Knees cracking?

Question

When I go up stairs, I can hear my knees crack which each step that I climb.

I'm about 40 years old.

What could this mean. I do have some pain in my knees, but it's the noise of cracking that drives me crazy.

Thank you

Answer 1

It sounds like there may be a lack of cartilage so your bones may be rubbing on bones (torn cartilage, torn meniscus, etc) - this happens to my mom and she gets these chicken fat injections in her knees from an orthopedist - they fill the space that the cartilage is not filling and stop the bones rubbing together - it works.. see if you can make an appt with an ortho, get an x-ray and maybe those shots -

The pain may not be so bad now but it will get progressively worse over time unfortunately - common problem in the knees. That is why it is best to do something about it now -

Feel better :o)

here is some more info about this from a website and what could be causing it ~

Unless there has been an injury to the knee causing a tear in the miniscal cartilage, which are shock obsorbing crescent shaped cartilages in the knees. Less commonly, you could have a condition from birth called discoid (disc shape) meniscus in which loud clicks may be heard but no treatment is required for this condition unless there is a tear in the discoid meniscus which causes pain.

I think you need to be examined to exclude a miniscal cartilage injury and in case, there is no evidence clinically no intervention may be required in your case. In case the cartilege is torn and that is causing your clicks, surgery may be required.

Answer 2

You have the same problelm I have. I am 40 yrs old and my knees crack and sound like they are going to break. I asked an orthopedic surgeon if my knees were going out, and he asked me if they hurt, to which I replied a little bit sometimes. His nurse practitioner told me your knees crack and grind over wear and tear in the cartilage which is a natural aging thing. She bent my knees all the way and they popped and ground like they usually do. She said I will know when I need my knees replaced and currently she thinks I am fine. I am 40 yrs old and work in a hospital.

Answer 3

I'm 47. Glucosamine with Chondroitin has quieted the grinding in my knees in only 2 weeks and I am hoping now to start seeing pain relief benefits as well. I highly recommend it!

Answer 4

Join the club...mine do too. When I cup my hand over my knee cap and extend my leg I can feel crunching...take glucosamine with chrondroitin and MSM. Calcium also. Sounds like a bit of arthritis. Be careful how you turn your body..so as not to stress the knees.