Joe A Shaw PA-C - 3/3/2014

Question
I don't have any pain in my joints, but they make a lot of popping and cracking noises. My ankles make the most noise. Deep tissue massage helped eliminate the sounds temporarily, but they started again. Is it a treatable condition?

Answer
Gene..there's not a whole lot of to do for that. We call it crepitus. this is where the joint surfaces touch and rub against each other with joint movement. this sometimes goes along with arthritis depending on your age, weight ,if you smoke. But  arthritis can become painful and causes joint stiffness. There are some supplements that they sell but I would not waste my money on these, they have never been proven to rebuild cartilage in joints. so in fact it sounds like you are treating it with massage but there is no cure for it per se.  If it continues to bother you a great deal I would get some xrays, that way you could look and see if the joint surfaces are abnormally close to one another  possibly causing your symptoms.