specialized procedure. And they are noisy for me too, but so far the movement has not disrupted the work of the spine.

For side-sleeping have you tried a molded “memory foam” pillow designed with neck-support? They have brand names like Tempur-pedic and Posturepedic. I have used one for many years and find it very helpful for neck pain.