Knee Pain!!!!

denellelaine
denellelaine Posts: 5
in Health and Weight Loss
I need some help. Any advice/suggestions/personal stories will be most appreciated.

I recently started crossfit and I've never really been active for long periods of time. I'm going to be 27 this year and I'm pretty big, there is a lot of weight to carry around doing some of these exercises. I've hurt the outside of my knee in crossfit doing jumping jacks over a week ago. My trainer is pushing me through (not doing any exercises that directly hurt the knee) and advising me to walk at least a half mile when I'm not doing crossfit. She's given me 800MG of ibuprofen, a knee brace, fish oil (vegetarian version), icy hot. I feel like although I'm not DIRECTLY hurting the knee during crossfit, getting from exercise to exercise (up and down off the floor) is hurting it, and I am REALLY hurting after going everytime. Even after my walk it is aching and it feels like it is just getting worse. My trainer is insisting that we need to work through it and that it is getting stronger and that things will get better soon. I'm really afraid I am further damaging my knee. I am willing to work through the pain (and have been) but I don't want to get to the point where the damage is done and there is no turning back.

Should I continue to push through the pain and hope things will get better like my trainer advises? Or should I listen to everyone else who says I need to rest it until it feels better?

Replies

  • Moxie42
    Moxie42 Posts: 1,400 Member
    I would rest it, or at least go to a doctor for a professional opinion. There may be issues a trainer can't see, and no one can know exactly what you're feeling. Listen to your body. Hope it heals soon! :smile:
  • moustache_flavored_lube
    moustache_flavored_lube Posts: 849 Member
    Crossfit is notorious for high rates of injury.

    A trainer telling you to push through knee pain is a trainer I would listen to. Often times a 1 week break will heal what you push through for 6 months, and then need 1-3 months off to heal.
  • Timshel_
    Timshel_ Posts: 22,834 Member
    Any trainer worth salt will evaluate the knee issue and recommend seeing a doctor.
  • Melo1966
    Melo1966 Posts: 881 Member
    I have knee issues and know I can't do what others do. I do drink tart cherry juice and it has helped. It is a natual anti-inflamitory.
  • bfcano
    bfcano Posts: 19
    I torn my meniscus in a snowboarding accident about 3 years agao and whenever I do a hard workout it gets aggravated. The docters said the tear was minor so I never needed surgery but I still feel pain sometimes. I recommend icing your knee after every workout. You can get a box of dixie cups and fill halway with water and freeze. Then after your workout just tear the paper dixie cup away to expose the ice and rub directly on the knee for about 5 minutes or until it becomes numb. After a week of that you can alternate with 5 minutes of ice & 5 minutes of heat twice through. This will help the blood rush into the area with fresh blood cells to heal the injury.

    Hope that helps.
  • margojr4
    margojr4 Posts: 259 Member
    Any trainer worth salt will evaluate the knee issue and recommend seeing a doctor.

    Agreed. Go see a doctor ASAP!!
  • TrailRunner61
    TrailRunner61 Posts: 2,505 Member
    Trust your instincts! See a Dr and find out what is causing it. It sounds like your workout is a little intense, especially if you're just starting out. Maybe you need to walk, bike or swim some of the weight off before doing Crossfit? They wont say that because they want your money. Get a Dr.'s opinion before you tear it up so bad that you can't even walk.
    Good luck and I pray you're pain free soon!
  • happydaze71
    happydaze71 Posts: 339 Member
    I suffer from knee problems and have my whole life. Dont mess around, get to a doctor and get an MRI just to reassure yourself about what is going on in there.
    If its that bad, pushing through it when you're not used to being active is a recipe for disaster... what might be something that will heal up by itself could be a permanent issue.
    Sorry to sound like doom and gloom but its so not worth mucking around with it.
    Good luck!!
  • dspiegel150
    dspiegel150 Posts: 5 Member
    NO! I did that and I paid for it. Go see a doctor. I ended up having to get cortisone shots, therapy and a long recovery time. I had a knee brace for a while. I did boot camp and my friend was yelling you can do it. Trainer don't stop keep going. WELL That did not turn out well for me. I was training for a full marathon and had to down grade to a half and run slow and easy with a knee brace and it still hurt a little. Now I always listen to what my body is telling me if an exercise hurts I STOP and find one that does not.
  • shirsch52
    shirsch52 Posts: 19
    Definitely see your doctor or a physiotherapist. They will be able to help you plan a recovery strategy and provide you with safer exercises for your knee.

    I have had knee issues myself, and I cannot speak to yours specifically as I am not a PT or Dr - however foam rolling my IT band has helped as well as paying attention to the way I get up from sitting or down from standing. I had a habit of leaning to one side with my legs bent while pushing myself up, and it hurt my knee more. So I switch to going the opposite direction (knees pointing to the right and feet pointed to the left) and getting up doesn't hurt nearly as much. See if it makes a difference for you!

    I think that following your trainer's advice without seeking a professional opinion could result in further (and possible long term) injury to your knee.

    Also - just thinking - do you do lots of squats or lunges in your crossfit? (I haven't done crossfit before) If you do - make sure you're not letting your knee fall in towards your midline while lunging, and that in both exercises you are not allowing your knee to pass your big toe. Keep it over your ankle!

    Good luck!
  • TastesLikeChicken
    TastesLikeChicken Posts: 32 Member
    You could have a tight ITB. The illiotibial band runs from the hip down the outside of your leg to the ankle. If this tendon isn't stretched you will think you have all kinds of issues. A few days of stretching will make it go away fast if that is the problem. I remember when I started running I thought I had degenerative bone disorders and it turned out I wasn't stretching enough. Try to google ITB stretches and try that for a couple of days and if that doesn't work I'd give it a week of rest and lots of Ibupropfen.

    Trying to push through a true injury isn't smart. If it doesn't go away you may need to seek a doctor's help. In 17 years of serious running I haven't had an injury that time didn't heal. That includes sprained ankles, torn calf muscles and numerous other maladies. Marathon running will give you every injury you can imagine.

    It doesn't sound like anything you have they are likely to get you through any faster than letting it heal on its own. Ibupropfen is a big help in getting through some of this stuff. As my 16 yr old daughter told me when I started back, running is tough Dad. If you're going to do it you have to deal with some pain. That was the last time I whined to her. Well maybe not. Don't give up.

    Sometimes you will face some temporary setbacks and have to take a break to heal. When I started trying to run again at 40 I thought my running days were over. I had to give it up twice before I learned to start my buildup more slowly and got some good shoes. I then went on to run a couple marathons and am still enjoying running 17 years later.

    Your personal trainer may also be trying to push you too hard for someone who hasn't been active for a while. Listen to your body but don't let it control you. I also am not a fan of braces. I think they limit your ability to strengthen what needs strengthening. If you can't do the exercise without it you probably need to give it a rest.

    Good luck.
  • tekwriter
    tekwriter Posts: 923 Member
    I would go to my orthopaedic doctor or at least my primary care. I you have damaged a ligament or tendon it may not get better without rest and possibly medication.
  • 4n6babe
    4n6babe Posts: 33 Member
    I agree with what pretty much everyone has said so far -- DOCTOR! And do not let that trainer push you too far and get you injured further. I have a lot of weight to loose too so I feel your pain (pun intended a bit lol). I've been working out pretty hard for about a month now and my knees are starting to feel it pretty hard sometimes. Also, do you have good shoes? That might help out too.
  • denellelaine
    denellelaine Posts: 5
    Thank you ALL for your help. I appreciate each and every one of your responses. My trainer was NOT happy I didn't come to workout last night but I had to stand my ground. I will be seeing a doctor soon if the pain persists.

    Thank you again
    Danielle
  • sblake204
    sblake204 Posts: 458 Member
    I would definitely recommend going to see a Sports Med/Orthopedic doctor ASAP. If you keep working on it and it's a tear, you're only gonna make it worse. If it's a slight sprang it may heal on its own, but you don't want to risk it. In the mean time, if you feel compelled to workout on it, wear a sleeve or get a brace to keep it straight and maybe keep you from injuring it even more. I thought i spranged my knee come to find out it's my meniscus and now i may need to get it scraped. OUCH :sad:
  • CarmenSRT
    CarmenSRT Posts: 843 Member
    Would you let your trainer cut your hair? Probably not. Better to not let them practice medicine on you either. :wink:
  • juliemouse83
    juliemouse83 Posts: 6,663 Member
    Get thee to your doctor. Trainers are not physicians and knees are NOTHING to screw with.
  • Missjulesdid
    Missjulesdid Posts: 1,444 Member
    My personal experience as someone who weighs 300 pounds and used to weigh 360... Forget crossfit for me, I had constant knee pain just from LIFE. I work 49 hours a week on my feet and it really took its toll on my knees. My knee pain was soooo unbearable that I used to have to come straight home from work and put my feet up and I would often just cry from the pain.

    I now have no knee pain from normal activities, including 45 minutes of brisk walking, working in the store 7 hrs a day, 7 days a week including bending and squatting, and then standing for 1-2 hours in the evening to cook a good homemade meal. Yes I've lost 60 pounds, but the knee pain went away when I went grain-free. I'm not saying that going grain free would help you.. but it did help me and I thought I was a lost cause.

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