Since being diagnosed a couple of months ago with PMR my joints click especially in my shoulders and knees and many people around me have winced and commented. To be fair it's not a painful experience but a little concerning.
Have other people noticed this since having PMR as I have not read any information on the subject?
Thank you.
My neck crackles when I turn my head. I think it is my cervical Spondylosis. Do have this checked out. I have always assumed it was harmless but it may not be especially in multiple joints.
I will do. I went to a meeting the other day and others reported similar and wondered if it was because of PMR?
Orthopedic medicine specialists—the doctors that deal with the musculoskeletal system—get this question a lot. The short answer is that popping sound is nothing to worry about. But if you have pain along with it, you should see a doctor. The noise you're hearing is sometimes called crepitus.
healthline.com/health/osteo...
But it only started since having PMR. Is this normal?
Some do complain of it - but it might just be coincidence…
.. it’s not always PMR or Pred to blame… 😊.. but it could be!
Or maybe you are more aware of it, I have never noticed it.
Trust me, I would have noticed it . It does not hurt but I could use it as a party trick lol
Start charging for the entertainment ...
It's a mystery isn't it (there's a song there somewhere!)? I've got that in several joints, Markandevie. Neck, shoulder, wrist, ankle. I haven't got PMR but I do have an autoimmune condition and I take Prednisolone. I've been taking Pred for a couple of years. The popping started a few months ago, whilst I was trying to drop from 5mg to 4mg very slowly. I also started with shoulder and neck pain at roughly the same time, but presumably not related because I've also got popping ankle and wrist, also rheumy says the shoulder pain is actually from my neck, nothing to do with my shoulder. I'm currently waiting an MRI to see if the pain is OA or inflammation. I'm going to ask the rheumy what causes it and why it would suddenly start in several joints at the same time. Will let you know if I get anywhere.
Interesting. When I go to my PMR group in December I will see if any have the mystery of the clicking man syndrome. Very odd lol
Rheumy acknowledges that it is a 'thing' that some people who have been on higher doses of Pred for some time have got crunchy joints. He said that they don't know why. Later in the conversation he said that it might be something to do with collagen. He said that it's not likely to be the cause of my crunchy joints though because I wasn't on a higher dose for very long. My neck crunching is due to a wear and tear problem. The noise from my shoulder is tendon, not joint, related. But I have other popping joints...... The good news though is that the MRI scan showed that I have no inflammation in my neck, so my current aches and pains are not related to my auto-immune condition.
I've been on pred a long time - no crunchy joints here!!!
Yes, I would be interesting to hear. I am not alone lol
Yes I have it, gp says its due to pred, something about joints loosening and air causing the popping sound
But it also occurs in people who have never been on pred in their lives ... It is air in the joints though.
interesting! It definitely only started when I was first diagnosed and taking pred so unless it has been pure coincidental (which I dont) that makes sense
My guess is that PMR caused some stress/stiffness in joints and that is causing clicking. Usually if you warm up the joint and do stretching it should go away. Look at the bright side, people noticed when you are approaching more so then before 
I agree. Just an odd side affect. Great to hear peoples opinions though.
The rheumy jumped due to the noise when he was examining my neck!
every time I stand up I sound like a crisp bag being crushed , shoulders , knees , elbows , back and now my ankles are joining in , kids always go oohhh that sounds painful , but it’s not , sometimes it’s uncomfortable but after years with joint issues I think we all have a higher pain threshold .
Thanks for the feedback . Sound like a crisp bag lol
So glad you posted that . Yes , i get very bothersome clicking , popping , clunking , and a sort of twanging ; all new since i got pmr ; which happened as a direct result of my covid bout ; there is a link big time. The covid triggered my pmr . All i can think is that the inflamed ligaments and etc are in there , stretched and swollen , and they make these uncomfortable sensations , like guitar strings that are too right . But at least i know im not crazy and that soneone else gets it .
No further forward with the cause of the crunching, but have taken a glucosamine/chondroitin/msm/collagen supplement for three months or so, and the crunching is very definitely reduced, especially in my neck, which was driving me mad!
Hot flushes returned since PMR diagnosis 
Shoulder pain turning from aching to sharp nerve pain
PMR diagnosis from GP
Mixed feelings following first GP appointment since PMR diagnosis
GCA since October 2020 -from Virginia
