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Loud Crackling Noise In Knee When Descending Stairs, Swelling, Pain In Knee. Have Osteoatrthritis In Knee. On Cortisone Shot. Recommend
My doctor says I have osteoarthritis in my knee. He gave me a cortisone shot, which lasted almost a year. I am an active person and exercise often, so he tried a series of shots (3) of lubricant, which ended about two weeks ago. My knee had a lot of swelling, which has subsided, but it is still painful when I stoop down, etc. This weekend it started making a noticeably loud crackling noise - a staccato click - when I descend the stairs or stoop. It doesn't happen when I go up the stairs. Please, what is this? I'm frustrated.
posted on
Fri, 13 Sep 2013
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 13 Sep 2013
Answered on
Sat, 14 Sep 2013
Last reviewed on
Hi, thanks for writing to HCM.
All your symptoms in the description are common in osteoarthritic knees.
The typical crackling sounds that occur during descending stairs is due to the fact that your Quadriceps muscle should act strongly to prevent your knee from buckling during descending stairs. This strong contraction of the quadriceps pulls the patella towards the femoral condyles (which are worn out due to arthritic changes) and the friction produced during gliding movements causes the typical noise.
So, there is nothing to get frustrated as it is the result of your worn out knees.
Hope this information is helpful. Good day
All your symptoms in the description are common in osteoarthritic knees.
The typical crackling sounds that occur during descending stairs is due to the fact that your Quadriceps muscle should act strongly to prevent your knee from buckling during descending stairs. This strong contraction of the quadriceps pulls the patella towards the femoral condyles (which are worn out due to arthritic changes) and the friction produced during gliding movements causes the typical noise.
So, there is nothing to get frustrated as it is the result of your worn out knees.
Hope this information is helpful. Good day
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