Any Physical Trainers? Knee "crunching"

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Livin_Large
Livin_Large Posts: 104 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Every time I work out, or bend my knee, or go upstairs etc my right knee "crunches" that's the best way to describe it. How long will it take for this to go away? Is it normal? Yes I know I could see a Dr, but I'm just asking for advice/suggestions. It doesn't hurt at all.
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  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,634 Member
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    Every time I work out, or bend my knee, or go upstairs etc my right knee "crunches" that's the best way to describe it. How long will it take for this to go away? Is it normal? Yes I know I could see a Dr, but I'm just asking for advice/suggestions. It doesn't hurt at all.
    Could be bone rubbing hard on cartilage or tendon/ligament "scrapping" over a bone. Eventually there may be inflammation and pain.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal & Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • Livin_Large
    Livin_Large Posts: 104 Member
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    Every time I work out, or bend my knee, or go upstairs etc my right knee "crunches" that's the best way to describe it. How long will it take for this to go away? Is it normal? Yes I know I could see a Dr, but I'm just asking for advice/suggestions. It doesn't hurt at all.
    Could be bone rubbing hard on cartilage or tendon/ligament "scrapping" over a bone. Eventually there may be inflammation and pain.

    sucks for me that I don't have insurance then right! :-(
  • KBside
    KBside Posts: 45
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    Mine do the same thing. I heard that taking glucosamine can help with it, may take a week or so for it to help. I have yet to try but have been thinking about it since I have started walking more on my treadmill. Never hurts to talk to a doctor though.
  • katglaze
    katglaze Posts: 45 Member
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    See a Dr. I know it is not fun to do it but they can help you figure out exactly what is wrong!
  • lizzyliz79
    lizzyliz79 Posts: 43 Member
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    Mine does too, just the left one. I find it gets worse when I am not careful with form doing lunges and squats. Make sure your knee never passes your toes :)
  • wbgolden
    wbgolden Posts: 2,071 Member
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    Mine have been doing it for years. I take glucosamine and don't get much in the way of pain or inflammation (and I am a runner).

    Doc told me if it doesn't hurt, don't worry about it for now. That was 3 years ago. I'm sure my poor diet and sedentary lifestyle made the cartilage feel unneeded and lazy for a decade. Now they remind me whenever I go downstairs.

    Crunch crunch crunch.

    EDIT: Of course, please do not take my post to mean ignore it. This is my story.
  • KathieSwenson
    KathieSwenson Posts: 179
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    It may be osteo arthritis, or wear and tear of cartilage. Have you had any knee injuries or trauma to the knee. Reason I asked is because I have spent about 5000 dollars trying to figure out why min was doing the same thing. I had trauma to the knee in 2000. The doctor told me it was arthritis caused by the acl tear and reconstruction. they do have a joint lubricant to do but they wont do it till it is to the point that you cannot walk at all. They told me no surgery they can do no Cartilage replacement/implants will stay in place.

    He told me the best thing I could do was strengthen up my hamstrings and quads. STated they can help to support the knee in if strengthen. I hope to be heading back to TKD w/in 6 months so Im taking his advise on it. Been doing squats and lunges and running almost everynight.

    IF any doubt or it start hurting see a dr....Just because mine diagnosed me as osteoarthritis doesnt mean yours is the same. Im going of symptoms which are the same as I have.

    Kathie
  • Love2HikeMT
    Love2HikeMT Posts: 42
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    First, yes, you should see an orthopaedic surgeon for an accurate diagnosis. Second, I had a bad, crunching knee and as I strengthened my quadriceps the crunching diminished. You could have what is called a floating body in the joint, which could be as loose meniscus piece. Only an MRI will give you a definitive diagnosis.
  • witrixie2011
    witrixie2011 Posts: 224
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    My left knee has been doing it for years. Gets worse the longer I'm on the treadmill but there is no pain involved with it.

    Been taking glucosamine for about a year and haven't notice any improvement.

    Edit: I wish there was some way to make it go away because it does worry me. But I'm without insurance and until it's causing me pain, I can't afford to just go get an opinion.
  • rower75
    rower75 Posts: 90 Member
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    When I started working out with 30DS, my knees were killing me. Crunching and swelling. I started taking osteo-bioflex a couple of weeks ago and my knees are getting better.
  • needlework
    needlework Posts: 141 Member
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    bump
  • Twisted_Wrister
    Twisted_Wrister Posts: 762 Member
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    My right knee has been bad for years. I can crack it by swinging my lower leg back and forth and if I do it slowly, I get that crunchy feeling and sound. About three years ago I saw a specialist. He blew in & out of my exam room in less than 5 minutes, said it was tendonitis and sent me on my way with orders to go to therapy twice a week. After about 6 weeks I just couldn't afford it anymore and I stopped going. Since that time, I gained weight and for the two days after I'd play hockey the pain was pretty bad. I'd climb stairs by not putting any weight on my right leg, kinda hopping and putting all my weight to the left.

    Since losing about 32lbs., the pain is not nearly as bad but the crunchiness is still there and has gotten worse since I started using a treadmill several days per week. Now it makes a popping sound everytime I bend down too.

    My experience with the doctor wasn't the best but I suggest having it looked at. I'm going to see the doctor again. My advice is to research some possible causes and don't let them push you through the exam process too quickly and leave you with more questions than answers. I know it can suck as far as cost, but your health isn't worth the risk. just my two cents :smile:

    Good Luck!
  • LindaLouLu
    LindaLouLu Posts: 271 Member
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    I don't know what it is in YOUR knee, but I know when mine started doing that I went to the Dr. complaining (because it actually DID hurt some days. Not a lot, just uncomfortable) I was told I had everything from weight related pressures to arthritis. Then I stomped my foot and went to a specialist. Turns out there was a cyst (Turned out to be benign)between my knee and the upper leg bone. Also there was an "abnormal growth" on the leg bone (in the x-ray it looked like the thorn on a rose bush). 1 long day of surgery, 4 weeks of relearning how to walk, and lots of PT, it no longer makes funny noises AND I have a pretty fancy scar to show off.

    While not having insurance, I wouldn't recommend making as many trips to the Dr as I did, but maybe hit up some WebMD or something and get some possible ideas of what it could be, then take it to a Dr. Don't let them rush you in and out. Make the money you spend to see the Dr. worth it. Discuss EVERY possible scenario, treatment options, and cost with them. Then at least you won't be left in the dark. You'll either know "Oh, it's really nothing" or "Oh, I need to do something before it gets any worse or more expensive to repair"

    Good luck!!:flowerforyou:
  • TrailRunner61
    TrailRunner61 Posts: 2,505 Member
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    Bump! Mine sounds like popcorn when I walk up/downstairs. No pain, just noise.
  • skylark94
    skylark94 Posts: 2,036 Member
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    I've got a "crunchy knee" and no insurance too. I feel your pain. My bad knee has force me to give up running again.
  • clariangel
    clariangel Posts: 156 Member
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    both my knees make the same sound and i used to have pain as well. Doc told me it was the beginning of osteoarthritis. He said building the muscles around the knee would help. So I took the stairs more often, starting walking and lifting weights. Now i've strengthen my legs, and the pain is gone. The crunching sound is still there, but I was told there's nothing I can really do about that. That's my experience anyway.
  • Elizadolots
    Elizadolots Posts: 178
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    Bump!
  • em9371
    em9371 Posts: 1,047 Member
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    I have this at the minute, i would see your dr to make sure you dont cause yourself long term damage.

    mine started in january just crunching, no pain. i carried on exercising and it started to get stiff and painful. Ive now been scanned / xrayed etc and am waiting for physio appt, no high impact exercise, weights or anything that involves bending the knee more than 30 degrees.
    Dr said its chondomalacia patella (runners knee), which is basically wear to the cartilage behind the kneecap caused by flat feet / improper running position / imbalance in leg muscles which causes kneecap not to track straight / overtraining.
    They said its pretty common and usually heals up in a few months of rest and specific strenghtening exercises.

    i found this article in runners world which explains whats going on inside the knee and how exercise affects it, i found it really useful :)
    http://runningdoctor.runnersworld.com/2007/07/27/should-a-stiff-html/
  • AvonLucyR
    AvonLucyR Posts: 124 Member
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    Of course you should always get advise from a doctor, but "typically" strengthening your quad muscles is very helpful! (Was a licensed massage therapist in FL)
  • susannamarie
    susannamarie Posts: 2,148 Member
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    Mine does that and there's a fair amount of pain. I've had it looked at and he says it needs surgery -- meniscus issue -- I have insurance but I don't have the 2 grand for the out of pocket part of it. But it's a lot better with strengthening the leg muscles -- I also don't do specific motions which aggrevate it. For example, any twisting motion whatsoever is a terrible idea. I don't run, and I make sure that when I bend my knee I do so absolutely straight in line.

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