I've been wondering for quite some time:
why do joints pop and lock?
is this a bad thing to the joint when this happens?
is there something to prevent it or make the joint "better"?
I know that in little kids' joints there's sometimes this popping-sound, which they say is because there is more cartilage in between their joints. But I doubt I'm that little anymore ;) And I know my father had popping knees even in his forties. So; is it really all about cartilage? :confused:
I also know that joints can be a little more "roomy" and the ligaments that hold it together a bit more lose/stretchy. Or at least; that's what my former physician told me, because I can flip through my ankles, without it causing any pain (except perhaps for the fall and it gets a bit sore when it happens too often). My ankles have become less "weak", since I've started doing yoga 10 years back. I'm not faced down randomly while running no more ;) When it does flip, it still doesn't hurt 8 out of 10 times. When it does, quite a chance I'm with my foot up for 6 weeks because it's severely bruised.
As you may have guessed I have more joints that do such peculiar things. When I get off my bike my hip sometimes locks, immobilizing my leg. Or makes this popping sound while I walk. Both not painful, but inconvenient. When there's too much pressure on my wrists, it feels like something inside shifts, which immobilizes my hand. As long as I push it back immediately (holding the wrist between thumb and indexfinger and giving a firm squeeze), there's only some soreness. My jaw won't open further than an inch, without creating some resistance and popping sounds. The scariest is when it locks while opening up to wide, like jawning. It hurts and there's this awful sound, at least in my ears. Usually; it won't find it's way back on it's own, I have to help along pushing it back with my hand (something my former dentist has taught me to do). For all goes; once it happens, it's more prone to happen again soon.
It's pretty much a regular part of my life and probably the least of my worries. But sometimes I do question the normality of it. My physician has said there's nothing to do about it and nothing to worry about either. But I sometimes doubt that...
Your replies are much appreciated!
PS: How this is (also) a sex-related question, I think I can leave to your imagination! :)
another thing could be the tendons. I broke my collar bone back in sixth grade, and I can now keep "popping it" without stopping. It is really just the tendons rolling, and it can become painful after a bit.
Some of your joint pop could just be the tendons rolling. Mine makes enough sound to be heard clearly.
Extra air and fluid sound reasonable for the popping-sound :) Though I still don't understand how joints "lock"... It could be some sort of muscle-tension... But then I don't understand how things, like my wrist and jaw, can be pushed back into place :confused:
I don't know if it caused minor injuries. My physician back then said it was actually helpful; the time I severely bruised my ankle, any other person would have probably broken it or torn the ligament. I don't think it's because of growing too fast. It's been this way as long as I can remember. Except the focus shifts somewhat from time to time. My hip locking is happening more often lately, whereas my knees haven't popped in quite some time. Perhaps what makes me doubt is that it's also been said repeatedly that I have a high pain-threshold.
is it possible RR that collectively all the times you falling down caused some minor injuries? i hurt my rotator cuff and now that it is healed it pops often. the doctor said it is because there is some extra air and fluid in the joint area. when you move it releases that pressure like the bubble rap used in packing. mine don't hurt by the way. i crack my back, neck, knuckles, and even my knee. after leg pressing 1000lbs if has always cracked when i bend it.
if your doctor said your joints have a lot of room because of your growth spurts then that means more pockets that pop. if there is no pain then no worries. doctors only think about removing fluid or scar tissue if the patient is in pain.
i have experienced that locked jaw that wont close and it is slightly painful and you are nervous it wont close. i don't think that is a joint problem but a muscle tightening issue. if your doctor says don't worry than s/he is probably right.
Thank you, Lisa :) I can sneek up on people, but on some bad-jaw-days it sounds like someone's baking popcorn, while I'm chewing :rolleyes: And I won't forget the look on the face of a friend of mine after he had grabbed my wrist while playing around; "I think... I felt it moving". Staring at my wrist with large eyes; as if alien was going to pop out of there any second ;)
And thank you for the link, Fun! It explains a lot. I guess this phrase would mostly fit my observations: "Other joints lock up intermittently--often with a loud pop-- (...) Once a joint is stuck in this way, it may need to be wiggled around to unlock it. This may also cause a pop."
Though the cause mentioned as in: "because something gets caught in between the joint surfaces. A torn cartilage in the knee or a loose piece of bone or cartilage in the joint can do this." sounds a bit freaky... it's probably less scary than it seems :rolleyes:
This should provide insight for most of your questions, however actual answers would only be determined by a doctor who has run tests on you and examined your history. There are many types of causes and combinations that could affect someone. The medical records of my joints rival War and Peace.
Here is the link
[url=http://www.orthop.washington.edu/PatientCare/OurServices/Arthritis/Artic...
You bring interesting discussions to the boards, seem natuarlly currious and I enjoy reading your posts, even if I don't reply. I too experience crepitus in my ankles and knees though lossing weight has helped some, I still can't sneek up and suprise anyone because my snappy, creaky joints give me away! In my case crepitis is more prevalent in cold temperatures and sometimes in warm weather if it's excessively humid. Even though I have a degree of both degenerative as well as traumatic arthritis in these joints, the noise associated with crepitis is always painless fror me ( thank God).
According to my Dr, crepitis can be congenital or acquired and if painless doesn't require treatment other than osteobyflex or similar suppliemnts. Cellary and asparagus is supposed to help with arthritis and crepitus and I eat allot of both regulary.
Why do joints pop and lock? They pop because of seeds carelessly left in the herb. Lock? I suppose there are still places on the planet where simple possession of a joint can cause you to be locked up---in the joint.
Tendons, nerve sheaths, cartilage, and those pesky miniscuses not to mention, bone spurs and the lasting effects of Osgood Slater's Syndrome which affects almost all tall persons who grow more quickly than most.
Something can be wrong, injured, inflamed, damaged, torn, diseased or simply just misaligned with any of the above. Take your pick.
With me its the miniscuses in the knees and Osgood Slater's and there's nothing much that needs to be done. Scotch, aspirin and lounging in the hot tub with a congenial teddy bear - mmmmm. I could get to like this.
It is all part of them fun of being human, hun.
LOL, DLB! :D It was hard enough to post this with the constant reference to illuminating smokes in my head. You may have guessed the word "joint" is not often used in the Netherlands as a bodypart ;)
EEK, have fun in the hot tub! :) As said, it's the least of my worries, but it was a question that has tickled my curiosity for some time. Probably the only proven evidence of growing too fast is that it got me tiger-stripes all over :)
Love the Stripes!!