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21 years
I was doing my workouts in gym and I got crackling in my shoulder bones, dr. told me there is scratches whiten your bones without any checking up on my shoulder, I used gel and relax but no progress
Aug 26, 2014

Dr. Zakia Dimassi Pediatrics
Shoulder snapping or popping is a very common issue. The shoulder is a very complex joint composed of bone, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and two different linings we call the synovium and the bursa. In the event of injury to any of these structures, the smoothly functioning shoulder can produce sounds such as popping, snapping or clicking. These injuries need not be major trauma; they can be simply due to everyday use, chronic repetitive stress of sports.
The clicking or snapping is most commonly due to everyday use and changes that occur naturally within our joints and is not an issue to worry about. Painless clicking and popping usually does not require any treatment at all.
On the other hand, clicking or popping of shoulder may also appear soon after an injury. If this is the case, then the sustained injury may be significant, such as in the following scenarios:
• If your shoulder was injured and it is now sliding in and out of place (instability), it may snap or pop.
• If the rotator cuff was injured or torn, the torn edge could snap or pop. The rotator cuff is a group of four small muscles which control the motion of the shoulder. It is called a cuff because the muscles all come together and completely cover the top of the arm bone.
• If the labrum of the shoulder was torn, your shoulder may also snap or pop.
• A piece of cartilage has torn loose and you have a “loose body” getting caught in the shoulder.
• If the snapping is in the back of the shoulder, it could be an issue with your shoulder blade, or scapula.
Labral Tears or SLAP lesions :
The shoulder labrum is a rim of tissue around the socket of the shoulder. It serves as an attachment for the ligaments, and it helps maintain the ball of the shoulder in position. If the labrum or cartilage in the shoulder is torn a result of a single traumatic event or repetitive stress, then it may be separating from the bone or becoming caught in shoulder and causing a pop or a snap.
Rotator Cuff Tears
If the rotator cuff tendons are subject to injury, then there is a loose edge within the shoulder that can press against other ligaments or structures in the shoulder. This may lead to painful snapping or popping..
Arthritis
Arthritis stands for the loss of cartilage or the cushioning on the ends of our bones. If the cartilage is rough, growing thinner, or absent, the surfaces of the shoulder will be rough and causing clicking, snapping and popping. In this case, the cartilage literally peels off the bone underneath. These flaps or pieces can cause clicking and popping.

In order to pin down the exact cause of your shoulder pain/clicking sound, you should get a proper examination of the shoulder. Also note that topical anti inflammatory drugs are not effective in reducing the inflammation and pain. You need to take oral medication (like Advil or Airtal) for 5-7 days, in addition to rest. Mind you, the period of shoulder rest will vary according to the extent of injury, if any.
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Dr. Rania Mousa General Medicine
Generally popping or cracking is considered normal and nothing to be concerned about, especially if it occurs infrequently and without pain.

It can be hard to pinpoint what is causing the popping sensation. There are a few possible causes of popping. It is believed that ligaments can cause the sensation as they tighten when a joint moves. It also can be related to a tendon snapping around a joint.

Popping joints can also be due to rough joint surfaces from cartilage loss and osteophytes associated with osteoarthritis.

It is theorized that when knuckles are cracked intentionally, nitrogen bubbles inside the synovial (joint) fluid escape and cause popping.

Although it may seem like popping is deserving of attention or treatment, there is nothing that needs to be done unless the popping is tied to other, more concerning symptoms, such as pain and swelling. If you are losing range of motion in the joint that pops or if the joint locks when it pops, you should have it evaluated. Popping joints are not necessarily predictive of future problems.

so if there is pain too beside popping or cracking the pain is from the rotator cuff .
your shoulder is made up of several joints combined with tendons and muscles that allow a great range of motion in your arm. Because so many different structures make up the shoulder, it is vulnerable to many different problems. The rotator cuff is a frequent source of pain in the shoulder.

your pain can result from

Rotator cuff pain is common among young men who use their arms overhead for swimming, baseball, and tennis are particularly vulnerable. Those who do repetitive lifting or overhead activities using the arm, such as paper hanging, construction, or painting are also susceptible

Pain can be the result of:
-Tendinitis. The rotator cuff tendons can be irritated or damaged.
-Bursitis. The bursa can become inflamed and swell with more fluid causing pain.
-Impingement. When you raise your arm to shoulder height, the space between the acromion and rotator cuff narrows. The acromion can rub against (or "impinge" on) the tendon and the bursa, causing irritation and pain.

Painless clicking of the shoulder is not abnormal, but where it is associated with pain and/or instability it is pathological

if the pain is persistent you had to check with orthopedic doctor to make physical examination and further tests and images for better treatment depending on the severity .

At the mean while you must rest,ideally it is recommended to immobilize the shoulder for a period between 3 to 4 weeks and you can anti inflammatory pain killer such as proxen or other ibuprofen
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