Suggest Treatment For Sudden Pain Along With Cracking Noise In Neck

Hi, im 22 yrs of age..female . I turned my head quickly to the left one morning and suddenly i felt pain along with hearing a tearing/cracking noise in the lower right side of my neck , almost into my shoulders. i hurt really bad and i told my mother who's a massage therapist and my pain got only worse while she massaged the area...my step-dad has me putting hot towels to the area which seems to be helping and reducing pain.at first as the pain worsened, i could hardly sit up right with pain but the heat helps i can move a little more...my question is.. how long should i keep heat on it?....is it ok if i DONT go to the doctor?..because the pain was so bad that i was going to have my brother take me.