Knee injury making weight loss difficult.

CattOfTheGarage

Hi all,

I've been back on the weight loss track for a few days, and I'm doing OK so far but struggling because I've picked up a knee injury which severely limits how much exercise I can do. Previously I've relied a lot on exercise calories to bring my daily goal up to a decent level, as my default numbers are pretty low. With few-to-no exercise calories I'm beginning to feel hungry and a bit deprived. I'm concerned this isn't sustainable.

Any advice? Should I just reduce my weight loss goal to increase my daily calorie allowance? Deferring weight loss until I've recovered is not ideal, as even before the injury I had become heavy enough to start affecting my joints and I feel taking a bit of weight off will help recovery.

VintageFeline

I'd just lower my goal, your knee will likely recover better with more intake to help the healing process too.

CattOfTheGarage

Good point

NorthCascades

Eat less to balance your reduced activity. Make sure you're eating the right stuff, though.

Last October I got hit by a car while doing hill repeats on my bike. Spent two days at the hospital. I'm used to doing a lot of exercise and this put an end to it for months. It was miserable, and the cabin fever was very hard to deal with. But I lost weight through it. You can, too.

godlikepoetyes

My knee is fritzing right now. I've been dancing, in my chair, standing in place. Even when I can't get up I sit and jam and do air drums. It's a really great workout! You can also concentrate on your upper body. Someone on the boards suggested this and it is very true.

MityMax96

weight lifting?
Heavy weights.....add muscle.

blh202

Swimming, row machine and cycling are good too. Just watched an Extreme Home Makeover edition where a man lost 250 lbs. in one year with two knees that needed surgery and were only hanging on by a thread. Great motivator for when injuries try to get the best of us. Good luck on your journey!

mitch16

What is the nature of your knee injury? There is a pretty big difference for what you should or shouldn't do if the injury is something like a sprain/strain versus meniscus damage or a torn ligament.

questionfear

Is your knee injury something that will heal quickly or are you going to need physical therapy?

I've had two knee surgeries, and managed to lose or maintain my weight in part because all the PT kept me moving (safely!)

Colorscheme

bhayden202 wrote: »

Swimming, row machine and cycling are good too. Just watched an Extreme Home Makeover edition where a man lost 250 lbs. in one year with two knees that needed surgery and were only hanging on by a thread. Great motivator for when injuries try to get the best of us. Good luck on your journey!

I second swimming. I have permanent damage from a car accident. Normally, running/jogging is fine but when it's bad weather or there's a bad flare up, I can't do it. Swimming is gentle on the joints.

CattOfTheGarage

Thanks for all the input, guys. I was wondering about weight lifting while sitting down, anyone have any advice on this? I have never lifted before.

I'm awaiting an appointment with orthopaedics, don't actually know the nature of the problem yet. A cracked kneecap was suspected but had an x-ray today and nothing obvious. I fell hard onto both knees, thought they were just bruised but one got better and the other still giving trouble. I just need to hang fire and take it easy until I know more. But want to carry on losing weight in the meantime.

ElizabethOakes2

I feel your pain! Just did two weeks of physical therapy and am now in a knee brace- I'm at least back to walking, but swimming is awesome if you can get to a pool. Lifting can be done sitting- There's some great videos on Youtube- Look for "chair workout"! Also, Yoga!

Colorscheme

CattOfTheGarage wrote: »

Thanks for all the input, guys. I was wondering about weight lifting while sitting down, anyone have any advice on this? I have never lifted before.

I'm awaiting an appointment with orthopaedics, don't actually know the nature of the problem yet. A cracked kneecap was suspected but had an x-ray today and nothing obvious. I fell hard onto both knees, thought they were just bruised but one got better and the other still giving trouble. I just need to hang fire and take it easy until I know more. But want to carry on losing weight in the meantime.

You can have a negative x-ray and a break. It happened to me. An MRI picked up comminuted fractures up and down the right side of my kneecap after my car accident when the x-ray did not.

I too recently fell on my knees. I tripped over my gutter in the driveway and slammed both knees on the ground. I skinned them, and luckily there was just some bruising and scraped knees. Good luck.

kshama2001

CattOfTheGarage wrote: »

Thanks for all the input, guys. I was wondering about weight lifting while sitting down, anyone have any advice on this? I have never lifted before.

I'm awaiting an appointment with orthopaedics, don't actually know the nature of the problem yet. A cracked kneecap was suspected but had an x-ray today and nothing obvious. I fell hard onto both knees, thought they were just bruised but one got better and the other still giving trouble. I just need to hang fire and take it easy until I know more. But want to carry on losing weight in the meantime.

Since you've never weight lifted and are going to a specialist, why don't you try to get a referral for physical therapy? Your therapist can teach you how to lift weights.

Your team can suggest exercises that you can do.

My official knee diagnosis is "pain with activity". I started with walking about 20 minutes and built up to 68 minutes plus hills over time. I also garden, lift weights, practice yoga, and will be swimming once the water in the pond is warm enough - hopefully this time next month!

CattOfTheGarage

Yes, I'll seek out physio when I've got more info, I'll probably get referred. All I had today was a quick "nothing obvious" from the radiographers, GP hasn't seen it yet but thinks I will probably end up in an MRI. Which is exciting.

Again, thanks everyone for your input!

kshama2001

My X-ray showed nothing; my MRI showed possible early arthritis, hence the vague "pain with activity" diagnosis.

snickerscharlie

CattOfTheGarage wrote: »

Hi all,

I've been back on the weight loss track for a few days, and I'm doing OK so far but struggling because I've picked up a knee injury which severely limits how much exercise I can do. Previously I've relied a lot on exercise calories to bring my daily goal up to a decent level, as my default numbers are pretty low. With few-to-no exercise calories I'm beginning to feel hungry and a bit deprived. I'm concerned this isn't sustainable.

Any advice? Should I just reduce my weight loss goal to increase my daily calorie allowance? Deferring weight loss until I've recovered is not ideal, as even before the injury I had become heavy enough to start affecting my joints and I feel taking a bit of weight off will help recovery.

If you have access to a pool, water jogging is an excellent form of exercise without the stress on your knee.