About Karen Brawner Expertise I can answer questions regarding osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. I can also answer questions regarding other autoimmune diseases of which rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease.
Experience I have a family history of rheumatoid arthritis and I myself suffer from osteoarthritis. I also suffer from systemic sclerosis and CREST syndrome which are also autoimmune disease (rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease.)
I have a family history of arthiritis (mom and grandma).
I crack my knuckles frequently as well as my back, neck, ankles, toes...does this cause or contribute to the formation of arthiritis?
I am 20...what can I do if anything to prevent arthritis?
Thanks
Answer Dear Jenna, Knuckle cracking does NOT cause Rheumatoid Arthritis..... You would have to have the Rheumatoid Factor in your blood to be positive before there would even be a possibility of you having RA.....
There have been studies that show that cracking knuckles, back, neck etc could cause early Osteoarthritis which can NOT be detected by any blood work....
Since I do not know the TYPE of arthritis that your mom and grandma have I can't tell you if you are more prone to develope arthritis, but if they have Rheumatoid Arthritis, it can be genetic.... Oseoarthritis is a degenerative disc disease that happens when the cartiledge between the joints wears down... Sports, old age etc causes this type of arthritis....
