What causes a clicking sound in the neck?

I recentley had the same thing happen to me and it came out of no where! I looked up some things and figured out it was from muscle spasams in my neck. I never felt any pain from the spasms and the neck did not hurt. I read that the muscles were pulling on my spine and straightning it and the muscle on the spine when I turned my head were causing the click sound. 1 month later the sound is lighter and less frequant. I noticed the knot in my neck moved up and so did the clicking sound. I had some xrays done and just like I suspected it is from a muscle spasm and the bones in my neck were going straight up instead of being curved. I asked my doctor what is the cause of this and she said most likely bad posture. After reading some more on line while I'm waiting to meet with the physical theapist.. b/c I refuse to take muscle relaxers... i need to know the culprit and fix it. I read that if you lean forward with your head alot you tirer out your spinal muscles and doing this has caused degenerative disc in my c5-c6 cervical (neck) bones. Now I am going to start taking the recommended dosages of chondroitin, glucosamine, msm, and hydrogen acid and try to reverse this disc from flattning... I'll report back and let everyone know the results after 6 months I will get xrays taken again. Hope this helps someone that is searching for something similar to what I experienced. Now I have to be very concious of my posture bc I don't want to make my situation worsen. Posture Posture Posture!!!

I too have the clicking. It came on as I was walking thru the grocery store. I have always delt with tension in my sholders and neck. I think I am going to start at a ciropracter and go from there.

I also have recently noticed a lot of popping and clicking when I turn my head. No pain, but very noticeable clicking and grinding. I can sit for just a few minutes, then turn my head to the side and hear the sounds. A few weeks ago I got a neck, shoulder and upper back massage and for the rest of the day no popping. The masseuse did tell me that my neck and back muscles were very, very tight. Guess I will have to start getting regular massages!

Thank you all for your comments - found this very useful. I have had popping in my neck for the past 4 weeks, so loud that the person at the desk next to me can hear it, also headaches more severe than normal - I work at a computer all day in a very stressful job. Will now go away and think long and hard about my posture and how best to tackle stress.

Add me to the list of weird painless neck cracking noises. I can't seem to figure it out. I am fairly active and still seem to hold tension in the neck area.

I also have this really annoying popping noise in my neck. I've had it for 3 days now, and it's really gettin' me down! It's whenever I look from my right, to my left. Sometimes it's loud (but still, only I can hear it), and sometimes it's quiet. Sometimes I don't even have it at all. I just want to know how to get rid of the damn thing! I've only just been relieved of stress, and now I have something else to be stressed and annoyed over now! :,(

I have problem with my neck too, clicking sound when I turn to right or left side. I went to see a chiropractor and they took some xray. They found out there is some problems with my cervical spine. No surgery to be done but just adjustment c/o a chiropractor, and daily exercises for strengthening. I am almost finished with my 36 hours sessions. Its 3 hours in a week or 3 days in a week, they only do your sessions 1 hour a day. I could say there is much improvement on my neck muscles, but the clicking sound is still there. The chiropractor told me it will continue to improve, I dont know what he meant about it, but it is still there. Xray will be taken after I finished my sessions. I dont know what to do next if this clicking sound will not go away. I plan to see a spinal doctor after my chiro sessions.