Too young for 'crunching' knees?

I’ve had crunchy knees since I was about 25. I’m 42 now and do have some occasional discomfort but the female line of my family have all had bad knees too. I remember hearing the sound mine make now, when my mum would come up the stairs during my childhood!

Im 30 and my knees crunch 😂 they’re very loud.

It’s called ‘crepitus’ which made me feel worse

I developed crunching during lockdown, I was 47 then, started with cycling. The good news is that apart from stiffness from either exercise or sitting still for an extended period of, it hasn’t got worse in 5 years, no pain

Mine make loads of crunchy sounds it’s embarrassing 🙈
especially bad going downstairs!

im 47 and had a hip replacement a few years ago due to dysplasia and arthritis so I think a lifetime of bad hip has fucked my knees too - no pain so far though…

Did you get this privately?

My knees are fucked. Been crunching pretty much my whole adult life. Have never been able to run more than 5k (and that hurt, a lot). I'm otherwise reasonably healthy and a BMI of 21

I am 59, this is the first time I have heard of crunchy knees. But take all of you PPs word on dit.

I take Omega 3 and have done for many years and have no aches or pains. I don’t ascribed it to just that because I do yoga and other lifestyle choices and am very active.

There are so many other dietary and exercise choices but supplements should be included I think, what have you got to loose?

Im your age - I thought I was young and fit then I randomly had a heart attack!

My knees (toes, ankles, neck and wrists) have gone off like fireworks my whole life, never had any pain, its just part of my crunchy charm 😁

I know a personal trainer, he must be about 40 ish and said that his knees are noisy! I said to him that mine are like that, what should I do? He said to turn the music in the gym up! 😁

Mine have done it since my 20's, physio weren't alarmed then or when I went at 38, and I have never been offered scans. I was told the second time that my knees are hypermobile and that coupled with a slightly wonky gait means that I have chronic runners knee. I get knee pain if I run or walk far or dance, but it doesn't stop me from long walks etc, I just know my knees will hurt for a few days. I'm 39. The pain was much worse when I was younger in my 20's when I didn't drive and walked everywhere and went to gigs every weekend dancing, it's actually gotten better and manageable knowing my triggers, so it doesn't necessarily mean they will need replacing on 20 years!

Hypermobility is very common cause of genetic knee issues, make sure you don't hyperextend your knees when you stand up straight. I thought this was how everyone stood until my child was diagnosed with hypermobility and the physio pointed it out to me.

I'm similar to you and my kids have named them Rice Crispie Knees

I have arthritis (not in my knees though) and mentioned to my consultant about my knees cracking. He said it’s completely normal and nothing to worry about. Obviously it’s different if you have have other symptoms. I’m mid 40s.

Not sure I'm clever enough to explain in a post - sorry! Also you might be safer consulting a physio in case it's a different cause

My knees have been doing this and I’m mid 30s - I am so so upset and have started doing physio as last year they were giving way slightly.

lol, you’re not too young, I have had crunchy knees since I was 19 due to being an elite athlete.

Mines been like that since mid/late 20s so about 10 years its only one knee but never caused an issue

I started with this at about 42 and it did come with pain - in knees and also hands. Doctor can't come up with anything other than "inflammation" (unexplained). Says its not arthritis or similar though. As long as I remember to take the Naproxen it's ok.

Glucosamine works for my 'slightly ' crunchy knees
Cheap and worth a go. Will take a while to kick in though.

Diet really can help.
I have several friends in their late 50's whom have had one knee done and now won't get the second one done.

I know of several men with double knees done and they still have pain with an improvement definitely but still not perfect.

Do as much with diet and weight that you can.

@sugarandcyanide you didn't ask me, but I have been told to massively strengthen my glutes, so I do 3 sets of 30 side leg raises and side clams on both sides every day. Plus also load my knee so I do wall squats with raised toes pushing down through my heels, while squeezing a ball between my knees. I've been doing this since Christmas and have been much better since about July. I do a Pilates class with a physio once a week and swim once a week, unfortunately I've had to give up running because time spent running is better spent doing these other things.

My doctor said the only way I’ll ever be “better” is a double knee replacement. Which they won’t do until I’m 60. I’m 30! I also don’t have £12k laying around to get it done privately.

You can try vitamins that aggressively market their “joint support” formula or physiotherapy which will have you stretching your knee up to your tits for 30 minutes a day but in reality neither will help.

Crepitus, horrible word and horrible sound haha. I’m also late 40s and my knees have sounded like they’re tearing when I walk up the stairs for years

Start two desert spoons of extra virgin olive oil every day and look at an anti inflammatory diet that includes turmeric, ginger, gut friendly foods.
Avoid red meat, eat oily fish, eggs, walnuts, dates, nut butters, almonds, brocoli and spinach.
Keep active, regular exercise and stretching.
All the above can definitely help both hip and knee issues.

I’m mid 40’s and my knees have always occasionally crunched, don’t everyone’s?