Dr. Timothy K. Durnin - 11/25/2007

Question
hi Dr.Durnin,
I'm having a host of problems that are seriously irritating me. i don't know why but it seems that my body is very faulty. i creek, click,pop,pow,thud, snap and crinkle. my joints keep on making noises. why is this? and its really loud, my friends can hear it. i have costochondritis (tietze) and i also have hyper extendable muscles and joints. I'm a dancer, yoga practicer and flexible. i slip things out of place on a daily bases, from my knee, hip, to my ribs, to my jaw.  I'm suffering from server back pain. the pain is more the the left side but i also feel pain in my spine. i crick my spine often by twisting my upperbody bother to the left and right. it makes a real racket, loud deep thudding noises! i got the injury on the left side of my back from stretching up and down one day. on my way down i felt something snap and i was stuck in an L position for a while until my school nurse came. By the way, I'm 17. so my real questions are:

1. why do my joints make so much noise

2.why do i keep on dislocating things (i dislocate joints in my sleep)

3. i find it weird and painful sometimes when i breath, the last 2 ribs on my rib case click or move( i can see it happen thought my skin) is this normal. i also get blinding sudden tear starting shots of pain in my chest, from my chostocondritist, can i do anything about it?

4. when i stand for too long, my knees give out, why?

5. is it a good thing to keep on cricking my body parts? i honestly feel uncomfortable when i don't.

6. the tendons in the back of my had like to bow string and come off tracks, what can i do?

7. when i write for too long, my hand seizes up and when i stretch it out, it hurts and everything crinkles. what can i do and is this normal.

8.my elbows do this strange thing, like they slide slightly out of place(this i just noticed) and i cant bend properly. what am i to do?

9. i think i might have messed up a disk in my back, how can i tell?

10. my knees also need to be cricked so that i can move comfortable. i crick them my suddenly kicking my leg out in front of me and giving it a slight twist causing movement in my knee cap and a sudden pop.

11. also when i write for too long or type, i have to flash out my wrist repeatedly. it makes repeated loud snappin noises. this sound subsides after i have flashed my wrist long enough.

12. i think i may also hav athritist, how can i tell?

I'll leave my questions there.  please answer them all and feel freeze to make any comments or suggestions. i understand the cricks of my body, but i still need some clarity. im still going to be going to my doc.... soon, but i want a second opinion. im not about to go and mess up the one body i have
i really feel like an 80 year old in a 17 year old body.

thanks in advance
  
Jodi

Answer
Hi Jodi,

I would be happy to address all these issues by phone since the magnitude of complaints precludes written correspondence. In addition, asking you pertinent questions will precipitate a better answer, my number is 708-466-9994, feel free to call Monday between 1-4 pm CST.

Talk to you soon!

Dr. Timothy Durnin