Crepitus (crackling sounds when moving joints)

[hm2007]

I've been experiencing crepitus all over my body since May 2006.  Everytime I mention this to doctors they say "oh, that's normal, everybody does that."  Well, it's not normal.  I never had this and then all of a sudden my entire body cracks with every movement.  Sometimes the sounds are so loud I think I might have actually broke a bone!  What is causing this?  I also have muscle aches, knee pain and a bunch of other stuff.  I had blood drawn and they didn't see rheumatoid arthritis.

[Ihatecipro]

Sounds like you are all floxed.  No known cure.  Fluoroquinolones are in our food...  You can thank the FDA

[Ninmus]

Hello everyone!

There is a difference between crepitus and imbalanced biomechanics.

While knuckles may be nitrogen-related, most cracking, clicking and popping sounds are musculoskeletal related. When you roll your wrists, that the sound of the tendons and such flicking over the joints/bone. If you roll your shoulder and it cracks, it's a sign that one of your tendons are tight, catching then "flicking" over the joint, creating a loud "crack/pop".

The great news is, if it doesn't hurt, it's not a problem. The bad news is - you've got dysfunctional movement or "biomechanics".

Your body, being an amazing regenerative creature, can put up with these biomechanics for YEARS to DECADES before manifesting degeneration, tears, bursitis or arthritis.

Best people to talk to about these issues - Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Osteopath, (Remedial or Clinical) Massage Therapist, Musculoskeletal Therapist, Exercise Physiologist, Chiropractor, Musculoskeletal therapist. (These are the Australian musculoskeletal therapists, other global names may differ slightly)

Take your concerns to them. They can help you to no end.

The only time this differs is for those who have Ehler Danlos, Hypermobility or similar syndromes. The popping and clicking can still be helped, but you have a higher likelihood of instability.

Hope this helps. It's not cancer related, blood borne disease or generally pharmaceutically-related. You're all just that tight and contracted that your joints are under tension!

R.M.T
(Remedial Massage Therapist, Guest Lecturer)

[wiscwife]

I know this post is really old, but it may be my answer...I got sudden crepitus after an appt with my allergist. He put me on an antibiotic for sinusitus and on singulair for allergies.  Within 7 days, my joints (mostly knees, but also hip) started popping like crazy - even while in bed. I couldn't move without the noise.  I panicked and thought it was the antibiotic (it wasn't Cypro-family, thank goodness) but I had the doctor change it and report the side effect. I didn't even consider it may have been the singulair!!  So did yours stop/get better when you stopped taking it??  Would love to know what you did next.

[DrDER]

Can you list the brand names of the products you used? I would REALLY like to try what you did, but I'm nervous about going out and just buying anything. Thank you so much!

[colleenrivas]

I read your comment about the thyroid disorder. Did you ever find out what the problem was? I am experiencing the same issues. My doctor keeps telling me I'm fina but i know something is wrong!

[ethanjones118]

did you ever take any acne medication named sotret,accutane,isotretinion.because these problems like eye floaters,brain fog ,joint cracking are typical side effects of this medicine.

[DeMarande]

Wow that's amazing! How are you doing now? I think so many things are assocated with fungus, bacteria, yeast overgrowth that are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Thanks for your post!

[acmedse]

Woooow...i didnt know these crackings happens to that many people...i thought im the only one in the dark about what caused it and how to solve it...I'm 46...have had these 'popcorn cracking noise' for 2, 3 years now...Last night, i felt a very sharp pain through my whole boby especially my spine....I got up try to get motrin but could not walk...so i lay down and it went away after about 10 minutes...those 10 minutes put me through a horrible pain... Until  i or someone can figure it out, I tell myself to start doing at least 15 minutes of excercise or yoga to stretch my back (i have had back pain for years)..

[codi656]

I am 18 and my back does the same thing. i am getting realy worried about it. so does my shoulders when i rotate it.. it does not hurt but is very agitateing. and worried that i might go paralized or something i had x ray done and nothing came back abnormal. so i guess i am going to be alright maybe.

[AnnaFlame]

YOGA is good....But it's alot more strenuous than pple think if they are not used to moving around i tried it and about died the 1st time lol ...but i still crack and hurt so it did not really help for me i do it once a week for an hour all it really does is relax my mind not my body i've been doing it for 3 months now

[passion8leader]

I've had severe crepitus for 8 years now. EVERY joint in my body is doing it now. It's something progressive, obviously. I've been taking Vicodin for it all of these years and wonder if any of you take that too. Maybe the long term Vicodin causes it by depleteing the fluid or drying out joints? Your thoughts?

[passion8leader]

I have Crepitus in all of my joints now. It started in my rib cage 6 years ago and whatever this disorder is, has progressed quickly. It's scary. The muscles, tendons and ligaments are involved, too. They feel SO tight that I can hardly move.  The pain from all of this: SEVERE. I'm only 44 years old and I used to be a major athlete.  I am quickly crippling and I don't know why. Doctors continue to blow it off. Oh, my joints are locking on me now, too. I think we all should demand to have our Synovial Fluid cells/ levels, evaluated. (Synivial Fluid Aspiration.) Also, lab tests done for every possible blood test available for Joint Infections. Those 2 types of analysis' just seem logical to me to start out with. Anyway, I desperately want my life back. I can't go to a gym anymore because it's just too painful and locking joints don't respond well to working out. I've been stuck on my couch for over 6 years now. I'm starting to get really scared. Any other suggestions? We ALL need to help each other figure this out. God bless you. Kristina :)

[comoco]

Fellows, I have had an adverse reacton to Cipro/Methyl antibiotics 3 years ago.  Since then I had cracking/popping of joints too.  I now realize the underlying condition is INFLAMMATION--an area that has not been thoroughly studied as in other fields, surprisingly!  Just search under "antiinflammatory diet" and stick to this diet as much as you can.  You WILL feel the difference.

[crackmeup1968]

I have it too. I am a 43yr female and I started to experience it in my knees about 2yrs ago.  It has now really caught my attention because I am now cracking my ankles as well as my knees.  I could crack them, and 5 minutes later (the gas???) will be back and I crack again.  It is terrible.  I don't understand why I am so crackly.  I don't exercise a bit--but I have just begun to swim and my ankles feel wonderful in the pool whatever motion I make--no pain and it just feels good to move them without the harsh cracking.  I haven't seen any dr for it.  However, I did test positive a few times for a RH factor---but no dx.  My grandmom and older sis has rhumatoid arthritis.  This may be the beginning signs since it hurts equally on both sides of my body.  I really wish we could find out what is going on with our bodies.  

[rxtn]

I have the exact same symptoms as you. It all started with back pain for years ago. At first it was hard upper back pain, and later the entire back and my whole body. I had also trauma to my head when I was beaten and then began to get many other things like swallowing problems and later that crepitus.Im having crackling on my entire head.Im also having floaters on my eyes and many kind of other problems mostly with my back and neck and stiffness in my body.

[rxtn]

I have the exact same symptoms as you. It all started with back pain for years ago. At first it was hard upper back pain, and later the entire back and my whole body. I had also trauma to my head when I was beaten and then began to get many other things like swallowing problems and later that crepitus.Im having crackling on my entire head.Im also having floaters on my eyes and many kind of other problems mostly with my back and neck and stiffness in my body.

[Markep123]

I am a 47 year old male.  Six months ago my joints started cracking.  This started after I started taking Nexium.  I herniated a disc in my neck shortly after.  I think it is all associated.

[yuoii]

Did you start on anti-candida diet and parasite cleanse at once?
By the way, is that any way to have simple parasite cleanse? as I looked through the internet, they are so complicated =(

[pachri7]

What medication did you use to cleanse yourself of pinworms?

[Fallingapart101620]

I am 39 years old and I also just did not feel right, like something was off.  It started for me at 36-37 years of age.  I have done all test.  I have done a urine test for bone marrow cancer.. I have not done lyme disease.  I thought that i was the only one.  Like i was going crazy.  The doctors just keep saying that it is arthritis. I do have osteoarthritis and they noticed some degeneration in my lower back.  I am a nurse and i know what crepitus means.  There is no reversal, just progression. It just seems to get worse.  I keep thinking that it must be cancer. what else go do this?  All over.  I have gained almost 15 pounds since.  I also started to feel a lump in my throat when i swallowed.  Why?  Why is everyone taking it so lightly? I am going for yet again another opinion, I am in France, its the best place in world for medicine.  We will see. I am sorry everyone out there is suffering.. I am happy to know that i am not crazy.  Its I am not alone...God bless and good luck to all.. Oh I have also read that for women (that i am) bone regeneration stops at the age of 35.  At 36 the feelings began, at 37 the cracking began...

[shelbym1589]

thyroid issues cause lots of these problems.

[promking]

i am 26 years  old and i too experience clicking noise all over my body.. it first started with  my left ankle and now it progress to my hip bone, leg bone, upper limbs, and my back when i take a deep breath. my hip bone pops loud at night usually while im in bed... this been going on for at least 1 year. i got labs done for arthritis and everything came out negative.. a chest xrays reveals a 1cm lesion in my thyroid. im the only person in my family to loose hair, " Both of my grandfather had good hair; zero baldness,"  i have major sweating issues, im short comparing to my brothers, and i move my bowels daily.   im freaking out. if anyone knows something please let me know-

[superbman]

Sounds like adverse effects from Cipro/fluoroquinolone. It's basically the weakened tendons that are crackling and popping. Check out this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adverse_effects_of_fluoroquinolones

Unfortunately the damage to the ligaments, joints and tendons from this drug is permanent. You might also be experience IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and/or CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and/or Fibromylgia.

[zuleikadobbs]

After trying to sort this out for 6 years, one thing made a big difference for me: a teaspoon of sea salt a day. I think the problem is primarily due to a lack or imbalance of the correct minerals in the blood causing acidity in the joints. Taking calcium and magnesium improved it to a certain extent, but increasing my sodium levels made a dramatic difference. The root cause of the mineral imbalance may be due to kidney or adrenal problems. I think candida is a complicating factor, but not the root cause.

Here is a piece on sodium and the joints:

http://www.arthritis-nature-cure.com/cause.htm

[fitchick978]

Approximately one year ago, all of my joints (every last one of them) started clunking and popping.  I have been to so many doctors and had so many tests.  No disease can be diagnosed.  I am exhausted by the clunking and am now also starting to feel pain in some of my joints.  Prior to this occurring, I was extremely active with swimming, walking, weight-lifting, and yoga.  Now about all I can do is sit or lie around.  My life is turned upside down.  Has anyone gotten a clear diagnosis and/or treatment?  I would appreciate any help; I am getting to the desparate phase.