My noisy wrists....

Whenever I twist my wrists, they make an audible pop/cracking sound. (Think of the sound poprocks make in your mouth, only a bit deeper) Occasionally my ankle will do the same thing, but mostly its my wrists. They get louder the longer I go without cracking (which usually isn't very long, considering popping them has become a terrible habit of mine. I do it almost constantly...) I was wondering if this is in any way detrimental to my health/joints or if I should bring it up to my doc. Please and thank you!

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

Well yes, excessive popping could lead to excessive wear and rear and may lead to early degeneration of the joints, aside the risk of acquiring injuries/ tears. If there are no other abnormalities it may not be necessary to consult your doctor, though you may still consider an evaluation to look for signs of degeneration, outgrowths or trauma.
Hope this helps.

Take care!