It is not uncommon for your spine to crack or pop when you’re bending, twisting or lifting, and in the majority of instances, these noises aren’t cause for concern. This condition is called spinal crepitus, and it tends to occur when the spine or a facet joint is near the end of its natural range of motion. Below, we take a closer look at what causes this noise, and when it could be a cause for concern.
Why Does My Spine Pop?
The cracking or popping sound you sometimes hear when you move your spine into a new position tends to occur as a result of air pressure changes inside the facet joints in your spine. When these pressure changes happen as a result of movement, air bubbles within the joint fluid form or collapse, leading to these audible noises. More often than not, they are nothing to worry about.
With that said, there are some signs that suggest the sound you are hearing isn’t just an innocent air bubble that should be overlooked. These sounds can also be the result of facet joint degeneration. If a facet joint has worn down due to stress or because of the natural aging process, the sound you may be hearing could be from bone-on-bone grinding or cartilage damage.
So how can you determine if the cracking or popping sensation you’re hearing is from normal air pressure changes or a sign of a more problematic back issue? Signs that suggest you could benefit from a consultation with a spine specialist include sounds that are accompanied by:
- Pain
- Discomfort
- Swelling
- Localized weakness
Another telltale sign of a problem is how quickly the action can be repeated. When it happens organically as a result of natural air pressure changes, you can’t typically repeat the sound in succession with the same movements because the pressure has stabilized a bit. However, if the sensation is caused by bone-on-bone grinding or cartilage problems, you’ll feel the same sensation time after time if you try to repeat the action in quick succession. Being able to repeat the sound quickly, especially if it is paired with the above symptoms, suggests that there may be more going on with your spinal condition.
If you believe that your spinal cracking may be caused by an underlying spine issue, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi’s office today to get an individualized diagnosis and treatment plan. Left untreated, the condition will typically worsen since it was your daily actions that led to the degeneration in the first place. We can walk you through simple non-operative treatment options that can strengthen your spine and help protect areas that have been weakened by degeneration. In rare cases, we can also move forward with a surgical procedure to correct the issue, but we can typically stop the problem before it progresses to this stage.
