Another knee pain post

GoffGirl1029
GoffGirl1029 Posts: 93 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hey yall! I am 24, 25 in June. I have had knee problems since high school, no I never played sports (unfortunately), my dad has had knee problems since HE was in high school and his mom had knee issues as well. I love runnin', I love workin' out, and I really want to focus on my thighs and butt, but doin' any leg work has my knee hurtin' for days. I have accepted that I will have to live with knee pain, it's obvious it is hereditary and not from an injury. I don't want to be crippled by it later in life which is also why I want to build muscle to protect my knees. My poor Nannie got to where she could barely walk due to the pain. What can I do? What exercises will help with buildin' muscle around my knee to protect it? I really refuse to quit, but I don't want to cause more problems. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, and while I'm at it, I could always use more MFP friends for support, especially if you are active on here :smile: :flowerforyou:

Replies

  • Diamondmortiz
    Diamondmortiz Posts: 19 Member
    I have had knee pain for most of my adult year, my mom and grandma suffer from arthritis but I refuse to accept it for myself. I am no doctor so I am telling you this based on what I am choosing to do. I work through it, I have been squatting and sometimes I can feel a little pain but to be honest with you the pain seems to be getting less and less. My Dr. did tell me that a way to help relieve the pain in my knees is to build the surrounding muscles and so I have. I also supplement with glucosamine and I believe that has helped me too.
  • GoffGirl1029
    GoffGirl1029 Posts: 93 Member
    Thank you! I definitely don't want to quit, I feel like that will hurt me more in the long run. I guess squats it is! I will also have to try glucosamine as well.
  • jdyer90
    jdyer90 Posts: 15 Member
    I work at a physical therapy clinic and when I first started working out and running my knee eventually started hurting as well (only difference is I have had an ACL replacement), I wouldn't of gone to PT if my boss had not scared me into going! Turns out it was my gluts that were the issue, they were not strong enough and eventually effected my knee. Try physical therapy, they will help you with good strength exercises and no one should live with pain (it's what I have learned sense working here), you CAN be fixed haha. Try them out, I promis if you go to the right PT clinic you will be amaized on what they can do :)
  • lhapple82
    lhapple82 Posts: 16 Member
    Another thing to consider is how many nightshades you consume. I did a 30 day elimination diet to check from some food intolerances. Nightshades are very inflammatory for arthritis, and the day after testing them, I had terrible knee pain. When I did the elimination, I had no knee issues, and since I tested them and stopped eating them again, I also have not had any knee issues. I lift weights 4-5 times a week with a leg day, and I'm not having any squat or lunge issues since I cut them out.
  • kerriotto
    kerriotto Posts: 93
    I have chondromalacia (degeneration of the cartilage in the knee) and I've adjusted my workouts accordingly (squats and very shallow lunges but nothing hardcore) as well as started taking glucosamine and tart cherry.
    I've also come to accept that I will never be a runner but that I can do other activities, like bikram yoga and strength training, just fine.
    I have to make my knees last the rest of my life so this was a small sacrifice, all things considered.
  • GoffGirl1029
    GoffGirl1029 Posts: 93 Member
    I work at a physical therapy clinic and when I first started working out and running my knee eventually started hurting as well (only difference is I have had an ACL replacement), I wouldn't of gone to PT if my boss had not scared me into going! Turns out it was my gluts that were the issue, they were not strong enough and eventually effected my knee. Try physical therapy, they will help you with good strength exercises and no one should live with pain (it's what I have learned sense working here), you CAN be fixed haha. Try them out, I promis if you go to the right PT clinic you will be amaized on what they can do :)

    I probably should, I'm a cheapo though. The most I've ever gone to a doctor or anything of the sort was when I was pregnant and that was cause I needed to take care of my growin baby, haha. I also should go to a chiropractor, somethin' in my back pops when I do bicycle crunches..but that's a whole 'nother story :laugh: Yall are postin' some pretty interestin' things...I had no idea about nightshades affectin' arthritis! My knees hurt mostly when I work my legs OR when I don't get enough sleep.
  • LoseSyra
    LoseSyra Posts: 75 Member
    You really should get to an orthopedic doc to figure out what your particular issue is, followed up by physical therapy. Guaranteed to work wonders. PT usually starts out very basic with light weights, but they constantly change what exercises you do and you will progress really fast particularly if you don't have an acute issue right now. I think it would be tough to do it on your own because you'll try to do too much too fast.
  • Nstigator
    Nstigator Posts: 1
    I have knee problems most of my life too. my neighbor found what i feel is a really unique form of pain relief in a "energymedicine' product called Crystalsynergy' I play racketball twicw a week and if i put it on before i play my knee never hurts! I swear to this .It is in the stores here in ohio..if you cant find it online let me know.Its made by actherapies
  • Docmahi
    Docmahi Posts: 1,603 Member
    I am 27 and I have Right knee pain so I can definitely relate. I have done a few orthopedic/sports medicine rotations in med school but I don't feel qualified enough to suggest any sort specific stretches. General advice would be to supplement vitamin D - since 95% of people are probably somewhat low and I know personally after I did a loading dose supplement (50000Units once a week for 8 weeks followed by 2000Units daily) my joints felt much better

    -The steam room post workout really did a wonder on my knee and shoulder joint
    -Could consider a knee sleeve to keep the joint warm during workouts

    but the biggest things that have helped me is plenty of warmup sets when im doing legs, especially with squats - and not doing partial reps on squat, when i started going ATG on squats it hurt my knee joint so much less.

    Just my general advice - hope it helps a little!

    As always take the medical advice from these forums with a grain of salt.
  • RaineMarie
    RaineMarie Posts: 158 Member
    I am about to turn 30 and I have had knee problems since I was a teenager. Playing sports and dancing made the problem worse, but it really sprang from the fact that my knee caps are slightly tilted laterally and my quad muscles are very weak (it is very difficult to keep the muscles strong. Ultimately, I had a patella realignment on my left knee (after 2 years of failed physical therapy due to one of the smaller muscles around my knee being in capable of getting stronger) and that knee has been fine ever since. My right knee I just go to physical therapy whenever it gets bad, but in the meantime I make sure I do leg strengthening exercises like squats and lunges. My PT also had me do lots of core exercises to keep my core strong as well.

    If you have always had knee problems, but have never gotten them checked by a doctor, you really should. Even if you were "born that way" there are ways to fix things - frequently its because of muscle imbalances and PT really helps.
  • GoffGirl1029
    GoffGirl1029 Posts: 93 Member
    Thank yall! My quads have always been really strong, but my hamstrings need some building up for sure. I don't know if that would help or not. I guess the next time I have to go to the doctor, I'll have him check. :smile:

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