Friction rubs combined with other autoimmune symptoms could be an indication of very severe and rapidly progressing scleroderma, this is not something to ignore.
Crepitus, in joints is associated with wear of the cartilage which leads to osteoarthritis. In soft tissues, it is associated with gas infiltrating an area where it is not supposed to be. Most often it is air.
Hope it helps.
Karen
Have you had any lab work? They would want to check you ANA for starters. Usually fatigue goes along with autoimmune disorders.
My policy is not to worry about what "might be". Live life and enjoy. Put God first and go forward. He can pull us through any trial.
Another possibility is fibromyalgia. But usually fatigue goes along with that. Fibro, like lupus and other autoimmune disorders come and go. The drs. call it wax and wane. This means one day you can feel horrible and the next, you feel like nothing is wrong with you. Does this ring a bell?
God bless, Kara
Those that trust in the Lord shall not be disappointed.
So far, the only symptoms I have are the muscle pains and joint pains. Lately, the joint pains have subsided a bit and it's mainly just muscle pain, especially prevalent in the shoulders. The thing is, I've read that diffuse scleraderma can cause tendon friction rubs but I have them in pretty much every joint. It's said that when these rubs occur, they indicate widespread, explosive skin thickening. But I don't have any outside evidence of that and it's been three months already.
But I guess I'm grasping at straws with this assumption, as diffuse scleroderma is extremely rare in young men. I just hope I haven't had the medical equivalent of getting stuck by lightening...
I'm not real familiar with scleraderma, but there are many other illnesses that can affect joints and muscles. What other symptoms are you having. Do you have any rashes, headaches, fever? Arthritis can make the joints make that crackle sound. I've been dx with lupus and my joints crackle like that, but I also have many other symptoms that go along with lupus.