crunchy/popping knees

[camelfam]

For awhile now my knees have been making a crunching/popping sound when I go upstairs or bend. I wouldn't say it is painful, but it is uncomfotable. Does anyone know what the source of this may be and if there is anything in my diet I'm lacking. I'm 28 and I am overweight.

[leafwood]

i'm with you! i'm 31 and have had popping knees (my right one worse than left) for almost 5 years now. i was a bit overweight in the past but now am on the lower end for weight and that did improve things somewhat. i used to crack and pop walking the staris and now it's really just with bending. i am eager to hear if anyone else has advice b/c it is uncomfortable and annoying!

[Theloose]

ooh, ooh, me!

In the past 2+ years, my knees have slowly started popping, and in the past few weeks, I've been getting them to stop Can you tell I'm excited? My theory is that I'm low on the amino acid glycine, and that it's affecting my connective tissue in a bunch of places. I first tried increasing my B6 and that fixed one knee for a week or so then it got loud again. Now, I'm drinking a ton of gelatin - a tablespoon or more, dissolved in a little apple cider and a mug of warm water, at breakfast and dinner. The very first day, clicking was noticeably less by bedtime. Today's just day 2, but even dh can already hear a definite difference.

[sarahkristin]

I've always had bad joints. Ankles, knees, and the worst, jaw. The thing that has helped me the most, other than great chiropractic care, is glucosamine. I take it in pill form, but they also have the kind that you can rub on the joints. It is definitely not vegetarian, so if that is a problem, don't take it. It is also not kosher.

[manchestermafia]

I've had the same problem in the past even though I'm not overweight. I went to physical therapy. Some of the things I remember were massage your knee and t-band (muscle down the side of your leg starting at hip), walking backward on the treadmill, and exercises using an exercise band. I would sit on the table and put the band at my ankles, straighten legs and move one leg at a time down and back. Another exercise is to put the band around your ankles and walk sideways. They also had me riding the exercise bike. I do have to say it all worked, but 6 years later I still have some occasional popping. Good luck!

[PlayaMama]

heh. me too!!

though i think it was because i was a vegetarian and not eating any gelatin for a long time. what helped me was the emergen-c fizzies for joints. though i haven't done anything with it lately and they still crackle and pop.

[AFWife]

Mine do this. I started going to physical therapy and the guy said the muscles in my knees/legs are unbalanced (one set strong one set weak) and it pulls my kneecap around and it pops.

Can you see someone? even for just one session to get an evaluation? If your kneecap is moving around it can be causing wear and tear.

[Theloose]

Another component of connective tissue is sulfate, and your body makes that from sulfur foods using an enzyme that requires molybdenum and vitamin B6. My knees got a lot quieter with the gelatin, but were still making noise andseemed to stop making progress. I added molybdenum (found primarily in lentils/legumes) and they got a bit quieter still Vitamin C and zinc are other important connective tissue nutrients.

So that makes my nutrient list so far:
vitamin B6
glycine (gelatin)
molybdenum
vitamin C
zinc
sulfur foods

[camelfam]

Thank you for the responses. Where do you get your gelatin from?

[Theloose]

I've gotten some NOW brand (not the capsules!) and some from azure. I think msg or something might be a concern, but I'm ignoring that... I think Bernard Jenson is the designer brand?