medical students please--question about joint

[Lina E]

pain and not eating enough? I'm wondering if anyone who knows what they're talking about can help me. I'm 20 yr old femaIe, 5 ft, 93 lbs. I've have had anorexia for about a year and a half..i'm actually a lot better mentally than i was when this first started but i still don't eat enough everyday and i know that..i us to eat around 700-800, which is better than 300 (so i've improved), but recently i've been under MAJOR stress because of the holidays...finals and a christmas pageant everynight..and i have been eating less and less..now its about 400. i really just don't eat that much because i have no time to focus on food at all..i'll eat an apple for lunch and maybe a sandwich for dinner or a couple bites of something. and lots of coffee because i need energy. I'm so worn out that my joints hurt so bad lately..mostly my knees and my shoulders always make cracking noises..can you help me understand why this is (like specifics)??? i know i should go to a doctor but just avoid going at all costs. thanks so much.thanks everyone who answered :) some of these did help

[GuItArPwNaGe]

I know this is easyier said then done...but EAT

[rgs3girls]

YOU NEED A DR> NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the joint pain is probably something called "crepitus" this is when the joints are rubbing against each other causing the cracking noise and pain. You may be risking your health by not seeing a Dr. immediately..... Anorexia is DANGEROUS YOU CAN DIE!PLEASE for your sake and the sake of your family go to the Dr. the joint thing can be fixed with some ibuprofen, rest, therapy etc..... YOU cannot be replaced.....PLEASE>>>>>

[Heather A]

When your body is lacking certain things, such as calcium or potassium for example, it causes numerous symptoms that can sometimes be caused directly by the low intake. Too much or too little of certain things can cause muscle pain, and even affect your heart. I'm not sure what type of food you eat when you eat a meal, but I strongly believe you aren't getting enough calorie and vitamin intake. Since you eat so little already, easy yourself into eating more that usual instead of doing it all at once so you don't get sick. I STRONGLY recommend you eat more or your body can not properly function and it will affect your health in the long run and could cause numerous serious problems. I'm not sure about the cracking noises, but I believe the pain could be related to your eating habits. It could be loose cartilage, injured ligaments, or a type of tendinitis. If you have the ability, you should see a doctor.Good luck and feel better soon!

[StormChick0587]

Its hard to determine what could be the cause of the joint pain. Not getting enough nutrition is one reason why you could be experiencing pain and shoulder popping; for your knees, however, if you have gained weight, its normal for your knees to ache. The knees are one of the joints that bear a significant amount of weight, and changes in weight can cause knee pain. Be sure to at least get more calcium into your diet, whether its eating a cup of yogurt or drinking a glass of milk. As for getting more calories into your diet, if you enjoy soup, buy some of those campbells soups "to go" that come in a cup. They work wonders for me (i am a full time college student working a full time job so i know what its like to have a lot on your plate) all you have to do is pop them in a mic and drink. Good luck, and hopefully you find an answer to your question.