"crunchy knees"

cakebarn
cakebarn Posts: 43 Member
in Introduce Yourself
I will have to say that at my heaviest of 245 lbs....I felt miserable! I have what I call crunchy knees. Ya' know..they grind everytime I walk...and people can actually hear them without even trying! It doesn't hurt, but sometimes it feels "stuck"...like I have to move my knee around to unlock it.

Does anyone else have or have had this problem? I'm guessing it's nasty cartillege? I used to play volleyball A LOT in my younger and skinnier days...court and sand....which was kind of rough on them. I'm hoping by getting to a healthy weight and by working out...things will get better?

It's kind of embarrassing when I go down the stairs at the Y, and everyone is looking around to see what that noise is! LOL I weighed myself this morning and am 231.2.....so I'm getting there.

Thank you in advance for any advice, personal stories, etc.
Sharon

Replies

  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I've had crunchy knees since college (when I weighed, oh, about 115lbs). I'm now 47. my running mate regularly jokes that he can't hear me talking over the sound of my knees.

    It's only really embarrassing at the gym when I'm doing squats and lunges.

    I've asked my knee doc (I have other knee issues) and he's always said he's not concerned about the cacophony. :-)
  • Chezzie71
    Chezzie71 Posts: 36 Member
    i can relate to what you are saying.. i have had to have several ops on mine though.. but i have been told the less weight that i am carrying the better the condition.. and well done to a great start.. keep it going...xxx
  • marthathebear
    marthathebear Posts: 498
    I had crunchy knees but when I started weight training along with walking and aerobic exercise it got much better. You may try taking condroitin on your doctor's OK.
  • emtron500
    emtron500 Posts: 102 Member
    I had issues with this when I was heavier, and with my knee feeling "stuck" in position sometimes, and it's almost completely disappeared with weight loss (even though I'm still overweight)
  • jfrog123
    jfrog123 Posts: 432 Member
    I have crunchy knees too. They used to bother me when I was over 380 pounds, but don't bother me now except for a few hours after I jog (and only sometimes, not every time). My doc said he is not worried about it. My BIL had the same thing, but his started causing him pain. He went to an ortho who told him he had "floaters". If I remember correctly it was little bits of cartilage and other debris under the knee cap. He had surgery to clean that stuff out. He feels much better, but his doc did say there is a possibility he could have to have it done again in the future. Maybe some people are more prone to having that condition, I guess.
  • Papillon22
    Papillon22 Posts: 1,160 Member
    I have them too. My Dr recommended I take a glucosamine supplement and told me to keep working out, because that helps the knees stay lubricated.
  • jfrog123
    jfrog123 Posts: 432 Member
    I had crunchy knees but when I started weight training along with walking and aerobic exercise it got much better. You may try taking condroitin on your doctor's OK.

    You make a good point. I should have mentioned that when I was first thinking about jogging I was worried about my knees and started taking glucosamine and condrotin tablets with msm at that time. That could be part of the reason my knees don't bother me any worse than they do.
  • MelStren
    MelStren Posts: 457 Member
    I have crunchy knees too! I was a gymnast and a cheerleader when I was in my teens and I've had a few other hard falls since.

    My knees make that noise but I also hurt like crazy if I do impact exercises. So I don't do them!

    That's the only advice I have.
  • annahuebscher
    annahuebscher Posts: 114
    My knees have done this since I was a teenager. I'd say if there's no pain you should be ok. We're just a little extra noisy and awesome.
  • FelicityEliza36
    FelicityEliza36 Posts: 252 Member
    I have crunchy knees too :( I'm currently 262. Did gymnastics, swimming, and volleyball regularly as a kid / teen.

    It's funny how they dont HURT but the squeeky, crunchy, grinding sounds makes me almost cringe - like someone running nails across a chalk board.

    Happens every time I bend my knee - exercising, walking up stairs, running, etc. Shux.
  • bpmartyr
    bpmartyr Posts: 141
    I highly recommend a good Cissus supplement. A quick google search will give you some info. I swear by it and every time someone has taken my recommendation and tried it they rave at how much better their joints are, especially injuries.
  • amruden
    amruden Posts: 228 Member
    I went to the Doc for just this.

    I was diagnosed with painful "chondromalacia" (chondro=cartilage; malacia=bad).

    I laughed at him when he told me that, I already knew that I had BAD CARTILAGE!

    Right now I was told to work on my upper thighs, that muscle with help take some of the pressure off my knee.

    *only one DOC opinion, please seek out you own personal doctor if you feel pain*

    http://www.pamf.org/sports/king/condromaliciapatella.html
  • shimwari
    shimwari Posts: 5
    I have "crunchy knees" too, except mine have been caused by an old dance injury (patellofemoral syndrome) and flat feet. My family doc said it wasn't too difficult to get the knee injury I have, particularly for people who have done sport. But, if it's any help, I started at 245 as well, and I have noticed an incredible improvement since I have lost my weight so far (I'm not at my goal yet, but have been feeling the difference since about 35 pounds of weight loss). Also, stretching out my upper thighs has helped reduce the crunchy sound. I haven't tried the supplements others have suggested (definitely going to look into those), but my sister (who is a dance teacher) swears by Voltaren gel (voltarol here in the UK). I've used it when things get a bit sore, and that it helps me temporarily.

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