Any sounds in the skull are an anomaly. Nothing should crackle or click. If it clicks in the face during chewing or turning the head, this is due to dysfunction of the jaw joint. But if, when walking, he clicks in the head, then it is necessary to carry out differential diagnostics. Most likely, this is the first symptom associated with disorders in the spine.
When walking, clicks in the head. What is the symptom?
Very often one can hear about the relationship between the legs and the head. When we walk, the load is distributed along the entire length of the spine. If an anomaly has developed in some part of the body, its consequences are reflected throughout the organs. Sometimes a person feels clicks for a long time, but does not turn to specialists. But in vain.
Since diseases of the spine are very common, it can be assumed that the spine is guilty of the appearance of strange clicks. Nevertheless, one cannot rely on assumptions. An urgent need to go to the doctor and look for the cause of this condition.
When it clicks in the head when walking, it is clearly a symptom of some kind of illness. Some take sounds for a neurosis and go to an appointment with a psychologist; others ignore the symptom. But you can’t ignore the body’s tips, you need to go to a neurologist or better to a vertebrologist. Vertebrology studies diseases of the spinal column. It is this doctor who better recognizes symptoms such as sounds in the head.
Causes of sounds in the head
Of course, a person begins to worry when he clicks in his head while walking. The reasons are varied, associated with many factors. The doctor’s task is to find the main causes of the pathological condition together with the patient and eliminate them.
Here is what can cause noise:
- The growth of osteophytes on the vertebrae.
- Running cervical osteochondrosis.
- Lack of fluid and essential trace elements for bone renewal.
- Long-term static tension of the spine when a person is standing motionless or sitting for several hours.
- Body hypothermia.
- Inconvenient postures during a night's sleep.
- Metabolic disorders due to thyroid problems.
- Clicks can give into the ear. Then it can be symptoms of otitis media or neurological spasms of the pharynx.
Atherosclerotic plaques in the vessels of the head, prolonged stress, shock, or VVD (vegetative-vascular dystonia) may give similar symptoms. But in these cases the sounds will not be distinct, it will just be a disturbing constant noise.
In addition to the listed reasons for clicking, one more is not mentioned. If when walking clicks in the head left or right, then the reason lies in the pathology of the mandibular joint.
Osteochondrosis and consequences
Osteochondrosis is constantly progressing. If you do not play sports, do not carry out preventive measures, osteophytes on the bone tissue will grow even more. Then, in addition to the only sign, when he clicks in the head when walking, a whole complex of new symptoms will appear:
- headaches and dizziness;
- numbness in the fingers of the left or right hand;
- feeling of nausea;
- fatigue;
- VVD syndrome.
Osteochondrosis is dangerous because of these degenerative changes in the spine, pressure problems begin and the nerves get pinched.
Frequent dizziness can lead to fainting. And high blood pressure threatens pathologies in the blood supply to the brain and impaired cardiac hemodynamics.
Therefore, if it clicks in the head while walking, it is important to undergo a comprehensive study immediately.
Other symptoms of osteochondrosis
The fact is that clicks in the head when walking are not the only symptom of degenerative processes in the spine. There are other vivid manifestations of cervical osteochondrosis:
- Pain that radiates to the shoulders, arms, or back of the head.
- It is difficult to turn your head to the side.
- Dizziness and temporary loss of coordination.
- Inexplicable pains in the heart appear.
Pain in the heart in this case is not directly related to this organ. Just pain radiating, that is, giving. Dizziness occurs due to a violation of the blood supply to brain tissue. Especially if there is damage to the first or second vertebra.
Clicks in the head when walking in the cold
What does it mean? Cold causes muscle spasm and blood circulation in the tissues worsens. Therefore, the cartilaginous tissue of the inter-articular discs wears out faster.
If a person drinks little water, and often happens in the cold or in damp rooms, for example, in a mine, then subsidence of discs inevitably begins.
Stage of development of hernia
Sagging (or, in scientific terms, protrusion) is the first stage of a hernia of the intervertebral disc.
The disease develops in 3 stages:
- prolapse - protrusion of the nucleus up to 3 mm;
- protrusion - 3–8 mm;
- extrusion - when the pulpous nucleus leaves the disk and “hangs” on the side in the form of a drop.
The last stage is extrusion, this is hernia. Clicks when walking can occur at any stage of development. This is an important symptom of a hernia - when walking clicks in the head. These sounds are explained simply. The distance between the vertebrae is now greatly reduced, salt has grown on them. Gradually, calcination progresses. Osteophytes can hook on other growths on an adjacent vertebra. At each step, characteristic clicks are formed. And when a person stops, the sounds cease.
Cervicarthrosis
Why clicks in the head when walking? The reason may lie in spondylarthrosis of the cervical spine - cervicoarthrosis. It is manifested by a crunch in the neck with movements, pain in the affected area. At first, it may seem that when walking, it clicks in the head in the back of the head. And also with slopes and sharp turns.
But over time, the pain increases, it becomes difficult and painful to turn your head. The patient has to turn around the whole body. Due to cerebral ischemia, flies appear in the eyes, and vision and hearing are slightly impaired. The pains shoot through the shoulder blades and the back of the head. Numbness of the hands will appear, the muscles will become weaker. Such a serious disease as cervicoarthrosis, it is desirable to determine at the 1st stage. Then undesirable consequences can be prevented.
Neurological spasms in the throat. Symptoms
A sensation of clicks in the head may be present with inflammation and neuritis of the glossopharyngeal nerve. Neuritis is manifested by pain in the back of the head, and pain can also be given to the ears. And in rare cases, extraneous noise or clicks in the ears are observed.
Neuritis is determined by a doctor after a series of studies. EEG, MRI of the brain and discharge from the otolaryngologist and dentist are required. For treatment, galvanization, intake of vitamin complexes and SMT on the larynx area are recommended.
Mandibular dysfunction
Improper bite often provokes dysfunction of the mandibular joint. If in youth no consequences are felt, then after 30 years such a problem may appear. Especially if a person is actively involved in weightlifting and the load on the jaw increases. And also the cause of dysfunction is sometimes the wrong actions of the dentist. After filling, the dentist always makes sure that the bite remains even.
If he does not, when chewing, a person can damage his jaw joint. A small dislocation of the joint may not hurt, but manifest as peculiar clicks.
If it clicks in the head while walking, the cause is occasionally the pathology of the jaw joint.
Diagnosis
When walking, clicks in the head? Diagnosis of the disease is carried out by a vertebrologist. To analyze the whole situation, the doctor needs some data:
- MRI results of the cervical spine (MRI should be at least 1.5 T);
- Ultrasound of the vascular system of the neck and head;
- a conclusion from Laura that clicks are not a symptom of middle ear problems;
- X-ray of the spine with contrast.
It is impossible to treat without a diagnosis. The doctor will collect the entire history, find out the opinions of other specialists. And then he will tell his opinion on why he clicks in the head when walking with the patient and how to deal with it. MRI is prohibited for pregnant women and those who have any foreign metal objects in their bodies.
Treatment
What to do if a hernia is detected? A hernia is treated only in one way - by surgical removal.
If the doctor diagnosed osteochondrosis, then the prognosis is favorable. The operation is not necessary, but you can’t leave everything to chance.
You need to understand: no drugs will help to treat this problem. But magnetotherapy, exercise therapy and exposure to microcurrents will be useful. At the same time, some folk decoctions and tinctures help. They are taken orally to remove salts from the body.
Exercise therapy should be carried out in a therapeutic group under the supervision of a trainer. It is impossible to conduct classes on your own with a damaged cervical spine.
If the problem is a dislocation of the mandibular joint, it must be repaired. This is an unpleasant and even painful procedure. But it is necessary, otherwise there will be difficulties with chewing food.
But if the problem is in ENT disease, the treatment is simple. You may need only camphor oil in your ears, warm compresses, or some kind of medicine.
Neurological abnormalities are treated under the supervision of a neurologist. He prescribes drugs, procedures, and sees if his treatment helps.
When constantly while walking clicks in the head, the consequences are unpredictable. An urgent need to find the cause until the condition worsens.
Prevention
If the patient reports that he clicks in his head when walking, then the first thing the therapist will suggest is osteochondrosis. Especially if headaches often occur and there is tension in the cervical region. Prevention is the correct daily exercise and, most importantly, a healthy diet. Quitting alcohol is also necessary.
The prognosis is worse if MRI reveals that spondylosis, spondyloarthrosis, or hernia has begun in the cervical spine. These diseases of the spine are treated using exercise therapy, magnetotherapy or surgical methods.
To prevent jaw dysfunction, it is enough to align the bite. This is done by orthodontists.
conclusions
So why clicks in the head when walking? The answer to this question can certainly give a vertebrologist. But besides him it is necessary to consult with the otolaryngologist. The most likely cause of these symptoms will be osteochondrosis or a hernia between the cervical vertebrae. You cannot find a hernia on your own. She is diagnosed on an MRI machine.
Prevention is daily exercise in the fresh air and nutrition, which is based on vegetables and fruits.
Temporomandibular joint dysfunction should be treated by a qualified chiropractor. But it’s better to take care of the joint and not be at risk.