Bhakti Paun Sharma
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It all started when I heard my bones plopping each time I got up or moved around. While my family was concerned about the noise my bones made, I told them I had musical bones. Upon repeated insistence from everyone, I consulted an orthopaedic who checked my X-rays and said everything was perfectly fine. The noise that bones make isn t uncommon. People experience this in knee, hip joints and knuckles. To give you detailed information regarding this noise and when is it a cause of concern we contacted Dr U.K.Sadhoo, Director - Orthopaedics & Joint Replacement Surgery at Nayati Multi Super Specialty Hospital, Mathura and here s what he has to say:
What is the cause of the cracking and popping?
Snapping or crackling joints are not uncommon. Mostly people 'crack' knuckles or knees to produce an audible sound like 'plop' as a party trick but these are not accompanied by pain. Find out whether cracking knuckles is good or bad? No harm comes to joints unless done excessively or forcibly. They noise or plop is usually a result of a vacuum phenomenon in the joint (synovial) fluid.
Is it something one should be worried about?
If not painful, there is no cause for alarm. However, one should refrain from making a fetish of it. Find out the warning signs that differentiate arthritis from usual joint pain.
When should one worry?
If the sound is associated with pain and disability, medical advice should be sought. Pathological noise is generally produced by worn out, uneven joint surfaces rubbing together, especially when loaded, e.g. kneeling, and squatting. This may be a sign of arthritis and can be confirmed by an x-ray. Often, x-rays come out as normal in which case inflammation may be in soft tissues. If symptoms persist or worsen, MRI may be required in a few cases. It must be emphasized that vast majorities of such 'noises' are harmless oddities to be ignored. Here is some expert advice on coping with joint pain during monsoons.
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