Sometimes I hear a loud crack in my head that hurts. What could it possibly be?

Hello, Anon. Thank you for your message.

While we cannot know what this is, there are a few possibilities.

TMJ can cause a cracking or popping sound as well as pain. The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) is responsible for all the jaw movements that we make and has a lot of moving parts. Clicking is commonly caused when the jaw has suffered a direct injury or trauma and not able to rotate in its position without interference. Crepitus, a crackling noise, is usually heard at an advanced stage of destruction in the TMJ. Noises from the TMJ may seem very loud to the affected person since the middle ear is in close proximity. TMJ disorders are sometimes difficult to treat because of the number of structures involved. You can see an oral maxillofacial surgeon for this problem.

Another possible cause is a blocked sinus. Some people suffer from blocked sinuses chronically, so much so that they learn how to work around it. A crackling noise can be heard during the times when these sinuses unclog. Again, their proximity to the ear makes it likely that patients will experience these noises as being very loud, even when other people cannot hear them.

An evaluation by a medical professional is needed for a proper diagnosis.

Helena