People with knee issues, I have a question.

ChiJenn
ChiJenn Posts: 97 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hello all,

So, I am currently 42, I used to run in high school for exercise, then as I got older I did some biking. I have tried over the years to "run" again like I did when I was in high school. First time I tried it was the treadmill and I think I only ran for 5-10 min. to ease into it. Next day I was layed up on the couch for a week with a swollen knee. I'm not real keen on medical doctors so I went and saw my chiropractor and he did some e-stim and exercises, it got better. I didn't run again.

Then a year later I think ok knee is good. I will start exercising again. Did some weights, with squats. Did some exercise DVD's with lots of jumping and squats. Umm yeah you guessed it my knee again, went to the chiropractor again. He did the same stuff and had me see his trainer. Trainer says to me, don't ever jump, run, or squat again. Seemed like a knowledgeable guy. He said no one should ever run unless being chased by a bear and that the knees aren't designed to handle the weight of your body while running. OK fine I won't run. I saw him for awhile, like 3 months. Knee felt better I stopped seeing him. I pretty much wasn't doing any exercise during that time because I was pissed that I couldn't do what I wanted and I was afraid I would hurt my knee again so I took it easy, real easy.

And then since I am not a quitter, here I am again trying to get in some exercise cuz I am 42 and I'd like to loose the 10 pounds that found me once I turned 40. I have begun exercising again, I started with the bike for about two weeks, then a DVD with yes some jumping and squats. I was good for about 3 weeks. Legs getting stronger, arms too. Then my knees, both of them now are just not feeling right so I stop with the jumping and such and do low impact. This morning about an hour or two after exercising I am walking and then I stop and my right knee bends backward and OUCH! Again!!! Oh for the love of Pete, I am so pissed.

All this and I am not going back to the chiropractor, what kind of doc. can you recommend? It's not like I ripped something. Anyone else experience this? Love the trainer but I am never going to loose any weight with the boring exercises he is giving me. Anyone have any advice?

Thanks in advance!

Replies

  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    I have kind of a bad knee. I don't run or do a lot of jumping even when I do exercise videos (both activities also make me pee). I do however do squats and weight lifting. I am very careful of form, work my up gradually when ever I take time off, go past parallel, don't let my knees come in on the squat, step backwards instead of forwards on lunges, etc. Occasionally I'll still piss my knee off, however it now only takes a day or two to heal instead of a week. Strengthening the muscles and tendons around the injured joint helps protect it. I rarely have random pain in it anymore (used to hurt really bad whenever I kept it bent for a long time like in a car, or sitting down).
  • traceyjj
    traceyjj Posts: 406 Member
    Do you have access to a swimming pool?
    I do aqua aerobics, swimming and water jogging, all are fine with my knee. I dont do any normal running, but I've built the strength up in my knee so I am able to squat again.

    Good luck
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Have you ever tried a rebounder? These are basically fancy mini-trampolines used to make high impact = low impact. Good ones run anywhere from $250 - $600. Not the "cheezy" stiff ones you find a Wal-Mart

    They do sell treadmills that have a more "orthopedic" belt. My cheap (home) ProForm was much harder that the Sole (loved it! ...that I tried on vacation).
  • CarmenDsewell
    CarmenDsewell Posts: 24
    You might want to see a doctor that specializes in bone and joint disorders to get to underlying issues you may have.
    Also, if you have access to a pool, you might want to try that since that's not as hard on your joints... good luck!
  • cafeaulait7
    cafeaulait7 Posts: 2,459 Member
    Go to an orthopedic surgeon to find out exactly where the problem is. Then do the PT that they'll surely recommend before you do any DVDs that involve the knees, lol. I don't do squats at all and even have to modify some yoga poses, but my issue in the knees involves hypermobility and patellar tracking, so yours could be completely different. Squatting the weight I like was too much on my tendons, basically, and going up and down grinds the patella against weird things because mine moves all over the place, lol.

    I do a ton of leg and glute work, but I don't bend my knees that far with weight on them very often (weighted bridges/hip thrusts are fine on my knees, for instance). You can find something that works! But you have to know exactly what is doing it first, so do see someone good at diagnosis.

    One option to find a good knee person is to call the PT centers and see who they think is best.
  • Stage14
    Stage14 Posts: 1,046 Member
    You need to go to a MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL and have it evaluated. I'm not sure what you mean by "bends backwards" but that does not sound normal or healthy at all. And the thing about knee issues is that they get progressively worse if they go untreated, but with treatment and patience, you can actually end up doing most normal exercise activity with minimal modifications.

    I have horrible trouble with my left knee. I ruptured my patellar tendon and tore some cartilage many years ago. When I first started exercising, I couldn't do any sort of high impact workout. Now, i'm running and lifting heavy (complete with squats and lunges), but it did take a concetrated effort to build up the muscles around my knee first, and I still modify in some ways. For instance, you'll never catch me doing a jumping exercise, and I have to substitute static lunges and step ups for walking lunges because that's still a bit too much for my knee.

    The bottom line is that you need to know what is wrong with your knee so that you can figure out treatment if it's an injury and modifications if it is a chronic issue. But the trainer who told you never to run, jump, or squat again sounds like a moron.
  • mitchiejo
    mitchiejo Posts: 179 Member
    Your story sounds like mine. I'm 43 use to run in high school and a few years after. I have tried running again different times since and always seem to have knee and arthritis issues. Most recent attempt was Saturday morning when I got caught out in the rain so I ran home (only 3/4 mile) have had knee pain ever since.

    The exercises I do are elliptical, walking outside, recumbent bike and just started weights a couple of weeks ago. Good luck finding something you can do and enjoy.
  • MammaC66
    MammaC66 Posts: 118 Member
    How about trying just plain old walking, and do some strength training to strengthen your whole body. You don't have to run, jump, our squat to lose weight. I have bad knees and I have lost over 100 pounds without doing any of those things. Since I have been strength training my knees bother me a lot less, though. Of course you have to modify your diet and cut calories along with the exercise in order to see any real results. Just my two cents worth.
  • bumblebums
    bumblebums Posts: 2,181 Member
    Knee injuries are pretty well understood by the medical profession. You would be in good hands if you went to any halfway competent doctor. From what you are describing, it is hard to guess what your injury might be, but there is the Google machine for refining your diagnosis. The bending backwards thing sounds like an ACL injury, for which you would need to get surgical treatment. Otherwise, "bad knees" could be anything from arthritis to tendinitis of patellar tendons to meniscus tears--look them all up, see how your symptoms compare, and decide for yourself what to do.

    Also, your trainer is an idiot.
  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
    There is a whole lot you can do to help your knees in regards to running. The number one thing is to get fitted properly at a RUNNING store (not any old sporting goods store) as you may have pronation or other issues. Getting the ankle stable through the foot strike and push off phase is critical for knee health.

    I disagree with the doctor who said that people should never run unless they are being chased by a bear. Our entire skeletal and muscular structures are designed quite well for running, either long slow distance, or sprinting. If you have been able to run in the past, and have not had any specific knee injuries that you know of, you may greatly benefit from getting your running stride analyzed. It's what got me from the couch to marathoning.

    http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/11/1117_041117_running_humans_2.html
  • Bubba_Furley
    Bubba_Furley Posts: 31 Member
    Do you have any old injuries? Sounds like some arthritis. Try glucosamine/MSM. I have horrible knees (osteoarthritis from ACL injury) and it has really turned things around for me. I agree with don't jump/run. Try elliptical, walking, rowing, stairs, biking, swimming or anything else with low impact.
  • cathymarie75
    cathymarie75 Posts: 222 Member
    You should go to a Dr to see what it is the underlying problem. With knees it could be many things. I play sports my whole life and in HS I tore my acl there are exercises and things that can be done to help you. I was able to go back to sport in hs and college. Sometimes I have to wear something on my knee for support but I can do everything I use to for the most part.
  • KatrinaWilke
    KatrinaWilke Posts: 372 Member
    I would definitely go to a bone and joint specialist. I tore my ACL, MCL, and both meniscus a few years ago. Now I already suffer from horible arthritis. A medical doctor can give you have a ton of options ranging from supplements to surgery to injections. Also my doctor told me I shouldn't run...so what did I do, I signed up for my first half-marathon. Running actually made my knee feel better. As long as I increase intensity/weights slowly I can do anything. Plyometrics is the only kind of exercise I can not do with my knee. Jumping and landing hard doesn't help my knee. Also, lifting weights is really good for my knee. Developing the muscles around my joint has relieved alot of the pressure to my knee.
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    Why would you go to a chiropractor for your knee? See an orthopedist

    I've had 3 knee surgeries, scopes on both knees and an ACL replacement and no PCL in one knee. I can squat and all that fine, running does cause some issues so I just don't do cardio all that much and when I do it's the bike
  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 7,994 Member
    I ran cross country in high school and encountered knee problems once my mileage hit 45 miles a week prepping for full marathon. I am very knee injury prone and can't run anymore.

    Would definitely talk to a sports medicine doctor, as recommended by other posters. I lift (though I can't do squats and lunges due to a neurological problem in my lower legs which affects balance).

    There are plenty of cardio exercises that don't tax the knee. Skating (ice or inlines), biking (rowing or stationary), elliptical trainer, rowing (boat or machine), kayaking, swimming, low impact aerobic classes, aquatic aerobic classes.

    Good luck with finding an exercise form that doesn't stress out your knees and that you enjoy.
  • lithezebra
    lithezebra Posts: 3,670 Member
    See an orthopedist and find out what is wrong with your knee. You'll probably need some x-rays or an MRI.

    Some people shouldn't run, and I'm one of them, however there are many kinds of exercise that don't bother my joints. I bike, swim, walk, hike, ski, climb, do yoga, lift and dance.
  • ChiJenn
    ChiJenn Posts: 97 Member
    Thank you so much everyone. I've been icing it the past couple days and it's a little better. Guess I need to find a doctor in my area to find out what is really going on. Guess I am scared they are going to say surgery or something, I never really had an "injury" so I am hoping it is just weak muscles around the knee. Thank you again!!!
  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 7,994 Member
    You can stabilize the knee area by keeping quads strong. Leg extensions.
  • alisonlynn1976
    alisonlynn1976 Posts: 929 Member
    Go to a real doctor?

    I had a fairly serious knee injury a few years ago, and the thing that has helped the most *by far* has been losing weight.
  • amandajones1978
    amandajones1978 Posts: 140
    Go to an Orthopedic Doctor! I have the same issues as you, running inclines causes knee pain for a few days, both my knees hyper-extend (bend backwards), and I cannot squat due to the pain. When my knees bend, my kneecaps slide to the outside of my knee, so that cant be good.

    I was seeing a physical therapist, but all they did was xray and then exercise the muscles surrounding the knee. Nothing to check the tendons or cartilage inside the joint. So next month I am seeing an orthopedic who specializes in knees and hips.

    Who knows, it might be something a quick surgery in and out might take care of. My life could be so much better, I just wish I hadnt wasted my time and money on the PT for so long.
  • Gail3260
    Gail3260 Posts: 354 Member
    Lots of good avice above about getting the correct medical advice.

    My knee was smashed up in a car crash. I swim, do water aerobics and can manage the bike and rower in the gym. I cannot do any impact type stuff so no running or jumping and squates etc are just too painful.
  • msstatement
    msstatement Posts: 2
    You need to see an orthopedic surgeon. They will run the tests that will determine what the problem is. To me it sounds like wear and tear on your tendons and ligaments. The hyperextension suggests instability in the joint.

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