I'm clicking and creaking! Update, Have I solved it?

pulliptears

This sounds funny I'm sure, but it's getting a bit tedious now....

Bit of background, when I was about 7 my knees started to swell. It was always more my left knee and usually after P.E at school. I cannot describe the pain, I used to be in so much agony I'd tie the cord of my dressing gown around my thigh to cut off the blood supply and lessen the pain. I was poked, prodded and X rayed and all the Dr's ever said was 'Growing Pains'. Im 36 now, I think its safe to say I have stopped growing, yet I still get the pains, still more in the left than the right and still after exercise.

Its a bit of a standing (forgive the pun) joke now. When I move I crack. My knees crack so audibly sometimes you can hear it across the room. In the last 12 months my clicking and creaking has worsened, my shoulders crack, elbows, wrists, ankles, knees and hips can all go with quite a loud bang and can sometimes be rather painful. Its now gotten to the point where the noise (and often pain) wakes me up at night. I had a horrid night's sleep last night because my shoulders and elbows were going every time I moved.

I've booked in to the Dr's for friday, but what is concerning me slightly is something a friend mentioned. The women in my Dad's family all suffered from Osteoporosis, my Nan was quite stooped before she died and my Aunt also started to suffer in her late 40's.

Does this happen to anyone else?

cattkitt

I know that bromelaine, which is in fresh pineapple or available as food supplement tablets, are to soft tissue and cartilage what calcium is to bones.

jenniewb

You really need to see a doctor, if you get no joy, get a second opinion, this sounds more like a medical issue.

londoner1998

jenniewb wrote: »

You really need to see a doctor, if you get no joy, get a second opinion, this sounds more like a medical issue.

I have creakign points too- I am 35, no joint problems or pains at all but do yoga quite often and walk a lot. I get very dry in winter and the creaking gets worse. A more balanced diet with plenty of calcium and oil in it has really helped me.
A couple of questions- do you exercise? How is your diet?
You might need a bit more oil (good oil- olive oil or ghee, clarified butter) in your food. And before anybody gets the worng idea, I say a bit more, with moreation and in context with your overall diet...

Also, good sources of calcium and proteins in your diet and regular exercise- look at your holistic health and lifestyle, but don't let it go- .
If osteoporosis run in your family. might be worth checking your overall levels of vitamins and minerals and hormonal balance. If there is pain and swelling, you need to get it checked, but I would first have a look at your lifestyle, diet and hormonal health...and try and balance out any irregularities with good diet and sensible exercise.

Good luck

Bitsy_Beans

I think every bone in my body cracks bar my neck although mine aren't as painful as you describe.
My dad's knee surgeon recommended Glucosamine 1500mg daily and when I take it I have to say I found it helpful. I bought this mg of tablet from Healthy Direct and it's a one a day job.
I sould say some sort of oil would be beneficial for you too but no idea what's the best sort.

I would also stress that getting checked out for osteoporosis is a good idea - always best to get a GP's opinion (well most of the time )

pulliptears

londoner1998 wrote: »

I have creakign points too- I am 35, no joint problems or pains at all but do yoga quite often and walk a lot. I get very dry in winter and the creaking gets worse. A more balanced diet with plenty of calcium and oil in it has really helped me.
A couple of questions- do you exercise? How is your diet?
You might need a bit more oil (good oil- olive oil or ghee, clarified butter) in your food. And before anybody gets the worng idea, I say a bit more, with moreation and in context with your overall diet...

Also, good sources of calcium and proteins in your diet and regular exercise- look at your holistic health and lifestyle, but don't let it go- .
If osteoporosis run in your family. might be worth checking your overall levels of vitamins and minerals and hormonal balance. If there is pain and swelling, you need to get it checked, but I would first have a look at your lifestyle, diet and hormonal health...and try and balance out any irregularities with good diet and sensible exercise.

Good luck

I eat a fairly balanced diet, try and get my 5 a day etc. I also use a treadmill a couple of times a week and use Wii fit. Oddly enough I can run without knee pain on the treadmill as long as its flat, introduce an incline and I suffer after lol

I did start taking calcium supplements a few years ago after my Aunt had a moan at me, but I don't really like taking supplements so it didnt last lol

My overall health is good, rarely drink, don't smoke. I am slightly overweight but not enough to be a major problem. I can't think when I last saw the Doc myself it has to be some years ago. I think I've just got to the point where I have realised that the pain with the cracks really isn't normal.

Ill update in the morning when I get back
Thanks all

pulliptears

I forgot to update this.....

I did go to my Doc, who was as useful as ever and prescribed Ibuprofen. I did try them, but after a week on holiday walking about the pain is as bad as it ever was. I'm in the process of changing Docs anyway (due to a lot of other issues) but this evening I think I have made a discovery.

I believe I may have Hypermobility Syndrome. I have tried the Brighton test and can do all of it barring the touch the floor test. Added to that is a family history of Osteoarthritis which seems to be linked. I have also found the condition is linked to low blood pressure (always had very low blood pressure) and Scoliosis which I was diagnosed with at 13. I was amazed the more I read as it completely described me and my symptoms.

As soon as I change to the new Doctor I shall approach him and ask him his thoughts on this. I am in quite a bit of pain most nights. I'm also slightly concerned as DD also flew the test and fits firmly into the tall, skinny and elongated arms/legs category, she is double jointed in most joints as well.. As it does seem to be hereditary I don't want her to be suffering with the so called "Growing Pains" as she gets older.

I hate self diagnosis, but it really was a lightbulb moment, the more I read the more I understood.

piratefairy

I hope you manage to get it sorted when you get to see your new doc

Do you have pain, which gets released when the joint cracks? I have to roll my ankle every morning when I wake up or it really hurts..I'm sure it's not related.. Same with my neck, and sometimes my spine.
I also am aqful when it comes to cracking my knuckles / fingers, but I think that's just more of an annoying habit!
I can't stand milk, so know that I don't get enough calcium.
But glucosamine was recommended to me by my PT when I work out more at the gym. Which I do think helps my joints a little.

pulliptears

piratefairy wrote: »

I hope you manage to get it sorted when you get to see your new doc

Do you have pain, which gets released when the joint cracks? I have to roll my ankle every morning when I wake up or it really hurts..I'm sure it's not related.. Same with my neck, and sometimes my spine.
I also am aqful when it comes to cracking my knuckles / fingers, but I think that's just more of an annoying habit!
I can't stand milk, so know that I don't get enough calcium.
But glucosamine was recommended to me by my PT when I work out more at the gym. Which I do think helps my joints a little.

Not so much a pain as a discomfort until the joint cracks. Often it cracks with no pain but it can also crack sending a burning sensation through the joint

At present my knee is quite painful and Im resorting to painkillers in the day as well as the evening which is unusual for me.

piratefairy

Well I definitely hope the new doc can shed some light!!

pulliptears

Well, to update this I changed my Dr.

Just prior to this I began to get more pain in my left hand, especially my index finger. My knee pain never went away and the joint clicking got steadily worse. My left hand was by far the most painful though and incredibly stiff in a morning, the joints in it were swollen and red.

I visited my new Dr who had heard of Hypermobility Syndrome, he threw me totally though when he though he thought it went some way to explaining some of the clicking he believed I was suffering with Rheumatoid Arthritis, most notably in my left hand and knee. I've now been for x rays and bloods and have to go back next week for the results. I have been given some new tablets and the swelling is much less and as a bonus I'm sleeping.

Well worth changing Drs I think!