Knee Injuries Unite...

odusgolp

I've seen a lot of talk of knee injuries lately. I would love to hear:
1. what your injury is
2. what you've done/how you've managed to work through it or past it
3. if you feel you're completely recovered or not (could touch your butt to the ground squatting with no issues? lunge like a bada$$?)

I dislocated both knee caps long ago. Shattered one patella into pieces - open surgery with extensive damage to cartilage & tendons.

Left Knee still slips out occasionally, but isn't too bad.

Right knee is useless, it has little cartilage and sounds like a paperbag crunching if I try to squat on it. My Right Quad measure 1.5" smaller than the left. I can't lift the bar of a leg press machine w/o adding weight with my right leg.

PT simply hasn't really helped. So I'd like to get your stories to get some ideas, but even more so inspiration to stop using it as an excuse

rml_16

I don't have an injury but I have a chronic condition where my tendons are loose so my kneecap "floats." It has caused me tons of pain over the years.

Swimming and yoga, which both build up the muscles and hold the kneecap in place instead of the tendons, have done wonders. I can run for the first time in my life!

TankGirl71

Left knee, quad tendinitis. Started up after my tri season ended and I began lifting hard again. Lunges kill me, squats I can handle, but only with 45-85 lbs. Doc told me not to do any of that for a month - only light cycling or elliptical. He gave me a script for Voltaren (diclofenac). I have put on 7-8 pounds since taking the med, probably from edema given the appearance of my ankles and calves. I'm also getting vertigo, so I think I'm done with it. It hasn't done much to help the pain in 2 weeks. Back to fish oil, Osteo Bi Flex, and I may try something called cissus. I hate not being able to work my legs, but I just don't want it to get worse.

aimeeturner

I dislocated my knee a couple of years ago and had to have surgery as well to remove bone fragments. This week, it slipped out of place again while doing a lunge exercise that Jillian Michaels has on her "Killer Buns & Thighs" video. It involves a lunge, then hop to the other side and lunge again...back and forth from side to side. I knew I shouldn't be doing it, but was being stubborn. It swelled and has been in a little pain, but not nearly as bad as the initial injury. I'm going to try to work out today using the stationary bike to see how that goes.

fit4everyoung

I have had 2 knee surgeries (2 torn ACL's) and I typically do elliptical but knee hurts quite a bit. Swimming is the best exercise, you can walk in the water, swim and work many muscle groups with aqua classes, you burn as much calories as in cardio machines! I am going to start swimming soon. I also do couple of 24hr fitness classes, body pump, 24 set, for toning. Hope this helps. I am big fan of Buns of Steel, first 15 minutes are lunges and squats and the other 15-20 minutes are mat exercises that I love! Hope this helps you!

fit4everyoung

I now wear a HRM monitor which mentally helps me understand that I am burning the same calories vs cardio machines. This is very helpful for me as I am trying to nail the last 8 pounds and the weight loss has been extremely slow for me!

kenzietea

I've seen a lot of talk of knee injuries lately. I would love to hear:
1. what your injury is
2. what you've done/how you've managed to work through it or past it
3. if you feel you're completely recovered or not (could touch your butt to the ground squatting with no issues? lunge like a bada$$?)

I dislocated both knee caps long ago. Shattered one patella into pieces - open surgery with extensive damage to cartilage & tendons.

Left Knee still slips out occasionally, but isn't too bad.

Right knee is useless, it has little cartilage and sounds like a paperbag crunching if I try to squat on it. My Right Quad measure 1.5" smaller than the left. I can't lift the bar of a leg press machine w/o adding weight with my right leg.

PT simply hasn't really helped. So I'd like to get your stories to get some ideas, but even more so inspiration to stop using it as an excuse

I had a very similar injury to you. It sounds like I might've had a better surgeon or newer procedure depending on when you had yours (mine was almost 2 years ago). Recovery took almost a year and a half. They are growing my cartilage in a lab for a potential second surgery since I am bone on bone. I am probably at 80% use of my knee, and it took me a long time to get there. I will probably never be 100% recovered and still have some pain especially with weather changes, excessive exercise, or just randomly sometimes. My surgery consisted of a ligament reconstruction using a tendon from my calf (some metal was used, 2 screws), release of my quad muscle (where they cut your quad to loosen the muscle so during PT you can rely more on your inner thigh so it will help hold the knee cap in place), and a ton of cartilage clean up. They accidentally cut a nerve when they were performing surgery (I guess this is very common) and I have some numbness in one area which freaks me out! I had a grand total of 7 incisions, 2 really big ones. I can't completely squat down as if I were picking something up, but can to regular squats, and lunges I can complete alright but I do them very carefully and stay stationary.

marcmarcus76

I had left ACL and meniscus reconstruction way back in 1998. The leg is quite strong and I dont have any restrictions or limitations, however, I can hear and feel it "clicking" semi-regularly. Running is the worst -- elliptical, swimming, spinning are all great. You just have to do what works for your situation.

odusgolp

I've seen a lot of talk of knee injuries lately. I would love to hear:
1. what your injury is
2. what you've done/how you've managed to work through it or past it
3. if you feel you're completely recovered or not (could touch your butt to the ground squatting with no issues? lunge like a bada$$?)

I dislocated both knee caps long ago. Shattered one patella into pieces - open surgery with extensive damage to cartilage & tendons.

Left Knee still slips out occasionally, but isn't too bad.

Right knee is useless, it has little cartilage and sounds like a paperbag crunching if I try to squat on it. My Right Quad measure 1.5" smaller than the left. I can't lift the bar of a leg press machine w/o adding weight with my right leg.

PT simply hasn't really helped. So I'd like to get your stories to get some ideas, but even more so inspiration to stop using it as an excuse

I had a very similar injury to you. It sounds like I might've had a better surgeon or newer procedure depending on when you had yours (mine was almost 2 years ago). Recovery took almost a year and a half. They are growing my cartilage in a lab for a potential second surgery since I am bone on bone. I am probably at 80% use of my knee, and it took me a long time to get there. I will probably never be 100% recovered and still have some pain especially with weather changes, excessive exercise, or just randomly sometimes. My surgery consisted of a ligament reconstruction using a tendon from my calf (some metal was used, 2 screws), release of my quad muscle (where they cut your quad to loosen the muscle so during PT you can rely more on your inner thigh so it will help hold the knee cap in place), and a ton of cartilage clean up. They accidentally cut a nerve when they were performing surgery (I guess this is very common) and I have some numbness in one area which freaks me out! I had a grand total of 7 incisions, 2 really big ones. I can't completely squat down as if I were picking something up, but can to regular squats, and lunges I can complete alright but I do them very carefully and stay stationary.

My surgeon sucked, and it was well over a decade ago But what they're doing for you sounds AMAZING!

sing4me4you

I have no cartilege in either knee and found that out after surgery (4 years ago) on the right knee due to a torn meniscus. the right one hurts frequently but not usually during exercise. If I exercise regularly, the pain is far less frequent. If it hurts when exercising, I stop what I am doing and switch to something else.

odusgolp

I now wear a HRM monitor which mentally helps me understand that I am burning the same calories vs cardio machines. This is very helpful for me as I am trying to nail the last 8 pounds and the weight loss has been extremely slow for me!

In the pool??

Phoenix24601

Floating patella syndrome. No cartilage in both knees. Both knees dislocate on their given whims.
I can do squats (not to the floor) and lunges right now with a maximum of ten pound weight. Stinks, I know, but I am working on it.
I have not been able to run in about 8-9 years and have just now been able to run for 2-4 minutes stright (but that is pushing it).
I have pain meds that I keep at my side constantly and am waiting for the doctors to order instead of strongly recommend double knee replacement (which I don't really think will do much).
Swimming is wonderful. I am a lifeguard and I can do over 1000 meters no problem. I will say though that it sucks in inservice to be doing the swim when the right one dislocates. I have learned to balance and swim with one being limp.

vs1023

A couple years ago I started running, but neglected any weight training and started getting knee pain. My quads weren't very strong so I was having issues apparently. Went to the ortho and was told I had chrondomalacia (arthritis) plus PFPS (patellafemoral pain syndrom). Basically my ligaments and such are tight so it pulls my left knee cap to the outer portion of my body (laterally). I did PT but it didn't help a ton and then I got a cortisone injection in my knee. I fainted. I will never ever do that again. Got fed up when they wanted to do surgery and a lateral release and sought more natural options. Found a chiro and massage therapist who helped me tremendously! I had sooo many knots in my quads, hips, etc that the tightness and adhesions was making the issue much worse. I played softball for years (catcher) so I was squatting a lot which didn't help. I do crunch a lot in there. Now I know how to manage it. I need to be sure to stretch right, use heat and ice and get massage therapy to work out the knots and get adjusted so it all goes back into place. Of course my case seems very mild in comparison to the OP, but don't rush into surgery if something isn't torn or really needs it. There are other options. Now I do weight training and kickboxing and that helps strengthen the muslces in my legs so i rarely get pain, but I do have to pop it back into place more now since i'm still tight from just starting back up more regularly after being pregnant. I can feel my body is out of alignment.

odusgolp

God, I hate swimming *LOL* But I hear it over and over. Perhaps I should come to terms...

dsm_drew

I've have loose knee caps and chondramalatia in both knees. At age 10 I hyper-extended my left knee and tore the cartilage. I've been to physical therapy multiple times in the last 20 years, taken prescription anti-inflammatories, was told by one doctor that it would only be resolved by surgery (which I declined) and told by another never to run again. I figured it was just something I would have to live with and had become accustomed to the almost daily pain. Early this year when I made the decision to lose weight and get in shape I considered going back to the doctor and discussing surgery. But first I decided to give glucosamine a try. I had heard many mixed things about it, some saying it worked wonders, others saying it was snake oil. I figured $20 for a bottle was worth a try before having surgery. After 2 weeks I was noticing a difference, and within 4 weeks it felt like a miracle had occurred. My knees are at least 80% better than before. The chronic pain has disappeared, and even after a day of hard activity or working out the pain and soreness I feel is nowhere near as bad as what I used to experience after a typical day on my feet. I spent a week in Seattle and walked everywhere, miles and miles every day, and my knees felt better than they have in years. I'm sure my weight loss (35 pounds) and swimming has helped, but this change in my knees was well underway even before I had lost weight. I don't want this to sound like a sales pitch for glucosamine, but I'm very satisfied with the results I have experienced. A doctor has since told me that some people have great results while others don't see much difference. Apparently I'm one of the lucky ones.

fit4everyoung

My HRM is water resistant but I still need to try in the swimming pool. I recently purchased my HRM about 2 weeks ago and I love it!

odusgolp

My HRM is water resistant but I still need to try in the swimming pool. I recently purchased my HRM about 2 weeks ago and I love it!

That's awesome!

rml_16

I use my HRM in the pool all the time. Works great!

fit4everyoung

I purchased two swimsuits this weekend to motivate me as I have continue to have knee problems. You don't always have to wet your hair to always jump in the swimming pool. Good workout, in fact walking in water as fast as you can will burn calories. Aqua classes are fun and you don't have to wet your hair, if you are concern with this problem.

odusgolp

I purchased two swimsuits this weekend to motivate me as I have continue to have knee problems. You don't always have to wet your hair to always jump in the swimming pool. Good workout, in fact walking in water as fast as you can will burn calories. Aqua classes are fun and you don't have to wet your hair, if you are concern with this problem.

I don't mind the getting wet part - it's the trek to the gym in the first place *LOL* We have a gym in my office, but no pool. So driving over to the big gym with the pool is my issue. You can see... I'm an incredibly lazy person

dmpizza

What do you call it when your knees aren't injured, but hurt sometimes going up stairs and they always feel "heavy"?

scarletleavy

I played competitive soccer when I was a teenager and fractured my patella my senior season. I'm still pissed about it, this ***** from a team in the UK flying slide-tackled me and took out my knee. I also have really bad tendonitis in both my knees from overtraining.

I had multiple MRIs and went through months of physical therapy, but no surgery or anything. I used my injury as an excuse to be lazy for a few years, gained about 20 pounds. I haven't had any serious problems since starting to workout again. I'm just careful when I do squats and lunges and stop if I feel any pain, but so far so good. But I run up and down mountains, squat with lots of weights, do lots of lunges, lots of plyo type exercises. I'm actually surprised I haven't had any more problems. I guess it recovered well with all those years of laziness? *Shrugs*

FionaNiConnor

In January 2012, I slipped on an ice patch. My foot & calf went right; my knee and thigh and the rest of me went left. My kneecap was caught in the crossfire and dislocated. As if that weren't bad enough, the ridge on the back of the kneecap snapped off.

I have a hypermobile joint/hyperflexible tendon & ligament condition, so thankfully (miraculously?) there was no damage to my ligaments. There was minor muscle tearing, but the broken patella was really the only major concern.

I ended up sitting on my couch for nearly a month post-injury. Since the most exercise I was allowed was to crutch it between the kitchen and couch (all of 25'), I put on probably 20lbs. My orthopedist said to me "it's time you lost a few pounds," so as soon as he gave me the all-clear, I just started walking vigorously. He was amazed that I could walk normally about a week after getting off the couch- meaning my gait was normal; I was in an amount of pain that, according to the doctor, "should be crippling."

Surgery had to happen- there was a large quantity of bone fragments floating around in the knee and that crap all had to be taken out. That was in late March 2011.

Anyway, I got on a scale in July and saw the number 280. No way. Then I joined MFP and have been working on recovering from the knee injury and working on dropping 80lbs since.
I just joined a gym (finally?) and have been working through a lot of cardio. The knee doctor recommends I stick to my brace for the gym- that's mentally a little difficult; I haven't had to wear the brace since late April 2011. But if it keeps my knee safe, then I am all for it.
Eventually I'll get into a weight lifting sort of program but I'll stick to the cardio until the leg is supporting itself better.

Good luck, everyone!

craig1970

I ruptured my left quadriceps tendon in October 2010. I had surgery to repair it and I didn't run on it until October 2011, where I got up to 45 mins on the treadmill, covering about 5km. I have since stopped running on it and only use an eliptical now. It just always aches especially in the colder weather. I also do aquajogging which is a great fun non-impact burn.
I take glucosamine and cod liver oil supplements. Don't know if they work but I'm not stopping taking them to find out if it gets worse.
Knee injurys are a *****!

wellbert

1. Knee exploded in a car accident. Looked like a football. I believe they had to replace the patella.
2. Surgery, a year of physical therapy. Since then? Strengthening is king. No aches and pains since I started squatting.
3. Yes and no. It can still just "give out" now and then and the joint is noisy as hell. You know what I mean.

It took about 2 years to get "back to normal"

stu_j_lfc

Patella tendinopathy in my left knee. First picked it up whilst cycling around 2 years ago - It seems to come and go periodically which suggests that it never fully healed in the first place. I still carry on as usual, though try to stick to non impact CV if it feels particularly vulnerable on any given week. I really should take a break from any lower body PT and allow it to heal properly, but tendons take a lonnng time to heal and I really can't be bothered taking such a long break.

TriforceRaven

My right knee has been buckling and tearing my entire life. I have a "floating kneecap" or whatever. I hurt it very badly during my first year of band camp, had to continue marching 8 hours a day, over 12/14 miles daily for a week, and ended up with a torn meniscus (sp?). Well, it eventually felt a bit better a few months later, so I went back to swim team and karate. Big mistake. On my second class of karate (coming back) we were sparring (my favorite!) and I jarred my knee even worse than before! So now the doctor has had me on crutches for a few weeks, but it's still been hurting. I had to quit swim team for the year, as I only have a few weeks left anyway. I was burning nearly 1000 calories a day! But now, I just have to suffice with eating even less than before and exercising in my room at night even more. 500 situps, 20 minute wall sits, 500 squats (really hurts my injured knee now!) and 100 push ups are just a few things I have to do now!

ranewell

Car accident a year and a half ago, slammed into the glove compartment. It was horribly swollen (more than twice its size) and then opened up and oozed...so so nasty. Now, it is still swollen (I've lost 60 lbs, and I can see a kneecap on the other knee (yay!) BUT not the injured one. Still purple so ugly as hell. Worst of all, there is still quite a bit of nerve damage so any pressure placed on the knee feels like a zillion needles poking it at once. I just recently have been able to go up and down stairs normally because it was still so swollen it wouldn't bend much. I don't know that anything can be done to help the nerve damage, have been on lyrica, but not really helping much...It gets frustrating because I'm limited in what I can do still.

rschmmidt

Tore my left ACL in June. I was told it would heal OK if I didn't have ACL replacement surgery, since I am not an "athlete who requires "plant & pivot" maneuvering", they didn't encourage it. So I did not have the surgery. Honestly, it's been 6 months now and I still have pain/stiffness pretty much all the time. PT was OK but didn't really seem to help. I'm getting a little angry that I didn't get the surgery now when I had the chance. Anyway, I do yoga, biking, walking. Would love to add swimming exercises but just can't get myself to go to a public pool where people would see me (I'm not a swimmer, and just can't get past the huge embarrassment of having people see me in a swimsuit. I know, get over it already!)

I'd love to hear from anyone who has a similar ACL situation - torn, but not repaired. How long did it take to return to normal (or something close to normal)? I'm running out of patience!

Empathy and hugs to all other knee sufferers out there -

dragonbait0126

I was born with a dislocated left knee cap. I've dislocated it to many times to count since then. I can't do lunges or squats or anything of that nature because of the pain those exercises cause. Actually my personal trainer had me attempt side squads one day. After 3 he made me stop and asked if I had Rice Krispies in my leg. He could hear it popping and grinding as I bent my knees. I'll eventually have to have surgery but I know that losing weight will help as well. My right knee is starting to get bad as well but it's no where near the state my left one is in.

squid116

I partially tore my patella tendon playing rugby in April, Surgery in July.

Rehab went well, I was on the bike within a week and got the all clear just before xmas. Full range squat, 320kg legpress, full range lunge with 20kg dumbbells, can run on treadmill for 60 mins.

Should be right for when rugby starts this April