damage from joint cracking

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Belinda R

New member
For a number of years I cracked my joints, particularly my fingers, wrists, and knees. It's just something that started happening and once it started it was very difficult to stop. It took me years of relapses to finally quit. The joints that I cracked now all have the same symptoms: chronic pain and weakness, and 'looseness' - the joints are twistier and less rigid than they once were.

I have seen a rheumatologist, an orthopedist, and a "hand expert" and no one has been able to diagnose me. Every doctor I have seen has dismissed the notion that joint cracking could have anything to do with it, but it's only in the joints that I cracked and the connection seems very clear to me. Does anyone know anything about this? What can I do? Is there any hope of repairing the damage? I'm only 23 and the idea of living my whole life like this is very upsetting to me.
 
Well, it is a myth that popping your knuckles/joints damages them. My uncle, who is an orthopedic surgeon, and the ortho I use both have told me so and I have found it stated in various places. All popping your joints does it pop a bubble that is already there. You aren't doing anything to the joint per se. Now you could have ligament damage from some other cause, but the popping is not it.
 
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