sitting while awake isn't quite the same thing as lying while asleep is it?

Bias is a funny thing.

There is no indication that any anti inflammatory agents tend to increase joint cracking. Not for potent physiologically active anti inflammatory agents, let alone untested, theoretical, non-physiologic and at the very best mild anti inflammatory agents. In fact, teleologically speaking, one would expect anti inflammatory agents to DECREASE joint cracking, not INCREASE it.

That any chemical is "released" during sleep (or any other activity) is a gross oversimplification of how the body works. Like claiming insulin is "released" after eating ignores the fact that insulin is also "released" during starvation.

I do find your enthusiasm somewhat intriguing if not slightly misguided. I know that I may come off sounding preachy or nasty, that is not my intention. It is the limitation of both my writing style and the written word that I tend to irritate when I only intend to good-naturedly cajole.

yes, immobility, not hallucinogenic chemicals, seems to be a more likely answer to me also.

cute post though.

Jointcracker,

Why do you suppose it may be that the "medical community" has felt that joint cracking is not a significant public health issue?

well, I was really thinking more along the lines of sprains. Or perhaps even less serious injuries. It seems to me that with even minor trauma or strain to a particular joint, the propensity of that joint to "crack" increases. Just a personal observation of mine, maybe other people don't have the same experiences.

Interestingly, a few years ago I was body surfing at the beach and got flipped over and slammed into the sand face first as my body flipped over. I thought for sure I had broken my neck, but as I got up and was able to move all my extremities, I took a sigh of relief and walked away.

Ever since then, I have been able to crack my neck right at the base of the skull and sometimes it is the most intense (and even occasionally one of the more satisfying) "joints" to crack.

I can certainly understand wanting to take out your frustrations on others, but understanding is not the same thing as agreement.

It is about what you want to hear, it is really ONLY about what you want to hear. It isn't about anything else…. except maybe why it is you are reluctant to admit that.

Based on what this site is all about and the fact that I took the time to join, it would be a pretty safe assumption that I also have many of the same symptoms that you do. Much like your doctor, my comments were only attempts to respond to you--made by somebody in good faith and with good intentions. Best of luck to you.

Personally, I can't help but to notice that there seems to be a relationship between injury and knuckle cracking in people who have a tendency toward knuckle cracking.

So, What EXACTLY were you wanting to hear? What (if anything) would have made you happy?