knee noises

[langcynthia]

My right knee crunches when I weight-bear as it's bent, for instance in going up the stairs.  There's no pain, and no limit to range of motion, just this awful crunching sound.  You understand not a crack, it sounds like crushing a plastic bag, and it's every single step.  Thus I am avoiding that occurrence a well as possible, even to rising from a seated position I have to extend the right leg in front of me (making it very difficult to rise on one leg!) and getting out of a car on the passenger side is the same.  This really limits my exercises, as many require weight-bearing on bent knees.  Is this a normal knee thing, and can I stop babying my knee and start doing things in a normal fashion, or is this, as I fear, bad and only going to get worse?

[langcynthia]

status quo!

So I'm still protecting the knee, in case it actually is a problem.  Haven't seen the doctor, but there's been no changes at all in well over a year, and no symptoms of anything so I figure it's non-pathogenic.  Hard to strengthen it if I can't do the proper exercises, but I power-walk all the time, that has to help.  Hope your problem is minimal, I appreciate being kept uptodate.

[AnnieMenina]

Hi Cynthia, I have the same problem! Any updates on your knee? Hope things are better or at least not worse! :)

[langcynthia]

Thank you for your response.  I tend to think I fit into the last category "no pathology behind it" -I've had this weird sound with this knee for well over a year now, and still no pain whatsoever nor limitations.  I will still avoid incurring the sound as much as possible.  Next time I have to see my GP, I will mention it to him.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi!
Popping or crunching sound in knee can be due to arthritis (it can be rheumatoid arthritis too). It can also be due to medial or lateral meniscus injury or patellar injury (caused by active sports, dancing, exercising or accidental). Another possibility is Chondromalacia patella in which the knee cap keeps rubbing against the underlying cartilage of femur (corrected by braces, taping, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, physiotherapy or surgery). Having said this, at times the noise has no pathology behind it. This needs an evaluation by either an orthopedics specialist or by a sports injury specialist.Take care!

The medical advice given should not be considered a substitute for medical care provided by a doctor who can examine you. The advice may not be completely correct for you as the doctor cannot examine you and does not know your complete medical history. Hence this reply to your post should only be considered as a guiding line and you must consult your doctor at the earliest for your medical problem.