Can arthritis cause numbness?
Numbness is often a symptom of nerve involvement. For instance, numbness in the arm may be related to nerve irritation in the neck. In such a situation, turning or bending the head to the involved side may increase the symptoms. For example, a pinched nerve in the right side of the neck may cause numbness in the arm and hand when a person attempts to look back over the right shoulder. If nerve irritation becomes more severe, the arm and hand may become weak. A physical examination, X-rays, and an MRI of the neck, and electrodiagnostic tests may be useful in establishing the diagnosis. Why do joints make popping and cracking noises? Joints can make different noises–some are serious and some are not. Some people learn how to “pop their knuckles.” By pushing or pulling a joint in a certain way, an air bubble can suddenly appear in the joint with a “pop.” Once the bubble is there the joint cannot be popped again until the air has been reabsorbed. Some joints crack as the ligaments and ten
