knees makes cracking sounds

[sascbrat30]

I am in my 30s and several years ago I was dieting with a group of ladies I work with.  I lost down to where I was very happy with myself, in the process I was exercising regularly.  I had started with walking, which I love, and eventually made it to jogging about 2 to 3 miles a night.  I had never did this before and it felt great.  I hurt a little in my knees but never really thought much about it.  I only did this for 2 to 3 months.  Now I have a problem.  My knees do not hurt but the crack and creak when I go up and down stairs or when I squat down.  I know this isn't normal for someone my age, and I am worried about my future.  Is this something I will have a lot of trouble in my older years?  My mother is concerned and I guess I should be trying to find the problem.  Can anyone shed some light on this for me?  I do plan on questioning my doctor about it the next time I go to see him.    Thanks for any help.

[PennyP]

Hi,

I'm 26 and my left knee cracks everytime I squat down or stand up.  It has all my life.    Mine crack because I have week ligaments on the insides of my knees, this causes my kneecaps to slide the wrong direction.  Mine get sore after physical activity (working out, sports, doing lots of stairs), but it subsides if I ice them.  If you aren't in any pain, I wouldn't worry about it too much.  Ask your doctor if you are really concerned.

[JoAnnaRF]

You can see an Orthopedic Specialist to see what is going on. I wouldn't suggest you wait until you are in pain, when problems of this sort are a LOT easier to treat the sooner they are diagnosed. Don't wait til the damage gets worse. And it is better to be safe than sorry.
--J

[fieldofdreams]

I have had the "cracking" noise in my knees for years now and I am 27.  It is more then likely the cartalage in your knees.  It is no longer smooth like it should be hence the noise you hear.  I think I got the cracking noise because I have bone sper behind the knee cap.  You can go to the doctor.  Past experiece tells me that they will not be able to do anything for you.  It is something that you will end up having to live with.  as long as you can get up and down with out the assistance of something near by.  That you continue to have no pain. I think you will be alright.  But if you are worried go to the doctor.  Alot of doctors wont do surgery on the knee unless it is ABSOLUTELY nessecery.  There are therepies to do cortizone injections.  Stuff like that.  GL let us know what you decide.

[Jenni6485]

I'm 20, and have been having poping in my knees since I was about 9 years old... It dosnt hurt, just pops when I squat down, or things like that... It dosnt necessarily have to do with your age, just has to do with the activity that you're doing. I got mine from growing too fast, and being athletic on top of that. There isnt much to worry about as long as there isnt pain. But you should go see a specialist for peace of mind. :-)

[-concerned...-]

I'm in the same boat.  I'm 21 and have such bad knees that anytime I bend them at all, they make a weird grinding noise (especially going up and down stairs). I know how you feel with the running too.  I run over a mile a few times a week and about halfway through it, my calves and feet go numb and feel like they're "slapping" the ground.  Kinda weird, and probably not much help at all but i thought i'd contribute. lol

[sarah2]

i go to a reiki healer who diagnosied cartillage prob in knees  great pain relief lasting up to 3 weeks

[kyliecat]

I'm almost 23 and my knees crack as well. No pain, they just crack, as do my elbows. I've never been too concerned because there is no pain a lot with it. It certainly could have a lot to do with all the new activity and exercise.

Congrats on sticking to your regime and working on getting healthy! It's tough!

[AH880]

It sounds like patellofemoral syndrome.  This happens frequently when you have started a rigorous exercise program.  The muscle bedhind your knee is not strong enough and you have alignment problems.  There are leg lift exercises that can help build muscle and taking an anti-inflamatory will also help.  You should see your doctor.  

[janea16]

I am 25, and my knees and ankles crack every morning when i get up.Every step i take they crack and it last for a while and eventually stops. It does not hurt but its annoying.  

[Jeni08]

I started having cracking in my knees when I was pregnant in my mid 20's  and  now 12 years later it has gotten much much worse. In the beginning I did not give it much thought like most of  the comments on here and now the minor cracking has become a major problem with even the slightess bending of my knee as well as pain, some inflamation, discomfort and almost not enough circulation from what it feels like. My left knee has also started on the same path but at the earlier stage of the problem. Please take this advice and don't wait until you get worse. Try to make an appt. with your doctor or specialist as soon as possible. Monitor your knees constantly because it can alter your lifestyle eventually,  making it worse to get any physical activity on your legs in which you will loose even more muscle as the years pass on. Best of luck!

[creak219]

A few days ago I hit my left knee against a desk drawer. I can tell you it did not feel good. Since then I've been hearng a cracking or snapping sound whenever I bend to sit down or walk downstairs. I don't have any pain or any difficulty walking, but it is annoying. The cracking sounds like someone snapping their finger. My knees usually crack some whenever my legs have been bent for a while, but they've never sounded like that. I just hope I won't have any problems later on in life. I'm 43 years old, and now sound as if I'm 93.

[Jonesy420]

I'm only seventeen, and my knees have been cracking on a daily basis for over a year now. It doesn't always hurt, but sometimes it's enough for me to roll to the floor in pain.

It will happen when I move my legs, when I stand, when I bend, I can't even have sex on top anymore: every time I move, *CRACK* *CRACK* *CRACK*

And it's excruciating both to feel, and listen too.
I don't know what to do. My dad won't get me insurance, so I can't see a doctor to find out what's wrong.

[Minka777]

Yes, I have the same problem, espcially when climbing the stars. My knees crackle, the both of them. I think I will take your advice and go see my doctor. Thanks!

[ambulanceshorty]

I know how you feel. I had had pain in my right knee since I was 10, went to the doctor when I was 15. I am now 20. I was told I have 3 torn ligaments (ACL, PCL, MCL), fluid in the knee, little to no cartilage, the inside of my knee looks like that of a 70 or 80 year old. I take anti-inflammatory meds like Tylenol, Aleve, or Advil. I also use ace bandages and knee braces. I use ice sometimes. Hopefully this helps you. My doc recommended surgery, but to this day I still have not had it. @Jonsey420 I would recommend wrapping or bracing overnight and taking pain meds when it hurts.  

[tina3272]

i finally had my knee go out completely with a bucket handle tear that i am having surgery on this thursday.....after examining my MRI the dr asked did I have a previous injury to my knee. I did hurt my knee many years ago while incarcerated and was refused any medical treatment. My dr told me that I had torn a ligament a long time ago and that now it had shriveled up and went away.  What does this mean for me now?  I have been unstable on that knee but I had no idea why that was until now. Does anyone know anything about this and if so please let me know

[horselover1991]

It could be the beginning of patellofemoral pain syndrome, which can be diagnosed by your regu lar physician. I have it myself, but unfortunately it hasn't responded to the physical therapy and other things I have had so I might be looking at surgery. I go in to find out on Friday. I will let you know what the orthopedic surgeon decides. Wish me luck and if you want please pray for me. Surgery is scary to have to deal with.

[lpartlow95]

I am 16 yrs old I too have a problem with my knees cracking every time I bend them is it possible that I to have that syndrome if so what should I do about it?

[sureincpu]

Hi, I am 29 now and since last winter I have felt the weirdness in my knees, esp left knee when I walk downwards (and now even sitting on the toilet!), weirdness being slight cracking sound + the feeling that my knee joints are not as "oiled" very well!  The warm weather has done me some good so far and my legs feel stronger and better supported when I wear those knee wraps/braces.  My doc said it was sorta common among young women and is called "chondromalacia patella", or runners' knee.  The funny thing is that i dont really like running and only run occasionally (and has not been doing much at all since my diagnosis).  I have been working out using low impact machines such as bikes and elliptical trainer and some quadracep excises to strengthen my thighs (to take more impact away from the knees)... though my thighs are beautifully shaped now (i think), i still feel the weakness of the knees inside and really rarely, my left leg will weaken all of a sudden for like a sec, feeling that i could hv fallen down :(

[ash_b_d]

I am only seventeen and also have the same problem but I think its genetic because my dads knees always do it too. Everytime I walk, sit down etc they just seem to crack. :S

[BeamerXX]

My knees.first began popping when I was 9. I was sitting at my desk in class for awhile and went to stand up and it felt as of they were locked. I was scared to get up! Then I started stretching them and they popped. It started doing it more and more ever since. Now they pop all the time. At times when im walking the left knee will feel as if it wants to pop. and almost always when im sitting they will want to pop.
I became morr active at that age walking to school. And later played sports, mainly basketball. My knees only hurt on one occassion when I ran down tge stairs they hurt.  And if im sitting for a few hours or.more my knees will pop every half hour or so and then begin to feel achy and uncomfortable.  
And im 23 year old female btw 5'7'' 125lbs

[esther_sanchez]

hi im esther sanchez im 15 my knee started making the  cracking noice of the age 9.my mom told me to drink milk because milk make ur bones stronger.but that did not help.can someone help me and explain how to stop it.plz and thank u^w^