Back Crack and Pain — What Are Root Causes

If your back makes a strong cracking or popping sound because of the slightest twist or bending, you may wonder what’s happening. There is no consensus here, but there are a number of possible reasons why your back makes noises so often. When you are suffering from spinal issues, contact a back-pain specialist in OKC.

Why Does the Back Crack

The cracking sound is most likely because of the small, fluid-forming gas bubbles which pop between your facet joints.

Facet joints connect the back of your vertebrae. A joint capsule filled with synovial fluid is located around every facet joint and lubricates the face for smooth movements.

The air pressure inside the joints suddenly changes, leading to the formation and collapse of bubbles within the synovial fluid.

The formation and collapse of these bubbles can cause a noise that cracks or pops.

Causes of Spinal Joint Cracking

Cavitation. The fluid capsule, known as synovial fluid, lubricates the joints and enables smooth and comfortable movements to be found around each side of the joint. A crepitus theory suggests that when the joint is expanded, air pressure within the joint suddenly changes and a synovial fluid bubble that produces a popping sound develops and collapses.

Snapping of the ligament or tendon. A snapping sound similar to joint cracks or pop can be created if a tight or tense ligament has been pulled over a bone, cartilage or other tendon or ligament surface.

Bone grinding. Deteriorated cartilage around the spinal joint can result in cracking or grinding. Cartilage can be overused and/or wear away because it causes the joint’s bones to roll together and to create a grinding sensation and sound similar to a crack or pop.

Cartilage degraded. Due to overuse and/or aging, the protective cartilage surrounding your joints can wear down over time. This worsened cartilage could cause the joint bones to rub together and cause a sound. If each movement can repeat the same cracking sound, the cause is more likely to be a deteriorated cartilage. Whatever the cause is do not remedy it on own, visit a back-pain specialist in OKC.

Pain Relief

Facet joint cracking is known to provide temporary relief from low back rigidity or joint pressure. There needs to be more research on the long-term benefits of back cracking.

Manual manipulation is a common way of relieving back and neck pain can focus on facet joints adjustments to provide a heal for pain. These changes can generate a sound of cracking.

Medical literature suggests that manual handling of the facet joints can reduce rigidity, improve motion and reduce pain temporarily.

Medical Care

If back cracking is combined with disturbing or painful symptoms, a structural or degenerative joint problem can be identified. If facet joint cracking takes place, a back-pain specialist in OKC may be needed:

Stinging, throbbing pain — Sometimes, when a joint is breached, pain that feels sharp, hot, or throbbing may occur. This pain in the spine could indicate that a joint irritates a root of the nerve.

Consistent cracking — A joint which pops or grinds steadily when it’s moved can be a sign of joint failure. Consistent joint cracks may indicate a damaged ligament or cartilage, a deteriorated synovial capsule, and/or bone-to-bone interaction from osteoarthritis or other causes.

Locking joint — The joint structures may be deteriorated when one of the spinal joints feels as it sticks or locks with certain movements.

Recent injury — When a marked change occurs following a trauma or injury in the joint, the back-pain specialist in OKC should take a look at joint function to check for structual to structural changes.

Contact Oklahoma Pain Treatment for a back pain specialist in OKC for back pain treatment.