Crepitus - why is it not taken seriously?!
Posted , 3 users are following.
Hi
I've just searched through the forums to see if anyone has done a discussion about crepitus. It seems not - which is nothing against any contributors or the medical profession, but it does seem to be indicative of the lack of info/concensus about excessive popping/cracking/snapping,
Does anyone else present excessive crepitus? As in most joints in the body - especially the elbows, shoulders, wrists, knees, feet and disturbingly for me, the neck, spine and even head!
Of all my presenting symptoms, the crepitus is the worse as it pretty much is saying - your skeleton ain't moving properly. Unfortunately it seems there's a contradiction in what it might be trying to say - on one hand, I've read in some areas it's a sign of arthritis, yet the doctors generally tell you not to worry about it if no pain comes with it? It's very confusing!
Anyone, not sure I've got a question to ask per se - just interested to see if anyone else suffers from it as much as I do.
1 like, 4 replies
loxie jimbob0802
Posted
I developed OA as a result of a major accident which killed off all the cartilage in one ankle. Since the surgery to repair the damage (which involved various plates and bolts etc) the joint has popped badly. Nobody was at all interested - I got grudging shrugs and shakes of the head and one PT suggested it 'might be air' in the joint but no real desire to offer me a proper diagnosis. 8 years later and the joint is bone on bone OA but the popping is almost worse than the pain sometimes.
AnotherPatient jimbob0802
Posted
Yeah . I have it too . In Most joints . My one knee makes a sound like crushing glass whenever i bend . I took a recording of it to the Rhematologist (was affraid it wouldnt make the sound when i was there) he just shrugged it off and said some patellofemoral pain something something and did nothing about it. My wrists too can feel a "dry" sensation when it happens . Ankles . Shoulders. Neck too . Head yes!
loxie AnotherPatient
Posted
I have it in my neck now and it's very very disconcerting. I apparently have minor reduction in my discs in my neck but my GP said it was nothing to worry about but the crunching noises are seriously scary at times.
jimbob0802 loxie
Posted
Glad to know I'm not alone. It seems the medical profession has a certain ignorance towards crepitus - I get a similar feeling from the few forum posts I've come across elsewhere covering the subject. It's frustrating, because it's very hard to ignore your body cracking - sometimes very audibly - on such a regular basis. The other day I noted 30 involuntary pops/snaps in a three hour period: obviously, that multiplies to quite a lot more over the waking hours.
Have you guys tried anything to combat the crepitus? I know that heat works well for me - as in the sauna - but only temporarily. Logic tells me that the joints suffer from inflammation, and seen as it is worse after alcohol consumption, this would make sense. So trying to follow an anti-inflammatory diet, and cut out inflammatory foods. I guess it's a bit Paleo on that front.
I also try to use compression sleeves as much as possible to support the knees and elbows. Thinking of splinting fingers and toes too (with tape), but haven't done that with much regularity yet.
I have been advised to try certain supplements. Magnesium, Turmeric/Black Pepper, Rosehip and Krill Oil have all been banded about.
In conclusion, not sure where to go with this! The doctor's will say nothing's wrong, the back problems will continue, and the chiros/osteos and physios don't seem to know how to combat it. Trial and error I guess is the only way forward...