It started as a motion so ordinary that most people would barely register it — a quick stretch of the neck after a long, tiring day. For KayLynne Felthager, however, that automatic habit would lead to a life-altering medical emergency, highlighting how Habitual neck cracking to relieve tension leads to stroke in woman is not just a headline, but a real and frightening experience.
A Habit That Felt Harmless
Felthager recalls that everything began on Jan. 4, 2023. She was driving home from Walmart when a familiar headache started to creep in. Like many others, she had developed a routine response over the years.
“It was a habit,” she explains. “Whenever I felt a headache coming on, I would immediately crack my neck.”
That day, she tilted her head far to the right until she felt a noticeable pop on the left side of her neck. She emphasizes that she didn’t use her hands or apply force — just a stretch. At first, it brought a brief sense of relief, nothing alarming.
But that relief didn’t last.
Pain That Wouldn’t Go Away
Almost immediately after cracking her neck, Felthager felt a sharp, intense pain shoot down her neck. It was different from anything she had felt before. Over the next few days, the pain lingered, making it difficult to turn her head without discomfort. She relied on over-the-counter painkillers and tried to push through daily life, even keeping weekend plans with her family.
Although something felt off, she didn’t suspect anything serious. Like many people, she assumed it was just another stubborn headache or muscle strain that would eventually pass.
The First Major Warning Sign
On Jan. 9, the situation escalated dramatically. While sitting at her kitchen island doing her makeup before a date night, Felthager suddenly saw a blinding light in her right eye. Within seconds, the vision on that side disappeared.
“I had this bright light come through my right eye, and then I lost vision,” she says. “It was like I could see light, but nothing else.”
She tried blinking, hoping it would resolve on its own. She even attempted to look up her symptoms, but her vision was too impaired to read properly. About 15 minutes later, her eyesight returned, and she assumed another headache was coming on — but her body still didn’t feel right.
When the Body Stops Cooperating
As she and her husband drove into town, Felthager noticed tingling on the right side of her body. Soon, that sensation turned into numbness. Even then, she describes the feeling as confusing rather than terrifying, as though her body was sending mixed signals she couldn’t decode.
The most frightening moment came when she tried to speak.
“It just came out as jumbled gibberish,” she recalls.
Her husband immediately turned the car toward the emergency room.
A Race Against Time
At the hospital, everything moved quickly. Felthager remembers nurses rushing to place an IV, doctors ordering scans, and being taken for a CT scan with contrast. Much of the experience feels hazy, but one detail stands out clearly.
“The only word I could think of was God,” she says. “I just kept repeating it.”
Doctors tested her ability to recognize images and speak. Gradually, her speech returned, and she began recognizing loved ones again. Eventually, she was given a diagnosis that stunned her.
The Diagnosis: A Stroke Triggered by Artery Dissection
Doctors explained that Felthager had suffered an artery dissection — a tear in a neck artery — and that a blood clot had traveled to her brain, causing a stroke. Thankfully, the clot dissolved on its own before more aggressive intervention was required.
Living in a small town in Colorado, she was transferred by helicopter to a larger hospital for specialized care, an experience she still describes as surreal.
At the hospital, doctors told her that artery dissections have been linked to neck trauma, including chiropractic adjustments and cracking the neck. Her neurologist also mentioned another possible factor: she had recently been violently ill with the stomach flu.
“She told me it could have been from violently puking or from cracking my neck,” Felthager says.
Recovery and a Lasting Impact
Felthager was placed on strong blood thinners and later transitioned to daily aspirin. For months, she underwent follow-up CT scans until doctors confirmed she had fully healed.
“One thing they said was, ‘Maybe stop cracking your neck,’” she recalls. “And I was like, fair. I will never again.”
Physically, she has made a full recovery. Emotionally, however, the experience changed her forever. She admits to having increased health anxiety, especially when she notices changes in her vision or unusual sensations.
“It also made me more anxious about my kids and my husband,” she says. “You realize how fragile normal really is.”
Sharing Her Story With the World
Life has continued in joyful ways, including welcoming another baby. Unexpectedly, Felthager’s story reached millions after she casually shared it on TikTok. What she thought would be a small filler post went viral.
The overwhelming response showed her how many people saw themselves in her experience. While she understands how frightening her story can be, she’s clear about her intention.
“I don’t want to scare people,” she says. “This is just what happened to me.”
Her story stands as a powerful reminder that Habitual neck cracking to relieve tension leads to stroke in woman is not meant to cause panic — but awareness. Sometimes, the smallest habits can carry risks we never imagine until it’s too late.
