Question
Hello,
I'm eighteen years old, and I've always been flexible and had "flexible joints".  My toes, ankles, and knees have cracked on their own occasionally throughout my life.  Lately, however, my back cracks each time I flex and sit up straight (and sometimes when I merely inhale), my lower right back carries a constant pinching sensation, my hips and low back crack when I walk and my back and hips are often achy.  I'm a runner and I like to do yoga, and I find that many of these aches and cavitations increase with more frequent or vigorous exercise.  I even find it difficult to backbend and twist in certain yoga poses.

I have visited my doctor with this complaint, but she simply advised me to rest my back and perform a series of stretches and exercises.  There has been no relief since beginning those exercises months upon months ago.

What would you suggest I do to be sure I take proper care of my back?  I am afraid of creating major problems later on since I am so young now.

Thank you for all your expertise and help.

Answer
Hi Emma,
I apologize for the delay in my response.  I need a lot more information to give you a correct opinion.  So feel free to email me a private message with the answers and we will see what we can come up with.

With regard to your doctors series of stretches, that is a good first step.

When did this start?
What were you doing?
What makes the symptoms worse?
What makes them better?
Current list of medications?
Activities that you use to do when you were really flexible and how long has it been since you did these activities?
Injuries recently (past 6 months)
Do you see a chiropractor?
What poses are difficult?

With these questions that will help me.  If you are "over doing it" exercising more than 3-4 times a week, rest.  You may have created some ligament issues that we can discuss later.

Let me know.

Sincerely,
Dr. Kaldy

www.lasvegaschiro.com
[email protected]