Knee problems

[The Unknown Gomer]

Looking for a little input/advice from anyone who is having/has had knee issues.

I've always had problems with my joints, going back 20+ years to high school, my knees in particular. Usually it kicks in when the weather changes, or when it rains, or what have you, but it's never been this consistantly bad for this long; I've been gimping around, off and on, mostly on, since Christmas. I've had it checked twice before, and the doctors always say the same thing, 800mg of ibuprofen 3 times a day. Which I've been doing for several weeks now, and finally thought I'd better quit when the last two times I took it, I ended up with a really bad upset stomach, even when I took it with food.

So now I'm trying Aleve, which while it didn't upset my stomach, does NOT seem to be doing much of anything else this morning either.

Based on what I've read, it sounds like tendonitis... pain below the kneecap in the front, squatting hurts, going up and down stairs hurts, more painful after sitting for a while, etc. etc.

What I'm trying to figure out is if my stationary bike riding is having an adverse affect on it and irritating it. You'd think so, with all that back and forth motion, but once I start riding and my knees warm up a bit, it's actually the one time that it DOESN'T hurt. So I'm thinking the bike ride might actually be good for it.

Any thoughts from the CARAT gallery? Is it just because I turned 40 this past year, do the body parts that were of questionable quality earlier in life just arbitrarily start falling apart after 40? :confused: :P

[Tracey]

Sheesh I hope it's not just because you're 40...I am 20 and have the same problem. My right knee mostly gives me a lot of pain. I did have a soccer injury and never really allowed it to heal as it probably should have...so I just assume that's why I have mine. But just as you...the only time I really have difficulties is weather change. Also if I get on my Knees to do something I can feel my knee cap shift over...usually to the right. Hurts like the dickens. Unlikely you, I have not been to a doctor about my knee problem...I just suck it up. Sorry I don't have any advice for you...but at least you know you're not alone and i am half your age. :eek:

[Salome]

Well, it sounds like you need to help your doctor. ;) I'd be leary of a doctor whose only help is medicine. I've been having back pain off and on for the past 10 years. When my back spasm'd so bad twice in the course of one year that warranted a trip to the ER (I had stockpiled enough pain killers that I didn't need to the 2nd time), I went to my doctor and asked him if he could write an order for a physical therapist. This past summer I made about 6 to 8 trips to the PT with the goal of bringing home specific exercises and stretches for a home program.

Research knee pain. Exercise your quadriceps and hamstrings with strength training and stretching. These are the muscles that support your knees. Here's a website I found for you: http://www.bigkneepain.com/knee-exercises.html

It has a brother site, bigbackpain.com that I plan on checking out. Each individual is different, but trying to find out as much as you can through your own research I'm sure will help.

40 is a few months away for me. I've seen in older family members how debilitating back and knee pain can be. I want to enjoy as best I can all the days of my life here on earth so I'm trying to be proactive!! Good Luck to you.

[Jake]

I'm 20 and had the same symptoms you did. They thought I had tendonitis, and gave me a shot, which worked for a few months. When the pain persisted, they ran an MRI which revealed I had a torn ligament. I had knee surgery the Monday before Thanksgiving, and I haven't had any pain since...

[EmmoGomer]

I have a strained ligament in my left knee (caused by a footaballing injury :rolleyes:). I had an arthroscopy http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=33 some years ago which I can't say helped much. I recently had more investigations done and was told I has arthiritus in that knee and I could really do with a new knee joint (It would only last for 10 years though and then I'd need a new one), as I have nothing left between my joint now :(.
It is only by God's grace I think, that I am not in complete agony. I do have pain on occasion, but nothing like it potentially could be.
My doctor recommended I take Glucosamine Suphate. I think this is helping a lot. It may help you too Karen.
The same doctor also said that very low impact excersise was the way to go. Swimming (but keeping legs straight), Aqua arobics and that kind of thing. It's all about building up the muscles in your knees not jarring them.

[Tracey]

Emily your cause is just old age :P jk jk

[Jill C. in AZ]

Wow it's amazing that I saw a post for this today. I am having terrible knee problems. I have had a grinding in my knees for years since I sprained the right one skiing years ago. I have not had bad pain until I fell Christmas day outside my condo on ice and snow since I live in Colorado now. I have been extremely gimpy since. I have been to two different orthopedic surgeons. They both say I need what is called a lateral release surgery and the second one even said I should probably have a patella or partial knee replacement. What fun since I am a single mom and cannot afford this. I'll just pray and do what the doctors say. That's all I can do. Will be praying for everyone else on this thread too!

[Tony Trout]

I'll agree with Tracey...you're just old, Karen....

(J/K!)

Knee problems (and for us who have back problems) aren't any fun....will be praying for ya, my fellow NC buddy.

[Whiteheart]

Based on what I've read, it sounds like tendonitis... pain below the kneecap in the front, squatting hurts, going up and down stairs hurts, more painful after sitting for a while, etc. etc.



Sounds exactly like something I had/have from time to time. Esp after a long shift of getting in and out of the car all the time.

Have a look around the net for infrapatellar bursitis. It could be this you have.

R

[kiwisongbird]

Our doctor in New Zealand told us it's good to get an exercycle and get up to a really fast speed, somehow it polishes your kneecaps and strengthens them.... so we are going to buy one - I guess riding your bike does the same, it's just really polluted here and the hot season is coming as well, so riding outside for any great length of time might be healthy for your knee caps but not for your lungs! :)

[The Unknown Gomer]

Thanks for all the great advice, y'all. (Except for Tony, who just called me OLD! :P ;) ).

Having been taking Aleve all week and seeing no real noticeable improvement, I finally followed the advice of my mother and Doug, who suggested over the weekend that I go ahead and have a doctor check it out. I've got an appointment to have it looked at on Monday. Since I normally avoid doctors like the plague, that's a pretty good indication that I'M sick of dealing with it at this point.

Going to have to look up my Blue Cross coverage and see what the statute of limitations is on what they call "pre-existing conditions". I've had insurance via BCBSNC for nearly 3 years now and have NEVER been seen for a knee problem in all that time. My boss seems to think that that should be MORE than ample time for this to NOT be considered pre-existing for an insurance company, but that I should definitely check first. I look at it this way, if this is the same issue that I've had problems with in the past, the ibuprofen should have cleared it up in a week or so. And it's not. Which means it is something NEW, meaning it's not pre-existing. With any luck they'll see it that way too...

Just hope it's not the stationary bike that's causing the problem. I'm up to 6 miles every other day or so and have kind of gotten into a groove, I really don't want to give it up now. And it's not like it hurts while I'm pedaling; it's really the only time it DOESN'T hurt. ('course, it hurts like the dickins just as soon as I get OFF, so that may be a bad sign :rolleyes: ...)

[Tony Trout]

Thanks for all the great advice, y'all. (Except for Tony, who just called me OLD! :P ;) ).

:P ;)

Having been taking Aleve all week and seeing no real noticeable improvement, I finally followed the advice of my mother and Doug, who suggested over the weekend that I go ahead and have a doctor check it out. I've got an appointment to have it looked at on Monday. Since I normally avoid doctors like the plague, that's a pretty good indication that I'M sick of dealing with it at this point.

Going to have to look up my Blue Cross coverage and see what the statute of limitations is on what they call "pre-existing conditions". I've had insurance via BCBSNC for nearly 3 years now and have NEVER been seen for a knee problem in all that time. My boss seems to think that that should be MORE than ample time for this to NOT be considered pre-existing for an insurance company, but that I should definitely check first. I look at it this way, if this is the same issue that I've had problems with in the past, the ibuprofen should have cleared it up in a week or so. And it's not. Which means it is something NEW, meaning it's not pre-existing. With any luck they'll see it that way too...

Just hope it's not the stationary bike that's causing the problem. I'm up to 6 miles every other day or so and have kind of gotten into a groove, I really don't want to give it up now. And it's not like it hurts while I'm pedaling; it's really the only time it DOESN'T hurt. ('course, it hurts like the dickins just as soon as I get OFF, so that may be a bad sign :rolleyes: ...)



Awww...will be prayin' for ya, Miss Karen!!

*HUGS*

(see? I can be a softie when needed! ;) :P )

[The Unknown Gomer]

*HUGS* BACK TO YA, Tony :)

And I have to be COMPLETELY honest... if the doctor is to say to give the knee a break and stay off the bike, well, since exercise has never been my thing, if I'm ordered off of it, you really won't hear me putting up too much of a fuss. I never have to be told twice to NOT exercise! :P

Although what will probably happen is she'll probably give me OTHER exercises, stretches and strengthening, etc. that will be WORSE than the bike ride. Gaah. That would be bad. *ick*

[Pixie Wildflower]

*HUGS* BACK TO YA, Tony :)

And I have to be COMPLETELY honest... if the doctor is to say to give the knee a break and stay off the bike, well, since exercise has never been my thing, if I'm ordered off of it, you really won't hear me putting up too much of a fuss. I never have to be told twice to NOT exercise! :P

Although what will probably happen is she'll probably give me OTHER exercises, stretches and strengthening, etc. that will be WORSE than the bike ride. Gaah. That would be bad. *ick*

I would going to suggest some stretching and yoga. This helps make you more flexible. I assume you warm up a little before you ride the bike. *hugs*

[1inamillion]

i've got bad knees...well yeah they are always hurting and nothing helps..and they crack really loud when i kneel down...its weird

[The Unknown Gomer]

Well, had my doctor's appointment today.

My latest issues are apparently the result of 20 years of my kneecaps - which, when they're working properly are supposed to move up and down when they move - moving somewhat more laterally, which has caused the "stuff" (cartilage, tendons, whatever) underneath to be worn away unevenly. (I explained it to my mom tonight by saying it's like when your tires are out of alignment and you wear more tread off either the inside or outside edge unevenly.)

Apparently I'm doing good with taking the anti-inflammatories, and *yay* my bike rides are actually GOOD for it! :cool: Maybe I can watch another half hour of The Mummy Returns tomorrow morning while I'm pedaling. Woot! Great movie.

And I get to go back and see their onsite physical therapist on Monday next week and see if he can't wrangle up some sort of therapy to "strengthen my quads" I think the doctor said, to see if that will improve the movement in my knees.

So we'll see where this goes. Very happy that I didn't waste $100 and an entire afternoon buying and putting together all the wee pieces of the stationary bike back in January. :)