Originally Posted by
Mark Rippetoe
I had a periodic "crick" in my neck for decades, and as it turned out it was the result of childhood neck injuries. When I was 43 I had a cervical fusion at C6-7, and I haven't had any trouble since then. You may be in this same situation. Until then, find a conservative chiropractor and see if that helps, keep your neck rigid under the bar, do not mash the back of your head into the bench, arrange your pillows to support your neck while you're asleep, get decent pillows, and treat the inflammation with NSAIDs when it flares up.