symptoms chronic joint cracking all over

HI there
For the past year and a half I have felt my joint areas degenerating - there is a lot of cracking in all my joints at all time at this stage. All day every day and night. It started in my shoulders and has moved all over my body. I also had testicular cancer, and one treatment of chemo and syphillis (syphilis) last year. Rheuamtology tests have comeup negative and doctors are at a loss for what is going on. Am fully recovered at this time from both.  Also beginning to feel numbness and tingling in my hands and fingers.  Also it is not just cracking, there is strange movement and sometimes I have mild involuntary twitching though it is becoming more frequent.
It is quite extreme and at the moment a bit scarey.
Does this sound like anything to anyone?
I am 32

[Plante]

Hi Sebastiandelacroix- I am having some of the same symptoms as you and am wondering what it is also. I am interested in knowing if you have some of the others I have had...along with the involuntary twitching in my legs and numbness and tingling in my arms and hands I have had fatigue and migraines. My doc put me on a heart medication for my migraines and they have subsided for the most part but now the twitching and arm/hand probs have arisen. You are further than I on getting tests done but do you have any heart probs or migraines? Sorry I cannot be of greater help to you but I had to write you becuase we have very similar symptoms going on...let me know what happens and keep me posted please. Thanks Plante.

[nicki33]

I'm also in my 30's and also experience this, it seems that every bone in my body is cracking. I also have the shakes at time to time,could be caffein, not sure what it is but recently experience a injury on my lumbar spine and have Denerating disc disease, it seems that my health is going down hill.30 going on 60.
I feel for you, your not alone...

[Sebastiandelacroix]

Thanks for replying. I don't seem to have migraine or heart issues so that is a no.. I am leaning to fibromyalgia - thinking my muscles must be shortening thus all the cracking but this is just from reading various other posts. I am not in the extreme pain some people seem to have with this condition. But I still do not have an answer. I should be ssing a rheumatologist in the new year and will let you know how I go

[marypillsbury]

I have been searching for people with this problem for years.  Mine started when I was 12.  It felt like my shoulder really had to crack, but it wouldn't.  I woke up the next day and it cracked and grinded every time I moved it.  I'm now 23, and it still does it, along with almost every other joint in my body.  It started with the shoulders, then elbows, wrists, etc.  Junior year of college is when my knees started, and they are really really bad now.  Also, my back started from pilates senior year of college.  I'm afraid I'll end up in a wheel chair!  Does anyone know what causes it?   I also have really really bad knots in my back from it, and get leg and arm cramps often.

[k2626]

Did you ever get an answer to this? I have the same thing, extreme joint cracking, twitching, numbness and pains all over. I believe its lyme, but just curious if anyone has a dx

[gorbybelle]

HI,  been reading through archives just wondered if you have found any answers to your joint problems
gorbybelle

[Mark10]

I also have all my joints stiff and crackle, popping sound along with bone pain. I have a list of other medical problems but was wondering if Im getting DBD  ( degenerative bone or joint disease).or DJD? Even with excercise all day my joints snap crackle and pop. Anyone have a clue to what causes this?

[s30677e]

i have pain in my joints ,arms and alot of cracking going on. mainly my 2 thumbs.and i seem to be getting worse. any ideals

[mlr3475080]

Same here. I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. ANA blood work was off...have your doctor test your ANA, this will tell whether or not your body is attacking itself/joints. I also have involuntary muscle twitches but I believe its from my adderall (adderrall) (i take for adhd) My father has been diagnosed with rheumatoid and osteoarthirits...im 33. Had knee surgery at 26, now other knee is going. I crack constantly. Google degenerative autoimmune diseases...and check out there symptoms

[Veeno]

Definition: Crepitus is a symptom characterized by a crackling or grating feeling or sound under the skin, around the lungs or in the joints. In soft tissues, crepitus is often due to gas, most often air, that has abnormally penetrated and infiltrated an area (for example, in the soft tissues beneath the skin).
In a joint, crepitus can indicate cartilage wear in the joint space. The term "crepitus" is derived from the Latin, meaning "a crackling sound or rattle." Typically, crepitus is a grinding noise coupled with a sensation in the affected joint. Crepitus can occur with or without pain.

[Rythms63]

I am 34 years old and just recently I  have been having cracking in every joint in my body. It started in my shoulders, now it has gone to my ankles, knees, hips, elbows, and wrist. Along with that, i have been getting numbness all over to where I have to sleep on my back to avoid putting pressure on my sides, I am terrified that this might become worse, because just like some of you, i have been checked for almost everything and they all come back negative. I was told by a doctor that it may be related to anxiety and stress but I don't know. Can stress and anxiety affect your bones?

[PhD420]

Were any of you guys ever on a Benzodiazepine such as Valium, Klonopin, or Xanax?

What you are describing is called benzo withdrawal and sometimes takes 2 years to heal from.  It is very hard to find any doctor to recognize what is going on because there are so many symptoms.   Check out http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/index.htm

I was put on these meds for GAD, however after 4 years they stopped working and docs kept upping the dose.  I finally realized what was going on and got off.  Now I am healing, and it feels like crap for the past 7 months.  

[Sebastiandelacroix]

Hey
I am the guy who wrote the original question, It is now 4 and a half years and it has just gradually got worse, while all joints crack now my knee cracks every few minutes if it is moving, and I still have strange sensations all over particularly around the knee and legs and most areas are tender and sore to the touch.
My doctor has put me on amitriptayline or some name like that, which is a mild depressant, and advised I see a psychoanalytic psychotherapist. Perhaps he is right, nice though that they tell you you're "mad" when they can't find what is the problem.

[unconsciousbychoice]

I have the exact same sybdrome and I was a heavy user of benzodiazepines. I just started withdrawal and its muiserable. I never had joint bone or muscle problems until I was prescribed these medications.

[priyaviv45]

My Gandmother is suffering form the same problem....We have given them so much medication but still its not fyn with her...

[squirtatious]

Have u been checked for EDS?

[ladydiamon415]

I think the doctor is full of it putting you on an antidepressant. My doctor tried to put me on one, I told him I am not depressed I told him I am in pain. When I was in the military I experience my upper back and and neck was a bit discomfort. My hands and fingers falling asleep. I was diagnosed with carpal tunnel by 3 doctors.

Then when I was 29 a chiropractor told me I had straighten of the neck. Now doctor tell me I have a tear in my supraspinatus/Infraspinatus tear.

My neck and upper back feels like pins and needle are sticking me. It feel like creepy like when feet falls asleep and you are trying to wake them. The pressure goes to my head whereas I can't sleep for no more than 1 1/2 hour. I test show vitamin D defienciency, high triglyceride but all cholesterol are all normal.

Neurologist put me on Gabapentin 600mg 3 times a day. that seems to take the pain from a 10 to a 3 which is much release for me. I still feel the pressure in the head.

It doesnt fix the excessive bone cracking all over my bone and the pain that comes with it. And as squirtatious EDS may be a part of the problem also MS/autoimmune disease. My neurologist told me the popping to normal and cut me short. I'm thinking I kinow better than that. I am a nurse but he don't even let him know that after two years I've been seeing him.

[meadowseeker]

I am in my early thirties, and have begun to develop this cracking too.  Started with just my shoulders cracking and grinding all of the sudden in the mornings, then often when I moved them, and now my body sounds like a bowl of Rice Krispies whenever I move it around (especially after being in one place for a while, I think).  Mine is part of a huge set of symptoms, though.  

I've been tentatively diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  Some of the symptoms some of you were listing are things that I have read as sometimes connected to CFS or Fibromyalgia.  You may want to read those symptom lists and see if that seems to fit you if you still haven't found anybody to take you seriously or figure out what's wrong.  It's not a great one to get doctors to treat well unless you can get to a specialist who knows what they're doing, but there are treatments out there that are really helpful for some people.  I had never heard of anyone mentioning the cracking thing, which is why I was searching, but maybe it's related?  

[NPE]

I have EXACT same thing with all joints cracking.  I also have burning sensation in several joints.  I also have fibromyalgia.  Have real problems with my knees; yet, x-rays are normal.  I feel all my tendons and ligaments are shortening which is causing cramping in muscles in hands, calves, toes.  Don't know what is going on.  Have seen numerous doctors.  All they can tell me is what it isn't.  Not rheumatoid arthritis; not lupus.  All blood work is normal.  But I certainly don't feel normal.  Some meds take away the pain, but don't necessarily help the actual problem.  I'm avoiding as many meds as I can for as long as possible.

[jeremyjeremy]

im having the same probs guys. cracking bones an joints ard knees, shoulder blades, neck and mid low back. smtimes i felt a warm feeling surrounding my back, gritty sensation in thoracic cavity and slight burning eyes and well as some skin problems inluding itch spot, petechia and visible fine purple capillaries under skin. I was diagnosed with chlamydia 6 months back but was cured after. 1 month after, these symptoms start to occur, and I suspect its chlamydia induce reactive arthritis but doc did a series of tests and said its not. Im at wits end.... some doc that I went to said im too stress but i know its not stress related ... smthing jus wrong with my body esp after i was diagnosed with chlamydia. nw im thinking if its Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). experts said EDS is a hereditery diesease and symptoms includes loose joints stretchy skin.... these fits my symptoms. but Im more interested to know if there's a possibility for EDS to start at age 29? the series of symptoms r very irritating (not painful) and i can hardly concentrate on what I do. please advise anyone. tks

[snapcracklenrosiemakemesmile]

I have read all that, and for years I've had all the same symptoms. Saw lots of doctors, specialist. I'm tired of people not believing me, doctors think i'm a hypocondriac, depressed... mri shows stenosis, bulging disk, and prolapsed disc... Ive googled the hell out of every thing to find out what it is... I'm about to get my mercury fillings out, my vitamin d level back to normal, I refused to take endep and about to sue the boss for a bad office set up... I haven't listed all the diagnosis ... I'd be typing for ever... my current research is on polio and tb ... see what turns up... my partner insists on changing my mindset to a positive one... Think your self healthy... see how that goes. I've given up on the doctors so thats all I can do.

[america179]

With-in the period of  3 weeks almost all my joints began cracking. I also have lost a lot of muscle tone. I am leaning to believe that has something to do with fibromyalgia. If any body have some advise I would appreciated  

[america179]

With-in the period of  3 weeks almost all my joints began cracking. I also have lost a lot of muscle tone. I am leaning to believe that has something to do with fibromyalgia. If any body have some advise I would appreciated  

[Blayzer]

I am 61.  I began cracking and popping in my joints about a year and  a half ago, suddenly. This happened after I took naproxin for  pain and mobility and had great improvement quickly, however, a few weeks later the improvement reversed and popping and cracking began, first without pain but then gradually my pain and mobility worsened.  Very odd. For the first year I had no pain due to the p&c but it is so bad now. Walking is no longer possible except to get on walker /chair and that is so painful I cannot help but scream out some time. Even to move a few inches, to  turn halfway over in bed  is horrible pain now.  My posture became bent over as I was using my upper body to support lower body when using a walker. Now I can't straighten up. I was diagnosed with avascular necrosis in my hips 4 years ago following injections in my hips for pain. I had chronic pain  was and am treated at  a pain clinic. They tried all kinds of drugs on me for pain and the only one that has helped all is methadone. Morphine and others just made me sick and did not touch the pain. The drugs Dyclofenic, Cymbalta and Lyrica in combination help as well. Not sure if it is one of the drugs or all of them together that work. Without methadone for the pain, living would be impossible at this point. I have had no side affects with it just a relief of horrible pain. I have bulging discs and osteoarthritis and the avascular necrosis. The hip pain has been the worst of what I have experienced. The Dr's tell me having my hips replaced will cure most of the pain. I am now bone on bone , no cartiledge with cysts. I am just worried I have waited too long as now I have lost my muscle tone am not able to exercise at all now, sleeping more than an hour or so at a time is not possible most nights. My legs have a weird feeling now are numb and my feet and tingle.  They are difficult to lift up from the bed- I have to lift my legs with my hands now.  So far tests do not reveal what this is. My Dr. says it is nerve damage. I live in the bed waiting to get my surgery. I was formerly a very active person so this is difficult.  I keep busy and work from bed but it is tough. I have other diagnosis; life long asthmatic, adult growth hormone deficiency which I should be but am not being treated for now, liver damage from a botched gall bladder surgery and Dr. mistake leaving my bile tube clamped for 10 days and other, allergies, fibromyalgia ( I believe from all my research that Dr's may be pinning things on this diagnosis when they cannot find out what the true cause is). I think there is something else going on causing the numbness, tingling, joint pain and cracking (other than the avascular necrosis in my  hips).  I was vit D deficient and now on supplements. I am beginning to drink only figi water now as it is rich in silica which is known to help joints.

I had a critical bout with parasites 2 year before and close to death. Didn't know I had them. I traveled extensively in the 70's and some in the 80's , otherwise do not know how I got them. I thought and think maybe that type are all dead? We moved to the mountains two years ago and I started getting what I thought were bites but they never healed. I would itch at night but not day.  I had never had any kind of skin parasite before I finally started scraping them and doing this process over and over resulted in healing. There are painful raised areas under the skin. They are on my scalp too and that has been the worst. I used many different medications as well. I could see things in the scrapings that were not normal. I bought a 60x loupe and oh my gosh, there are parasites again only different ones. There are oval ones,  black specks, so many tiny black threads which are all tangled, but there are so many microscopic long thread-like worms. some are black, clear and red (with my blood). It turns out my dogs have these and my son has these. I have a referral to a dermatologist but wonder if the Dr. will even know what these are .  My primary care Dr. had no clue. I have done so much research and think I know. We are all on our first round of Ivermectin now. I now believe this may be an epidemic in this country and few know about it. I do not know if it is causing the joint pain and cracking but I suspect it is possible. I was having really bad left shoulder pain.  My shoulder felt weird. It would burn and tingle and feel hot to the touch and itch, mostly at night like the other places. Recently I woke up and there was this gob of sticky mess all over my left shoulder. I also had the "bites"that wouldn't heal in the area. I tried to wipe this off with a tissue but it was so sticky I had to use a soapy mixture to get it off.  I looked at the tissue under the loupe and saw so many of the things I had already seen but with this clear white sticky residue.  My shoulder looked strange too, it was red but mottled looking.  I looked at my shoulder with the loupe and it was the strangest thing ever. There were like thousands of these clear, white  colored "hairs" that were actually those thread-like worms, coming up out of my skin. I do not normally have hairs on my shoulders, my skin was all scraped up and I could see all these whitish things under my skin. It freaked me out. I cleaned my shoulder with many different products and it would look almost clean for awhile and then  they began coming up again. I repeated the process over and over and it was daytime and it stopped.  Many skin parasites only come out at night.  I do not know what to think but am now wondering if these things are in my joints and causing me all  pain? My other shoulder does not have this and does not hurt. I am a very clean person but that makes no difference.  I have specimens of all these strings on clear heavy packaging tape, folded over to take the Dr. It will be interesting to see if after the medication works and kills these things if the popping , cracking and  terrible pain in my joints will subside.  I can only dream…. This is frustrating. Chronic pain is a terrible thing.  I must  have hope to continue. Sorry this is so terribly long .  Has anyone out there ever  had any of these unusual symptoms other ethan the Popping and cracking of joints? I wish  all of you success with  treating all these strange and terrible symptoms. God bless.

[deville313]

Same here, popping, cracking, stiff joints. My ankle cracks the loudest and it will bruise. I also have headaches in the lower, back of my head - close to the neck. I am very fatigued, I have sore lymph-nodes and also have IBS.

I've been through many test; Lymes, parasites and all of the arthritis tests. All are negative. I've been to doctors, chiropractors, acupuncturist and nutritionist. I did show high levels of mercury and I'm under-going chelation and vitamin IVs for it. Most of my nutrition levels were next to none. I also did a breath test and I showed SIBO positive. Now I am working on cleaning up my digestive track (the green body cleanse plus antibiotics) and I am still getting rid of the mercury. I have improved a great deal and I hope I will continue. I still don't know the cause and my joints still really hurt and crack. I've been a healthy person, always active, 31 years old.

If you know of any cause for these issues or any recommendations, it'd be appreciated. Have any of you gone to the Mayo Clique and gotten help?

[mymindsigh]

have any of you been tested for Lyme disease? It is the great immitator frequently ppl are misdiagnosed with lupus, CFS, Fibromyalsia (fibromyalgia) and more I'm 35, not on any medication. I was infected by lyme disease without knowing had headaches, tremors, joint pain everywhere just necy spine hips knees wrists shoulders you name it. Muscle pain and knots, vision problems, memory loss( terrible anxiety would strike me several times a day because I couldn't rememeber where I was suppose to be or where I was on my way to kids had to remind me how to drive them to school eeryday) I was treated with steriods prior to the lyme diagnose then an antibiotic the symptoms persisted for a year after treatment. Vision problems and joint pain and now cracking are still present. Working on adjusting to an anti inflamatory diet and lifestyle and soon to go see a LLD. I can't diagnose anything but it is certainly worth the test and inquiry because it only gets worse untreated and there tends to be periods of time the symptoms change or disappear as if the disease is dormant and hiding, then something arrises. Good luck stay strong be proactive with your drs and health best wishes
                                                ~ mymindsigh

[FergalEmmanuel]

Painless cracking of joints is as a rule not harmful. The deliberate and repetitive cracking of one's joints not only is potentially socially bothersome but also could be physically troublesome when it produces pain. Early diagnosis and treatment can minimize discomfort and reduce your risk of serious complications.

[ruttager]

I had a metal plate in my collar bone for 6 years.  I used to be able to make pops in the area, sometimes even in my sternum.  After having it removed I have begun attempting stretches to fix the unbalance.  The pops now come
but I try not to seek them out. When I feel they are close I try to take a breath and return my attention to my whole body rather than focus on that area. When they occur I appreciate the relief.

Theoretically/Philisophically, we might imagine that there is a form for our body that would be the most comfortable.  It makes sense that whatever forms of potential energy exist would be seeking their minimum.  However this is competing with other drives to be productive.  Our muscles are therefore capable of controlling our whole body if we allow them to develop.  This means paying deep, meditative attention to all parts of the body; it does not mean rigorous exercise.  I recommend taking extremely long showers, trying to make sure you wash all parts of your body.  Try to work towards being able to reach all parts of your own back.  Moreover, try to not allow your mind to summarize the various parts of your body... for example, when you stand with your back to the water, try to feel the drops dripping all the way down, and to feel all the different points separately and not as one sensation of "back".  

[jburton123]

I have been dealing with the popping throughout my whole body and any movement that I make the popping continues. It feels as if I am in a zone out every day from the second I wake up till I go to sleep. My body is always tight and tensed up, and there seems to be nothing to make me chill out. I am losing muscle and am always thinking about the situation. I went through osteopathic work and physical therapy and only seemed to get worst. I am 18 and  this has dropped me out of the things I love like competitive baseball and have lost interest for anything. I try to explain to doctors what's going on but seems like they don't understand. If anyone could give me some clues of what has been going on that would give me a little relief of the situation. God bless to all the people going through similar situations, pain and suffering doesn't last forever.
Jonathan Burton

[saltio]

have you taken any antibiotics recently (last twelve months)? If so some have warnings of tendon damage.

[nycboriqua]

I have cracking in my joints. Ever since I had my daughter. It started on my right side of my body and moved through out my hole body. Plus im losing strength im my hands. So im pretty worried I dont want this to last forever.

***@****

[esal32]

Hi Guys,
I am having the same thing exactly just with different things to you, two years ago I got muscle twiching( faciculations) which continue till this day, and just a few months after my joints start cracking, first in my hands, then elbows, knees, shoulders, chest bones, almost every where, all day long, all the doctors are telling me im insane and need a to see consultancy, I did feel that my shoulders blades on my back are changing shape and stick out more, also it may be sounds crazy but it looks like all my back is pulling down my neck muscles, there was no change in my ability to do stuff, but I do feel that my muscles has been weekend a bit, but not sure if its from parnoia or its for real as I can still do a lot of things normally and lift things easily, its just you go to soooo many experts and they tell you that you are crazy while you feel all this pain in your body its really fraustrating, I dont know what to do anymore, if anyone has ever experienced what im going through ill be happy to receive a comment

[anyzen]

hi guys, (fellow sufferers )
me to having this problem of knee cracking sound every time i bend it which is bit painful as well...
i asked an experienced bone specialist about it, he told me that its because of ur joints become rough , the fluid between them have been reduced (can be caused due to excess masturbation)...
i tried several things but still didnt got the cure ...
anybody PLEASE tell me any medicine or cure to this problem.....
zeeshan ,23 years.

[Youngbutold]

Man this is tough, I have been going through this for 5 yrs now I'm35 now.

Main problems- cracking of all joints, tighting of tendons and ligaments,
fatigue, joint deterioration, any area may fall asleep if not strait.


Could this be a food allergy?
Causing the immune system to go into overdrive?

Scary the whole thing, I hope to live a long time, but my worsening condition makes me wonder what that may look like in 10,20,30 yrs.
I have'nt seen any real answers here but thought I'd post.

[markoni]

i have had same thing but its sorted now,for monts all joins cracking stiffness tired muscles cramps etc... i found one artticle in uahoo news they said 95% of all human ilnesses are caused by bacteria ,viruses,worms or fungi then i understood and went to thailand for self threatment first 1 month doxycycline then 15 days flukonazole for fungi then 20 days mebendazole for worms, all gone feel good again i have research a lot about dosage etc .. i have seen many docs all said fibro or no clue my wbc was elevated slightly but no inflammation i had enough very depressed coze i did not know whats wrong anyway my health is back

[markoni]

i have had same thing but its sorted now,for monts all joins cracking stiffness tired muscles cramps etc... i found one artticle in uahoo news they said 95% of all human ilnesses are caused by bacteria ,viruses,worms or fungi then i understood and went to thailand for self threatment first 1 month doxycycline then 15 days flukonazole for fungi then 20 days mebendazole for worms, all gone feel good again i have research a lot about dosage etc .. i have seen many docs all said fibro or no clue my wbc was elevated slightly but no inflammation i had enough very depressed coze i did not know whats wrong anyway my health is back

[Markep123]

I am a 47 year old male.  Six months ago my joints started cracking.  This started after I started taking Nexium.  I herniated a disc in my neck shortly after.  I think it is all associated.  Any of you take Nexium?

[Yokin]

I have a similar problem but the clicking has improved a lot after realising caffeine and the nightshade vegetables were a big part of the problem.
I have just found out I am vitamin D deficient are any of you guys the same?
They say you should be above 40 ng/ml(100 nmol/l)
   The symptoms of this deficiency are endless and it effects the absorbtion of other minerals and will take at least a few months to correct.

[sriver]

Dear all, I just started getting cracking/popping on virtually all my joints since few mths ago. It started when i sprain on my left upper back/neck and i also have slipped cervical disc diagnosed a year ago.

From my gathering of infos from the posts here plus my own symptoms,
it has got something to nerve near the Neck area, particularly the back of the neck. I also felt my back muscle affected and slight tingling of my arm.
Numbness/tingling of the hand are also very often related to neck nerves.

To those affected, at least for now, check out exercise for better posture of the neck and scapula, on top of heat/oilment treatment on the neck, and lossening up the tight mucles. It helped me alittle.

Nevertheless, Im going to consult a doc soon.

[sriver]

Let me share more symptoms that i experience: cracking/popping on the spine, ankles, shoulders, alot of neck pain, very weak feeling on my back. Initially I even get pain when i breathe in hard. One bad habit i have is i take lots of coffee and this may cause some deficiency in minerals/vitamins.

[sriver]

Mine started when i sprain my left upper back shoulder around the scapula area and back of my neck.

[SamSquamche]

I've always had some popping and cracking going on but recently it's become dramatically increased, especially in my knees which are now getting so painful it's hard to walk. To top it off, I'm going in for a second rotator cuff surgery to repair a full thickness tear in my right shoulder, while I appear to have the same problem of at least a mild tear in my left shoulder. Neither shoulder has ever had any kind of severe trauma or injury. I'm starting to wonder if whatever caused these problems is spreading throughout my body and getting worse. I'm 42. Interesting, if not hilarious comment about excessive masturbation. Hate to think that has anything to do with it, but curious to know if anyone else can admit to a possible connection?

[faroba]

Lyme tests are all useless.  There is no good lyme test.  Everyone that has writtten here has some kind of manmade bacterial infection,be it lyme, mycoplasma, etc.   They were made in a bioterrorism lab in the fifties--look up Plum Island, New York to find the real lyme disease story and cover-up.