Does popping joints give you arthritis?

I had severe wrist joint clicking and stiffness recently and was terrified of arthritis. My doctor did a physical check and assured me that clicking without pain is completely normal and harmless. Once I rested my hand and did basic stretches, the stiffness went away.

Popping alone might not cause arthritis, but if you have clicking accompanied by a dull ache or swelling, do not ignore it like I did. I delayed showing my knee clicking to a doctor and it turned out to be a ligament tear. Get a checkup done if it hurts.

Medically speaking, joint popping is called crepitus and is usually caused by nitrogen bubbles bursting in the synovial fluid. It has no proven link to osteoarthritis. However, if the popping is painful or followed by restricted movement, a clinical evaluation is recommended.

I completely understand the anxiety behind this, as every joint sound can make you think of severe bone disease. But honestly, joint popping is very common and completely safe as long as there is no pain. Try not to stress too much about the sounds.