You roll out your yoga mat, looking forward to a relaxing stretching session, when the cracking of your joints interrupts the silence. Or you’re sitting at your desk, and when you arch to stretch your back, the sound of your popping joints causes your co-workers to turn and stare.

While joints that pop and crack can be normal when you have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) — the most common form of lupus — they can also be frustrating and embarrassing. Keep reading for four facts to know about lupus and cracking joints.

1. You Are Not Alone

When you have a chronic autoimmune disease like lupus, it can feel like you are the only one living with joint pain, hair loss, and other common symptoms. Rest assured, you’re not alone.

Here are a few experiences MyLupusTeam members have shared about cracking joints:

• “My lower back pops and cracks when I’m doing floor exercises or yoga.”
• “I sound like a bowl of Rice Krispies with my bones popping.”
• “My joints always pop. It sounds like when I crack my knuckles.”
• “It sounds like I’m microwaving popcorn. It feels like bone on bone.”

In addition to receiving medical help for managing lupus and support from your loved ones, connecting with others who also live with lupus can provide a valuable sense of companionship, especially during flare-ups (periods of worsening symptoms). This connection can help lessen feelings of isolation and make you feel less alone in your journey. Try posting about your experience on MyLupusTeam, or find a local support group where you and others can share tips for managing medication side effects and symptoms of lupus.

2. Lupus May Not Be the Cause

Connective tissue diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and scleroderma can cause cracking and popping in the fingers, jaw, knees, shoulders, and other joints. But so can aging.

“Cracking and popping can be normal, especially as we age,” said one MyLupusTeam member.

Cracking joints can be caused by:

• Osteoarthritis (cartilage wearing away)
• Tight muscles causing friction around the bone
• Nitrogen bubbles escaping from the joint
• Inflammation in and around the joint
• Ligament or tendon movement

When the natural aging process contributes to these changes in your body, your doctor may recommend medications or gentle exercises to help. For people with lupus, inflammation may be to blame.

In lupus, a person’s immune system attacks their tissues and organs. This inflammatory disease can lead to some types of arthritis and related conditions like bursitis and tendinitis. The good news is that lupus treatments can often relieve joint pain and other symptoms.

3. Treatment Options May Be Available

Your current medication plan for treating lupus may address some of the causes of cracking joints or accompanying symptoms.

For example, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen can help address pain and inflammation. Other medications like corticosteroids or hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) might address joint cracking caused by inflammation.

Your doctor may also prescribe light exercise to reduce fluid buildup.

One MyLupusTeam member with cracking joints recommended osteopathy, a branch of medicine specializing in how muscles, bones, and joints work together. “Osteopathy has been very helpful for me overall,” they said. “It can be difficult to find a doctor of osteopathy (DO) who performs manipulative therapy, but it is definitely worth looking into.”

4. Your Doctor or a Rheumatologist Can Help

Cracking joints are generally not a cause for concern. If you notice pain or swelling or experience the sensation in parts of your body where you didn’t previously, schedule an appointment with your rheumatologist or another healthcare provider.

“If there is swelling or pain in the joint, definitely be seen,” one MyLupusTeam member said. “But it wouldn’t hurt to mention it at your next appointment anyway.”

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyLupusTeam is the social network for people with lupus and their loved ones. On MyLupusTeam, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with lupus.

Do you experience cracking joints with lupus? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or start a conversation on your Activities page.