Joints clicking????

What causes joints to click, its just come out of nowhere and now some are aching....

[Midge]

Joints are the meeting points of two separate bones, held together and in place by connective tissues and ligaments. All of the joints in our bodies are surrounded by synovial fluid, a thick, clear liquid. When you stretch or bend your finger to pop the knuckle, you are causing the bones of the joint to pull apart. As they do, the connective tissue capsule that surrounds the joint is stretched. By stretching this capsule, you increase its volume. And as we know from chemistry class, with an increase in volume comes a decrease in pressure. So as the pressure of the synovial fluid drops, gases dissolved in the fluid become less soluble, forming bubbles through a process called cavitation. When the joint is stretched far enough, the pressure in the capsule drops so low that these bubbles burst, producing the pop that we associate with knuckle cracking.

It takes about 25-30 minutes for the gas to redissolve into the joint fluid. During this period of time, your knuckles will not crack. Once the gas is redissolved, cavitation is once again possible, and you can start popping your knuckles again.

As for the harms associated with this habit, according to Anatomy and Physiology Instructors' Cooperative, only one in-depth study regarding the possible detriments of knuckle popping has been published. This study, done by Raymond Brodeur and published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, examined 300 knuckle crackers for evidence of joint damage. The results revealed no apparent connection between joint cracking and arthritis; however, habitual knuckle poppers did show signs of other types of damage, including soft tissue damage to the joint capsule and a decrease in grip strength. This damage is most likely a result of the rapid, repeated stretching of the ligaments surrounding the joint. A professional baseball pitcher experiences similar, although obviously heightened, effects in the various joints of his pitching arm. But assuming you haven't signed a multimillion dollar contract to constantly pop your knuckles, it hardly seems worth the possible risk to your joints.

On the positive side, there is evidence of increased mobility in joints right after popping. When joints are manipulated, the Golgi tendon organs (a set of nerve endings involved in humans' motion sense) are stimulated and the muscles surrounding the joint are relaxed. This is part of the reason why people can feel "loose" and invigorated after leaving the chiropractor's office, where cavitation is induced as part of the treatment. Backs, knees, elbows and all other movable joints are subject to the same kind manipulation as knuckles are.

However if it causes a lot of pain when doing this then there may be an underlying problem.

[acuann]

First thing to do is check on water intake. Do you drink at least 8 glasses of pure water a day? (Coffee and teas and such don't count). You need to drink water to replenish the fluids surrounding your joints. Dehydration is the #1 cause of headaches and joint pain. Your urine should be a pale yellow color, if it's dark then you are dehydrated.
Best wishes
DOM

[AllDaWayFromIreland]

i always have a clicky hip no matter what activity i do.. it was very painful for years so i visited my doctor and was referred to a consultant and went through a series off x-rays and MRI scans.. comes out that it is chronic inflamation.. i was diagnosed with "bursitis" its very painful and now i have got to get injections into my hip..
so if u are a sufferer i advise u to visit a doctor.. it is also sometimes a sign of arthritis.

[Danni 1989]

IM ONLY 18 AND I HAVE SOMETHING EYHLERS DANLOS, BASICALLY TO CUT THE STORY SHORT MY JOINTS ARE FAR TO FLEXI, BY TISSUES DONT HAVE ENOUGHT COLOGON, BASICALLY NOT ENOUGH GLUE IN MY LIGAMENTS ECT. IT TOOK MY GP 5 YEARS TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG, IM IN SO MUCH PAIN THAT I RELY ON CRUTCHES SOME DAYS AND I BECOME PARALYZED FROM THE HIPS DOWN. IF I WERE YOU GET IT CHECKED OUT BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE, JOINT PROBLEMS ARE VERY HARD TO REVERSE. HOPE THAT HELPS


What causes joints to click, its just come out of nowhere and now some are aching....[/quote]

[Tomyslady]

I'm a 62 yr. old female. I just noticed in my middle finger, on both hands, when I bend it, it is not a smooth movement. It pops when I bend it. I'm also having numbness and tingling in the thumb, index finger and middle finger. It sometimes generates up my forearm. I do know I have degenerative disk disease. Would that be contributing to my finger problem?

Sounds like gout really. Go get it checked out.

[To Tomslady. I am 45 and having the same thing happen to my middle finger have you found out why it was happening to you?

[Pain Jane]

Good day all

I am 40yrs old but had this wrist cracking and clicking from before I turned 30! I dont know whats the reason for that, because when I sit still or try to sleep, only after 10 minutes my wrists is so stiff and when trying to move it, it cracks a few times to loosen up, sounds real bac

I am just scared that this is going to make huge bulges when getting older! My ancles and knees do also crack a bit sure, but nothing like my Wrists. Do you guys perhaps know what the reason for this could be, or what I can use for it? Almost feels like there is not enough moisture or fluids around there, dono!

Thanks for the Forum and all your help

I'm only 17 and i got diagnosed with ehlers danlos this morning. I went to the doctor because every joint in my body is double jointed and clicks constantly. It's really painful and it took almost nine years of complaints to my G.P to get a reaction!

I'd advise everyone to research possible problems they may have before seeing a doctor. If i hadn't had some of my own ideas before i went to see mine i may never have been diagnosed!

Hope this helps x