I realize that this is an old post, but I was googling the grinding, crunching, and popping noises and it led me to this post. Maybe someone can help me.

My husband can hear my back when I'm putting on my pajamas. I had a fusion on L5 S1, and there is hardware. It sounds and feels like the hardware has broken. What are the chances of that happening? It was installed in 2008. I get shrugged off when I ask the doctor. Sometimes I just move my arms or legs and it happens.My back is very painful with or without the noises. I still have some herniated disks and fibromyalgia on top of it. I take a lot of lyrica.

Ragtop, I believe that what people have told you the noises are is called "cavitation". That's like when you crack your knuckles and it pops. The noises that I hear from my back are not cavitation-type noises.

Has anyone had this mystery solved?