Anyone have any tips for knee pain

[blkane]

I've just about had it with my knees. Way back in 1986, I had a head on collision and smashed my knees into the dash squooshing all the soft cushiony stuff in my knees. They have never been the same.

Okay, flash to 2005, I've been working out religiously since 8/2003 using The Firm and Cathe. My leg strength is improving but I can be completely undone by chronic knee pain. AFter a workout, I end up walking up stairs like a 90 year old woman. I'm fanatical about form because of my problem so I don't think it's that. Knees over ankles is my mantra! ohm.

I'm trying glucosamine supplements but I've only done about a weeks worth. I understand it may take longer to show any effects?

Does anyone have any tips on how to help?

Thanks

 

[ldy_solana]

if you have constant pain i would seek medical advice b/c maybe there is something else going on that could be causing pain and the workouts just aggravate it.

kassia



When they discover the center of the universe, a lot of people will be
disappointed to discover they are not it -- Bernard Bailey

 

[40something]

I so agree with the advice to see a doctor about this. I had an injury to my upper spine and I couldn't work out for two years after the accident. But then I was able to very slowly get back to exercising. Now, I have days where that injury will hurt and for me it takes a visit to my chiro to get me literally straightened out and keeping my back muscles strong helps to lessen the occurances of pain but in your situation...you really need to talk to an ortho about the amount of pain you are experiencing. That is not normal and I wouldn't take any chances by just continuing to ignore it. Seek medical advice. If you were seeing an ortho after the accident I would call his/her office and schedule a recheck.

I was also going to add that you may also need to change the types of workouts that you do. If your knees suffered heavy damage you may not be able to do the high impact workouts of Cathe. I would not workout if your knees are hurting but you may want to try just walking/speed walking and exercise bikes to take the weight and impact off of your knees. Oh, and swimming would be perfect for you since there is no weight bearing at all. Do you have access to a pool at your gym?

But please do call your doctor tomorrow and schedule an appointment before you continue on with anymore exercise.

 

[laura35]

did you ever have any therapy done to your knees? Light therapy really helps.Aslo you can put cold packs on your knees after your workouts. Also your doctor possibly could prescribe you a motrin cream to rub on them a coup;le times a day and also give you pain patches that might help. You may have athritis in your knees. sometimes after a person either breaks bones or has some kind of replacement ,arthritis sometimes sets in causing pain and all you can do for that is find something that eases the discomfort. But I agree with the other two posts, see your doctor first then you can go from there. good luck!

 

[blkane]

No, I've never done therapy. And, yes, I guess I should see the Dr. Gosh I hate doing that for some reason.

The pain is not so much a delibitating "yeeow" as it is a "dang, that's annoying" kinda thing. But, it's gotten to the point where leg presses are a problem after the 8th rep. The leg muscles are still able to move but the knees resist. And, don't get me started on lunges. Last night, I was doing Maximum Body Shaping. The last sets of lunge/dips were just plain not happening. I ended up throwing in the towel and hobbling around for the rest of the night. Like I said, dang that's annoying.

 

[Imafitnessfreak]

Maybe try icing for 15-20 minutes immediately...as soon as your done stretching. Try that until you can get to see a doctor...and I'd go to a specialist. Perhaps try a Sports Medicine MD.

 

[40something]

Absolutely if you sustained a series injury your doctor should have referred you for physical therapy.

I think you need to start back at square one and see your doctor about this old injury, explain what is happening and the pain you are experiencing. I would ask to be referred to an ortho for an indepth examine by someone who specializes in joint injury.

I don't know how old you are but keep in mind that with any serious injury such as yours, the discomfort will only increase as you age. If it hurts like this and you're 20/30...wait till you're 45 and you will be kicking yourself for not seeking treatment earlier.

It's your body, we can only make recommendation's.

 

[blkane]

I wish I were 20/30..LOL The injury happened when I was 26 and I'm now 45. And, you are right, the discomfort is getting worse the older I get and the heavier I get (sigh).

At the time, my knees were not my concern. I compressed my rib cage and cracked my sternum on the steering wheel (pre-airbags) so the Doc's didn't pay much attention to the knees. It was probably my fault for not pushing the issue.

Okay, everyone's right. I need to get this issue back into the Doc's office.

 

[kathryn]

On form: watch that your knees don't buckle inward on squats and lunges. It's a very common form error, and one that can have disasterous effects on the knee joint. Squat/lunge in front of a mirror, and always pay attention to this.

Make sure you warm-up thoroughly (at least 10 minutes) before doing weight work, and gradually increase the range of motion in the knee joint during that warm-up.

You can also use cold after the workout to help prevent any swelling that might be contributing to pain.

Taking antiinflammatory nutrients, like omega oils (in flax), mangosteen (a nutrient-rich berry extract), can be of benefit. Like the glucosamine, it may take several weeks or months to notice any effects.

For cardio, pay attention to what kind of moves bother the knee. I find that impact itself is not as much of a problem as torque. And with quite a few Cathe step workouts, I have to watch the torque. I don't do flying angels or ricochets for that reason. I also make sure to watch foot placement on any movements that transfer me from the side of the step to the front or vice versa. I notice that in quite a few workouts, those transitions must be made with a WIDE step, or a BACKWARD step to avoid torque (and Cathe does this, but does not cue us to do it, or tell us to pay attention to it).