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Re: [RC] More on Joint Clicking - rdcarrie<<Crepitus is a term that generally refers more to a "grinding" sound within joints, much like many of you old campaigners hear when you rotate your neck. It is usually non-painful. This is most often from a "drying out" of the joints that accompanies degenerative joint disease. Normal joints, when filled with joint fluid have a friction coefficient five times smoother than a wet glass surface. This is why our joints, for the most part, move silently. >>
Crepitus is the only thing that grosses my orthopedic surgeon out, or so he told me a year or two ago. LOL I have it bad in both knees, especially the left. I can bend and straighten my legs just sitting here, and one can hear the crackling and grinding clear across the room, although as Bruce says, it doesn't hurt. Going up stairs, however, does hurt, and is also quite noisy. I get HA injections in both knees every six months, a series of 3 shots each time (1 per week for 3 weeks). Doesn't change the noise, but sure makes riding less painful (not painfree, just less painful). Now I just need to get around to getting the torn meniscus in the left knee fixed...it tends to lock that knee up at the most inopportune times, like going up stairs (I fall on my face) or getting on a horse (halfway up and can't straighten my knee to go the rest of the way <G>)
Ahhh, getting old sucks!
Dawn in East Texas -----Original Message----- From: Bruce Weary DC <bweary@xxxxxxxxxxxx> To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Tue, 28 Mar 2006 08:21:07 -0700 Subject: [RC] More on Joint Clicking From our "Long and Boring Dept.", here's some more info on joint "noises." Crepitus is a term that generally refers more to a "grinding" sound within joints, much like many of you old campaigners hear when you rotate your neck. It is usually non-painful. This is most often from a "drying out" of the joints that accompanies degenerative joint disease. Normal joints, when filled with joint fluid have a friction coefficient five times smoother than a wet glass surface. This is why our joints, for the most part, move silently. When the joint "dries out" the cartilage surfaces become "washboardy," and thus create a grinding noise when they move on each other. Sometimes this noise improves or disappears, especially with treatment such as manipulation. Exercise alone won't do it. Other factors include old or new trauma, and hydration of the patient. Manipulation is famous for producing a "clicking "sound which is the result of rapid opening and closi ng of the joint surfaces. Since joints are sealed systems, any separation of the joint surfaces creates a vacuum, and the gasses dissolved in the joint fluid form a bubble that pops, creating a high-pitched "click." If several joints are moved at once, it sounds like someone biting a piece of celery, due to several clicks occuring in rapid succession. In reality, there is nothing being "cracked." This sound is different from the repetitive sound in a joint (for example in a horse that is clicking with every step) but is the same sound heard when someone pops their knuckles. It can't be reproduced for approximately another 20 minutes until the joint gasses disperse, and the joint can be popped again. Incidentally, it is a myth that popping your knuckles causes arthritis. In fact, it's good for them. They have actually studied people who are chronic "knuckle-poppers" and as they age, they are less likely to get arthritis in those joints. The repetitive click heard in a joint that is in constant motion ( like a trotting horse) i s of no concern, unless it is painful, which is very rare. This is usually called a "synovial click" (probably not a good term) and can be from a ligament passing over some prominence or a bit of inert tissue entrapped in the joint. It also can go away, although there is no predictable specific remedy. And it's almost always nothing to worry about. There. Now can I go watch cartoons"? Dr Q, world renowned joint noise expert =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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