Why does my back crack when I straighten it?!

Why does my back crack when I straighten it?

My back constantly cracks, and I have continuous pain in my lower back (near the hip, just above the ***) closer to the right side. I got an x-ray done and nothing came up, I went to a chiropractor for a year and it did nothing. My next step is a CAT scan, anybody have any solutions as to why and how I can change this problem?

I lift weights and exercise alot as well, but this problem began shortly before I actually started working out, but it has just gotten worse since then. It's not a sharp crippling pain, but more of an annoyance. It just concerns me that when I'm not sitting straight for a while, and then (after a while) straighten my back, it crack in the area in which there is usually pain. Similarly, when I purposely crack my back (stretch it from side to side) I get several (about 10) loud cracks out of my back. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!

The crack itself is still a bit of a mystery, biomechanics researchers have not completely come to a consensus on what it is, but the general thought is that it is a gas bubble in your cartilage that pops due to the pressure change on the joint. The large bubble dissolves into smaller bubbles, and then eventually consolidates into the large bubble again, and can be cracked again (takes about 20 minutes) Considering you have over a dozen different areas that can "pop" in between each vertebrae, it could be any number of those. The same "cracking" happens to me when sitting up straight after slouching.

One thing you can try to focus on is keeping your spine mobile by stretching your low back, upper back and abs. Also since you're already working out, if you don't do core work, start doing it. If you're doing crunches and a lot of ab work on the ground, try doing it on a swiss ball instead, it is much better for your back and if done correctly can be a better workout for your abs. Also try to continue good posture, and if you want exercises look online for a set of quick easy exercises called "Straighten Up America" They're a bit corny, but short, easy and helpful.

A CT or MRI study may show something that didn't show up on x-ray, but it may show nothing, it really depends on what your problem actually is.

Also don't give up on chiropractic...try a more reputable one in your area, not all chiropractors are the same, some use different methods of adjusting and some are just more proficient at chiropractic (just like any other profession). Since the pain you are describing sounds like it is in your sacroiliac joint, there are some particular chiropractic techniques I know of that work better in fixing problems in that area. Try to find a good chiropractor who uses Basic technique (be forewarned- it is a very personal contact, but is gentle and works wonders), Sacro-Occipital Technique also works well. Both techniques also look a lot at what is going on in your entire body, because it is possible that your hip problem is coming from foot or knee problems where you could change your step just a little bit to fix the pain there, and then it just travels up your leg and settles in your hip (I hope that makes sense). You may have not even noticed the other pain, or it could have been something you changed because of an injury...there are so many variables that can cause pain it is mind-boggling.

I'm sorry if you went to the same practitioner for a year and didn't get your problem resolved. In my opinion (and I'm only a student) you should have been reevaluated and your treatment plan should have been reassessed to get results, unfortunately it sounds like that didn't happen. Best of luck to you in whatever you decide