arthritis in knees

mjj79

I have pretty severe arthritis in my knees. I'm not experiencing a ton of pain, but i've been told (based on xrays) that it's really bad and i need to refrain from making it worse. NOt supposed to do squats, lunges, running ... pretty much can't do the stuff i love and the stuff that works:/ Gonna finish up my p90x (cuz i'm stubborn) but was told i shouldn't do that either.

Any recommendations? I don't want to go to something so easy that my body laughs at me....

I'm too young to be dealing with this

BRANDYGR8MOVES

ive got the same issue but i push thru the pain cause the more i move them the better they feel i just do low impact on my cardio videos sometimes you have to modify to what feels better for you

Runner50266

That's interesting. I just had an MRI this week and got the same news. And I run. Swimming is always great. You can even run in the water. The majority of my arthritis is right behind my knee cap. I got a steroid shot but all that does is reduce inflammation and pain for a while. The thing that will really help it is getting off this weight I have.

AmyLRed

there isnt too much you can do to help, as far as i know, but i have both a crooked kneecap/tendon and some early arthritis. a good knee brace really helps me stabilize and relieves some discomfort, and after i workout, an antiinflamatory (before it really starts hurting) and sometimes ice it for the inflammation.

AmyLRed

also, the ortho doc told me i should start cycling. Next spring i will buy a new bike.

hsrunningmom

My doc suggested swimming and biking when I got the news.

cannonsky

my husband has RA... he says he has less issues with it when he's active... so.... yeah... I dunno.

Topsking2010

I have the same problem and my doctor also told me to stop running. I made a decision to cycle instead and focus on strength training. I will listen to my body and continue to exercise except for running. I do feel alot better since I stopped running and I also do the Arc Trainer,eliptical and stairmaster.

My guess is reaching your goal weight will also relieve stress on your knees.


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fitnessgal1318

I have significant osteoarthritis in my right knee. I am a long time runner and was training for a half marathon when I really messed it up. After some great PT, a synvisc injection and some initial rest there are alot of things I am able to still do. I cycle, take spinning classes, use the elliptical machines and strength train regularly. Some folks can get back to running but I think that might not be the case for me as I'm feeling pretty good now and wish I had listened to my body a while back. Listen to your body and seek out help if you need it. Good luck!

LeggyKettleBabe

I had what the doctors called "crunchy knees" you could hear and feel the joints grinding together. When I started out with a personal trainer he told me I couldnt do any squats or machines. I bought a kettlebell, i experimented with knee angles to see how or if I could squat without pain. I squatted 6 weeks and my knees are much better. Now I squat with 40lbs instead of 10lbs. Sometimes my knees will hurt on the elliptical

I guess im saying, experiment and dont give up.

LeggyKettleBabe

I have the same problem and my doctor also told me to stop running. I made a decision to cycle instead and focus on strength training. I will listen to my body and continue to exercise except for running. I do feel alot better since I stopped running and I also do the Arc Trainer,eliptical and stairmaster.

My guess is reaching your goal weight will also relieve stress on your knees.


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Totally agree on the weight loss, im 40lbs lighter now Im sure my knees are praising god for that LOL

nitepagan

What are you eating and drinking, natural foods or is it diet soda and a lot of high fructose corn sugar. Eliminate NutraSweet/aspartame and HFCS from your diet and see how you are in six months. HFCS is in almost everything, so you have to read the labels. Might not be the answer, but is a step in getting healthy. Natural foods don't have those ingredients in them, so make stuff from scratch, healthy lifestyle. or was there another reason you joined MFP. Lighten up on the extreme sports. You can get the same level of exercise riding a bicycle including the runners high, something I used to do, a long time ago. If you don't take care of the knees and hips, you will be having replacement surgery in the future and it won't be a fun time. My father had knee replacement surgery and they cut the bone in the wrong place, so one leg was longer than the other for the rest of his life. He lived to be 89.

brickhouse76

I have the same problem... I'm also looking for suggestions.

MelStren

I have arthritis in both knees. I find that walking and staying active helps with the pain and swelling. I avoid all impact activites, (except the walking) and wear good shoes when I do walk. I actually found that wearing a good pair of hiking boots was easiest on my knees! With the extra support around my ankle, I don't get as much twisting and pulling in my knees.

mjj79

All great suggestions. Thank you! I too have found they actually hurt less when I'm active. I just don't want to further damage them.

RobynMWilson

Wow you can't even do squats where you stick your butt out and make sure your knees stay on top of your ankle? Plie squats, modified cardio to low impact (like Turbo Jam or Turbo Fire, which can all be modified to low impact and do plies in place of standard squats). And I would stop P90X...either listen to the doc now or put yourself out of the working out game forever...

Heather_Rider

an elliptical is very easy on the joints. I researched for about 3 months before i bought anything because i also have bad knees. Ive been using mine for awhile now, and no pain in the knees! Love it!

Kathy53925

Warm water aerobics and walking. I have OA in most joints including my spine and both knees, and also RA which is a totally different type of Arthritis and a hellofalot more painful and destructive. My Dr told me water, walking, cycling. You can use the strap on type weights to add resistance.

I bought a recumbent bike recently, but haven't gotten the chance to use it yet.

ambitious01

I know a bunch about it myself. Exercise is my treatment. I deal with a back tho.

californiagirl1950

I have had a knee replacement 8 years ago and the other knee is arthritis bound. I love the elliptical with the duel seat for stationary biking. I once in awhile feel some pain in my knee on the elliptical, but nothing like when walking. I agree, movement is very important. if I don't do anything, I am even stiffer. Good luck to you.

BinaryPulsar

bump...I am also dealing with knee pain. Very helpful to hear all these experiences and ideas.

realme56

I walk 3 miles at a time with my knees. No cartilage on either medial surface, weight bearing exercising not recommended.
Did my first Zumba class today, adjusted some moves to decrease stress. Oh, I also tore ligaments when I was younger and have a ton of scarring and floating debris in my right knee. My rheumo says I have the knees of a 90 y/o. I am now doing weights to further increase my leg muscle strength. I started my weight loss journey with 10 minute stints on the bike, then my elliptical. I even walked 5.5 miles through Hollywood once (last .5 mile was BAD!)

DO what you can, go slow and let your muscles adjust and strengthen.

Keep hydrated...it goes to the lubrication in your knees as well!

MFPBONNIE

I started reading your post and I was wondering "when did I write this?" Doesn't this just suck? I cant even speed walk any more. At home I use the Tony Little Gazelle as my main form of cardio; chair dancing, light weights, body blade. I do the stationary bike, eliptical, and whatever else I can do seated at the gym. But cripes I miss walking to killer music. Now I walk to ballads. But I smile through it and thank creation that I can still walk and exercise, just cant do what my knees dont want me to do. and like you, its severe.

lindalou4850

I have the same problem. It is much better now that I have lost 50 lbs. Walking and running does not bother it, but squats are a killer. I say do what you can. try biking that might be easier! Good Luck.

RicSnyder

What you are doing, losing weight, will help as much as anything.

Phaedra2014

I have pretty severe arthritis in my knees. I'm not experiencing a ton of pain, but i've been told (based on xrays) that it's really bad and i need to refrain from making it worse. NOt supposed to do squats, lunges, running ... pretty much can't do the stuff i love and the stuff that works:/ Gonna finish up my p90x (cuz i'm stubborn) but was told i shouldn't do that either.

Any recommendations? I don't want to go to something so easy that my body laughs at me....

I'm too young to be dealing with this

Look up trigger point charts on the web and self treat sore spots in your muscles around knee/thigh/shin/hamstring area. Worked wonders for me.

dellashanks

Try taking glucosamine. I have heard that combined with Omegas work wonders. I need to do this myself because I can hear my knees grind when I do squats. Years of working on my feet. Also I would reduce trigger foods like tomatoes. There's a list on line some where. My sister has come leaps and bounds using these methods.

YoYo1951

For once, I can give back with some knowledge. I had eight surgeries before finally having to have both of my knees replaced at the same time, due to arthritis. Before the knee replacement, I tried to be as active as possible, but when you are in chronic pain, you are afraid to do much, as you are fearful you will activate the monters in your knees. I almost became a recluse, as I was afraid to get too far from my car or my home. Even got corizone shots multiple times, and would feel great for a minute in time. Got the synvisc shots twice, and eventually, finally knew it was time to have surgery. I know losing weight did and has done wonders for me, even ten pounds made a difference. Stengthen the muscles around your knee caps to stalize them. Do leg extensions even without weights, as it helps, but if you add weights, watch for pain and back off. Make sure if you work the front of your legs, you lay on your stomach and do leg lifts to work the back of your leg muscles. Things have to work in tandum, as being off balance with your muscles puts strain on your knees. Use a stationary bike, I could not use the recumbant bike, it put too much pressure on my knees. Try wrapping them with an ace bandage to stablize them when walking and excercising. Use ice and if need be anti-inflamatories. Don't continue to do things to your knees like lifing heavy weights, as it will ruin your knees, and eventually, you will need new knees. And I am telling you, there is nothing like your original parts. Now, I have had to modify everything I do. I am now more active though, as the daily pain is gone, but if I lift something too heavy, it brings on pain. If I stand too long, or walk too far, the pain comes back. Be careful with what you have, be active and best of luck.

Scouter123

Do you know how to (or like to) swim? It's a bit more hassle to get to a pool but it's a non-weightbearing exercise that is much easier on your joints and is excellent cardio. Aqua-fit classes might be an option if you can't swim. Other posters are right too, losing weight will help protect your joints as will have less force of your own body weight going thru them even with regular basic activities. Maybe consider an appointment with a physical therapist for some specific exercises to train the muscles around your knees and more advice about what to avoid. Balance activity with rest as well. Good luck.