Knee pain after weight loss??

WorkinOnTheNewMe

I read that for every pound lost it takes 4 pounds of pressure off your knees. I'm so curious if this is true or not! Is there anyone who had knee pain, lost x amount of weight and now they don't have knee pain or at least as bad or often. I have over 100 lbs to lose and this is my biggest motivator. They always hurt, always grind on the stairs and when I work on my legs. Really would appreciate some input on this. Thanks!

TavistockToad

losing weight is always going to benefit the joints.

hmaddpear

Not knee pain, but I did find that my shin splints, which happened a lot when walking, stopped once I'd lost about 50lb.

wyattjenniferl97

It depends on the cause of the pain. I have lost large amounts of weight twice before. I could move much more easily, but the Arthritis was still active so I was still in pain.

deepwoodslady

I have lost about 50 of the 90 pounds I need to lose since January 2018. My knee pain has improved slightly but I still feel a need to see a doctor or perhaps wear a knee brace. However, all my hip pain is completely gone. I think inflammation improves and helps with pain around the body. However, in the case of joints, I think it may be damage I've had from all that extra weight on me for over 10 years (and being very active on my feet during that time). I'm afraid weight loss cannot reverse the damage to actual joints. But keep going! Less inflammation means you will live longer and be way more healthy. Use that also as a motivator!

AnnPT77

Yes.

I have a torn meniscus in one knee, and some osteoarthritis.

At 183 pounds, I was uncomfortable pretty much all the time, having actual pain (to the point of limping a bit, for example) maybe as much as 25% of the time, and occasionally having bouts where it hurt enough to interfere with sleep.

Now, weighing in the low 130s, it's a bit uncomfortable part of the time. I can't really give you a percentage estimate, because it's pretty ignorable. Even a slight limp is rare. I do still take care of it (choose exercises that stress my knees less, ice the worst one after workouts, use the techniques for walking and stairs that I learned in physical therapy, etc.).

But it's So. Much. Better.

RelCanonical

Yes, I would get soreness and stiffness in my left knee after walking, especially the next day. I would also get pain in my hip on the same leg. Both had old injuries. I've "only" lost 10 pounds but I can already feel a big difference, even after a day of wearing heels.

bikecheryl

I've lost 115 lbs..... the weight loss did not miraculously cure the arthritis in both my knees.

But the pain in my lower back is gone.

And I'm in so much better health now my surgeon suggested a double knee replacement instead of one at a time.

Simply wouldn't have been an option before.

kshama2001

When I had really bad knee pain a few years back and was making the rounds of medical professionals for testing, they all gently encouraged me to lose weight. I still have to baby my knees, but they are much better.

Good shoes help, as do these, which I have worked into my stretching routine and do several times per week:



I do these in between weight lifting sets:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLoMA7I7HOQ&feature=youtu.be

aokoye

As has more or less been suggested, your knee pain might not actually be entirely, mostly, or at all related to your weight. In my case it was due to where my patellas were in relation to my tibias. For better or worse, losing weight isn't going to fix a skeletal issue like that.