Alright fitness gurus, I need advice!

mombie2six

Hi, all. I need some help. So I've been working out the last month. I bought an elliptical, so I'm doing that 5-6 times a week, and I'm also doing the 30 Day Shred, I'm on day 5 of that. My issue is this... something happened to my knee sometime in the last few days to the point of constant pain when walking and I can't even do a jumping jack without wanting to scream. I don't remember a specific thing that I did to hurt it, it just started hurting one day and it's getting worse with the exercise. I don't want to stop the 30 Day Shred, I really don't. Any advice on what to do for the knee so that I can keep going?? Just ibuprofen and grin and bare it? Ice? A brace? Cut the damn thing off?

Sarauk2sf

If you are in that much pain, stop exercising and see a doctor.

Dnarules

You need to let the knee heal. Trust me. If you are in pain walking, you should not do the 30 day shred. Ibuprofen, ice/heat, and rest it. You could risk a much more serious injury. If it doesn't feel better, see a doctor.

juliep1974

The 30 day shred is rough on the knees anyway. It's probably best to stop and see a doctor.

BlueBombers

You have to let it heal.

I have a messed up hip and when I screwed it up again just after The New Year I had to take some time off and then I gradually started exercising again SLOWLY. To this day I cannot incline my treadmill as much as I used to as it throws out my hip every time. I still get weekly adjustments at the chiro.

I am now having trouble with my elbow (yay) so again, had to let it rest and heal. I now wear an elbow support sleeve when I lift and it has really helped me out. You might want to look into a knee support brace that you can wear when you workout once you let it heal a bit.

Also look at your routine, you may have to modify it a bit as it may be putting more pressure on your knee. There may be another program out there that isn't as hard on the knees.

12by311

Let it heal.

Be sure when you are doing your squats in 30DS you are doing them with proper form.

DopeItUp

If you are in that much pain, stop exercising and see a doctor.

Ummmm, yeah. What kind of advice were you really expecting? Knee pain so bad that you can hardly walk should be sending up huge red flags and sirens. Even if you don't want to see a doctor, at least rest it totally for a week and then reassess how it feels. Ice and compression helps too.

BraveNewdGirl

I actually experienced exactly what you are describing. I didn't need to see a doctor, but I did have to take a full week off of doing the 30 Day Shred. Your knee needs rest, ice, compression and elevation at this point. Take some Ibuprofen to help alleviate the inflammation and allow oxygenated blood to reach the injured area. If after a few days, you're not feeling any improvement, then it might be time to have it examined by a doctor. I promise you, it's worth the wait to let the pain subside rather than risk a serious injury that will sideline you for much longer. I'm right back at it and have progressed on to Level 2!

DavPul

Exercising causes so much agony in knee that amputation is jokingly suggested as a solution. And the question is "how to keep going?"

*slowly backs out of thread*

3dogsrunning

Hi, all. I need some help. So I've been working out the last month. I bought an elliptical, so I'm doing that 5-6 times a week, and I'm also doing the 30 Day Shred, I'm on day 5 of that. My issue is this... something happened to my knee sometime in the last few days to the point of constant pain when walking and I can't even do a jumping jack without wanting to scream. I don't remember a specific thing that I did to hurt it, it just started hurting one day and it's getting worse with the exercise. I don't want to stop the 30 Day Shred, I really don't. Any advice on what to do for the knee so that I can keep going?? Just ibuprofen and grin and bare it? Ice? A brace? Cut the damn thing off?

There are some pains/injuries you keep going or modify your routine. There are some that are a stop and heal. This isnt' a niggle or a minor pain, this is screaming "stop now!" . Do not push through it.

No one ever wants to stop their exercise routine. For most it is the worst part of being injured. But there comes a point when there is no choice. Stopping to rest and heal an injury takes time, pushing through or coming back too soon will cost you much more time in the long run. Ask any runner who has battled an injury, most go back too soon and end up worse.

Ibuprofen, ice and rest would be my first course of action. Seeing a doctor is also a good idea.

rieann84

I had knee trouble when I was doing the 30 day shred, too. I know its not what you want to maybe hear...but you need to rest it.

crazybookworm

Stop any form of exercise that involves your knee. And make an appointment to see that doctor!

Capt_Apollo

you most definitely over did it. i tried 30 day shred, and it's got some exercises like side lunges, which i hate, and is an exercise most people do wrong. you probably need a few days off, some ibuprofen, and some ice and some heat.

you know 30 day shred is just a marketing name, right? it's not meant to be done 30 days in a row.

AllonsYtotheTardis

If you are in that much pain, stop exercising and see a doctor.

^^^ This. Seriously.


Also - I'm a runner, and my knees still can't tolerate 30DS. Jumping Jacks are ****ing evil.

Ninkyou

Let it heal or it could become worse. And see a doctor.

f1redshoes

you most definitely over did it. i tried 30 day shred, and it's got some exercises like side lunges, which i hate, and is an exercise most people do wrong. you probably need a few days off, some ibuprofen, and some ice and some heat.

you know 30 day shred is just a marketing name, right? it's not meant to be done 30 days in a row.

I always thought people would just understand that automatically, but lately I've realised they really don't! I have a different JM DVD and she mentions doing 3-4 workouts a week, and I'm pretty sure she says that on all of them. I've been an athlete all my life and the thought of even 7 days without a break sounds too much, even for me!

OP, at the very least you need to rest and follow the good advice re: ice, ibuprofen and so on. If it doesn't get better, you need to see someone about it. I'm terrible for pushing through injuries (it's a dancer thing) but even I know that if it really is too sore to carry on, I need to stop.

MagnumBurrito

Do you stretch?

If you don't, the hamstring and quad muscles probably have shortened enough to cause you major knee pain. Both ends of those muscles wrap around the knee and tighten their grip over time if not lengthened.

If you didn't hear a pop, I'm guessing you just need to stretch.

cbarn025

I agree with everyone else. Stop working out and see a doctor. Also I'm not real sure what 30 day shred is. But if it's heavily cardio based then I don't see why you need to be on the eliptical as well. Steady state cardio just promotes your body to store fat anyways. So you probably just put too much stress on your knee doing both. Especially if you were sedmentary before you started both.

spoiledpuppies

30DS killed my knees, and I was pretty fit before starting, used good form, etc. I didn't stop, but I majorly modified the cardio bursts to limit jumping, and I went at a slower pace. I finished because I had committed, but I would never do it consecutively like that again. (I took a day off between levels.) I've gone back for a day here or there, and that seems okay. Her DVD "No more trouble spots," or something like that, is lower impact.

tycho_mx

I had a coach that said that there is a difference between being in pain, and being injured. When you're hurting, but still functional, you push through.

If your joint hurts just by walking, you're past that point. You're injured. The options here normally are take a few days off now or take a few weeks or months off later.

skytoads

Think long term. Get your knee healthy and start the 30 day challenge over again after that. It's not a race to the finish line so make sure you get there healthy!

TahBeeAah

30 Day Shred is MURDER on your knees. Stop 30DS and continue on your elliptical if you must work out. Heal your knees before you really mess it up!

Edmond_Dantes

Agree with the advice to see a doctor, especially if no improvement - preferably see someone with specialty knowledge of the knee, such an orthopod or sports medicine doc. An internist or family doc can refer you, if need be.
Imaging the knee often starts with an xray, but this is highly unlikely to point to the etiology, given your situation. An MRI is the best imaging study, if it comes to that, and conservative management of rest and NSAIDS has failed.

Let us know how it goes! Hope you get better soon.

mombie2six

Thanks, everyone. After 2 days of resting it, it is starting to feel better. I can walk okay, but going up stairs is still pretty bothersome. I think I'll focus on upper body and abs stuff for another week or so and if the knee isn't better by then, I'll give the doctor a call.

xplosion80

I went through similar situation, but tolerable pain. I order HImalaya herbal pain oil off amazon and it worked good for me.
Pain killers are temporary releif IMHO and shoul dnot become a habbit.

ashleyjohnstonn1

If you have access to a pool (not sure where you live/what the weather is like) try to swim for your exercise while it is healing. Not so harsh on the joints

Elsie_Brownraisin

Hi,

Just to throw in my two-pennies worth, it might be the ellipitcal. I used to use them a lot in the gym and ended up with really painful plantar fascitis, which would put me out of action for a week or two at a time. The gait and speed on an elipitcal is often unnatural compared to how they would move about on a flat surface for many people. I'd go for seeing a Dr too, mine suggested the machine and the pain went once I stopped using it.