What causes the 'crunchy' feeling?: haha and I don't... - NRAS

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What causes the 'crunchy' feeling?

18 Replies

haha and I don't mean fridays :) where did I get that from!

anyway, do you know what I mean? bending knees I can feel the crunching internally and externally, does it come and go or permanent?

I have it in my Jaw also but waiting to see specialist....

18 Replies
julieporter profile image
julieporter

Hi Wilby

I have this in my knees going up and down stairs and my GP mentioned a build up of gases i think he said nitrogen.I've had it for quite a while but it 's worse when i've been immobile for a while

Julie x

helixhelix profile image
helixhelix

I have a range of noises...there's a grinding sort of crunch I get in my knee that is I think the osteoarthritis I have, then there's a snappy crunch of my shoulders and wrists that I think is ligaments (maybe I can't hear it in joints further away). But I also had been told that the poppy crunch I get in some joints is bubbles of gases escaping from the synovial fluid when you bend/stretch..... my own personal orchestra. Px

julieporter profile image
julieporter

Hey

Do you think we could set up a band!!!

Julie x

Philip profile image
Philip

The windy Millers HEHEHEHE

helixhelix profile image
helixhelix

with vocals added by some ooh & aahs as we try to stand up.....Px

We are all morphing into big bowls of rice crispies going snap crackle pop. Mine knee clicked so loudly at a party the other night that my host said "wow?!". I never had this before RA - my knees and - especially driving but feet and fingers crunch first thing and if they've been still for a while - don't know whether it's just getting older (osteo-ish) or RA related but I am turning into that famous cereal when the milk hits it rapidly. Mind you my youngest son cracks his fingers just as sport to wind me up - like Julie he says its gases being released? TTx

Gina_K profile image
Gina_K

I know that feeling you mention, used to have it in wrists, it's sort of like putty well pressing putty indescribable! Mine has gone away since humira.

Still crunching in neck though, my knees used to click a lot, that has all stopped, only pain now :( strange eh?

Treesha profile image
Treesha

Starting from feet upwards. My feet snap, groin snaps, knees ok at the moment but they used to crunch, thumbs snap, elbows crunch and snap and shoulders and jaw crunch. My gp said " yes you are creaky " xxxx oh forgot about neck which snaps. Not fatally though. Xx

haha oh my gosh you lot! don't know whether to laugh or cry!!!lol

Only recently when I go to the gym I notice my knees crunching and wonder should I stop working on my knees although they are the weakest....

any thoughts anyone?

If it is a build up of gases then thats not too bad maybe?

xx

helixhelix profile image
helixhelix

I tend to think that my weakest joints are where I need to make as much effort as I can to build up muscles to protect the actual joint. So as long as you're not doing high impact stuff that could hurt joint, but muscle strengthening around it then should be ok. & by the way, I'm going to try out Curves soon - can't do it right now but have booked to see them in a couple of weeks. Polly

in reply tohelixhelix

thanks, i'm just back from gym (curves) and it didn't feel so bad today, glad not to give it up as it has made a huge difference already!

Good to hear your giving it a go, they are so helpful, when I told the instructor about my clicky knees she came round the workout/circuits with me to ensure i was doing it correctly and not over doing it.

let me know how you get on :) x

my knees have doen this since about 10 years old the gp at the time said I would grow out of it! ha ha.. my neck really grinds x

in reply to

hello Alison, ouch the neck grinding sounds horrid! hope your doing okay, have you been quiet lately or have I just missed your posts?

hope Dads doing okay xx

I agree with Polly - I think if it's not painful but it clicks then it's needing gentle exercise to increase range of motion and hopefully put pay to the clicking eventually. Maybe by the time we are old we will sound like youngsters that way?

My physio told me to push the joint to where it would normally go to - or what used to be normal anyhow. I asked her if I should try and force it but she said "no just keep on trying to push it until it hurts or is uncomfortable" so that's what I do. Sometimes I think I'm getting there and could be back to '

'normal' and then I try chopping an onion (as I did just now making lunch) and realise that despite the endless exercise, my fingers, knuckles and wrists are still weak and painful. It's not possible to chop an onion yet but then I'm not going to cry over that at least am I?!

Re clicking - my knees click the worst and the loudest although neck and shoulders and the rest are all quite clicky sometimes. I never had clicky knees before all this so I get a shock each time it happens - but I try to exercise them daily by walking and doing the Nintendo Wii Fit (jogging, yoga and step areobics). They only really click when I bend them to sit or stand or squat, lunge or change gear in the car etc. Wouldn't be reilable enough to be in the percussion section of a band or an orchestra with them yet though! TTx

I was too embarrassed or stuborn to get lift to 5 floor yesterday and took stairs, well call me stupid but I wonder if that loosend them up a bit haha! there not so creaky today and much better at gym!

have you thought about a chopping gadget? I use the 'hubby' very effective and if you watch from behind he has a rather nice 'wiggle' as he chops :)

The wii fit is great fun but never get peace at home xx

in reply to

I've got a hubby who is domestic goddess remember? so can watch his but wiggle whenever he's not at work or in bed so have nothing to moan about there! And got some great knives with handles like saws that OT gave me for chopping stuff enough to plonk in the food processor so no excuse for onion troubles really but I just forget they are there still as so new.

Sorry about the Wii Wiliby but you will have to wait until they are teenagers for weekend and holiday mornings with house all to yourself. Now for me it's just a case of digging them out of bed muttering expletives and hogging the bathroom from noon onwards. I thought boys were meant to be smelly but my lot discovered aftershave before they knew how to read? Preening and posing doesn't begin in this household!

Tinwoman2 profile image
Tinwoman2

I snap-crackle-pop too, and last year, my knees started creaking. They sound like a creaky door at Halloween. ha

I could join your band, Julie, and HH-I add in the ooooomphs & ooooohhhhs too.

Christine

sciqueen profile image
sciqueen

Hi Wiliby

I also get that ratchetty/chrunchy feeling/noise in my knee (particularly in my right knee). It is always present when my knee is sore or has the dull ache in it. Don't know what it is and why though. Tried to mention it to my gp, but she did not seem to concerned, so I put it down to another quirkism of ra!

Sci x :)

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