When my chronic pain hit, I noticed another trouble symptom. This was cracking joints. I had pains that traveled, throughout my body.
But the worst pain was in my lower back. This is also where I heard the cracking.
It was an annoying symptom. At one point, it became so bad that I worried people could hear it when I walked. (Actually, they were probably so distracted by the fact that I could barely walk that the cracking was just a footnote.)
What causes cracking, and what can you do about it?
Fibromyalgia and Cracking Joints
First of all, let me point out that I’m not a doctor. I can’t diagnose or give medical advice. So if you have cracking, especially with pain, it’s time to see your own doctor to rule out anything that needs to be treated. Once you rule that out, you are free to pursue natural remedies, if that’s what you want to do.
So, what causes all the cracking and popping, anyway?
An article on the Cleveland Clinic website notes that cracking joints are usually nothing to worry about, unless this symptom is accompanied by pain. The clinic also recommends people with cracking joints to move around throughout the day. This will help the joints stay lubricated.
Does Fibromyalgia Cause Cracking Joints?
Gentle walking is also what greatly helped with my cracking. One of the holistic practitioners I saw believed that I had loose ligaments in my back, caused by adrenal fatigue. Once I started with gentle walks, I worked up to more brisk walks around the neighborhood. I’m constantly amazed by how much more I can walk, compared to when my pain was at its worst.
Walking has been a lifesaver. Even though it was painful at first, I started slowly and pushed myself a little. (It’s not a good idea to push yourself too hard from pain. If you’re in a lot of pain, it’s a very good idea to work out a reasonable fitness schedule with your doctor or physical therapist.)
At the same time, I worked hard to reduce my excess inflammation. Unfortunately, if you suffer from fibro or any other type of chronic pain, you also have too much inflammation. The inflammatory response is normal and healthy. But not when it never gets shut off. Then, inflammation becomes your enemy. Beating it back is the way to feel better.
Do Your Joints Crack With Fibromyalgia?
First came the unrelenting pain that centered in my lower right back. It would shoot down my leg, and, oftentimes, travel to other parts of my body. At random time, my knees and my wrists would ache. However, nothing compared to the back pain.
A few months after realizing I had a big problem, my back started to crack. I’d notice this the most upon waking up in the morning. (Oftentimes, due to the pain, I didn’t get a lot of sleep though.) I’d stretch and hear lots of cracks.
Strangely enough, this noise made me feel better. It loosened things up, and I could move around easier. One of the online doctors I follow is Joseph Mercola, DO. His website has a wealth of good advice on natural health. One of his posts on cracking joints noted that the sound you hear could be tendons moving. If that’s the case, it would parallel what my own practitioner said about my loose ligaments, caused by adrenal fatigue.
More recently, I asked my current chiropractor why, at one time, I heard so much noise. He said it was my skeletal system trying to realign itself. He didn’t seem to worried.
Cracking Joints and Fibromyalgia
I’m not a doctor and I can’t give medical advice. I can’t diagnose either. All I can do is share my own personal experience with cracking and popping. Whatever if was and whatever was causing it, gently pushing myself to walk more was a great help.
As my body began to heal, I noticed things seemed to quiet down. Now, I’m barely aware of the cracking. I haven’t really thought about it in a long time.
I’m convinced that healing from fibromyalgia, chronic pain, adrenal fatigue or whatever you want to call it is possible. Some people may be too sick to benefit from natural remedies, especially if they have other more involved medical issues. But I’ve been able to find great relief. As sick as I was, I never wavered in my conviction that our bodies are designed to heal.
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