Knee issues

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pokesushi
pokesushi Posts: 14 Member
edited December 2015 in Fitness and Exercise
I've been having some knee problems for about a year and a bit now, and I'm not sure what the exact cause of it is. I'm 28 years old, female, 5'2, and I weight 69 Kilos.

I feel a burning pain on top of my knees (right around the kneecap) whenever I practice my martial art stances (think lunges and squats but holding those positions for a extended amount of time). It's not the normal pain I experience, and I'm worried if I try and push through it I might injure something.

I felt something similar about a year ago, and I think it was due to me trying to jog in order to lose weight. I went to physio and they said my muscles were weak and gave me massages and exercises to strengthen them (I also stopped jogging). The pain went away but I think it's more due to me losing about 10kg. The pain returned about a few months ago, except now my knees feel off even when I did something easy like going for my daily walk. (It's hard to describe how they feel, it's not like they hurt or lock up but it's on the verge of starting to hurt or maybe even heavy?)

I went to the doctor this time, and after making me move my knee he just said I have weak knees and shouldn't walk as much, and cut back on my martial arts.

I'm a little skeptical about this since I've been doing it for over 5 years, and I don't wanna quit it either. I am taking it easy over the holiday season but I still need to lose more weight, and exercising will make it so much easier.

Does anyone know what it might be? I've read up the Internet and I've seen things like runners knee or overuse, but I'm not sure. (I'm not to sure about the physio either, since it's really expensive to go there and just be given a few exercises that I don't even know if they'l work)

Replies

  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
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    What kind of dx is "weak knees"? Ask the doc to refer you to someone who knows about knees.
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
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    I would try doing the exercises that you received earlier. As someone else wrote, "weak knees" is not a diagnosis, and "taking it easy" is not a long-term treatment plan. It is likely that you have some type of overuse injury, but whether or not you also have a structural issue is obviously impossible to determine in this setting.
  • pokesushi
    pokesushi Posts: 14 Member
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    Thank you guys for the advice :) I'll try and get a referral from my doc when I can (Christmas time is a bit hectic), and also do some of those exercises too.
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
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    pokesushi wrote: »
    Thank you guys for the advice :) I'll try and get a referral from my doc when I can (Christmas time is a bit hectic), and also do some of those exercises too.

    Good luck to you. Look on YouTube for "Chair boxing" - for an aerobic workout. :)
  • 20yearsyounger
    20yearsyounger Posts: 1,643 Member
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    My knee problems decreased significantly once I lost weight. My body couldnt handle the excess. Once my weight was right sized, it seemed like running actually made the muscles around my knee stronger. Martial arts is hard on the joints though. I have trouble with squats and lunges still and take it easier.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
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    I'd go back to my physio personally
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,411 MFP Moderator
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    Have you gone to an orthopedic doctor to get xrays, mri, etc...? Generally, I would like to know if I have damage before starting a relationship with a physio.
  • cafeaulait7
    cafeaulait7 Posts: 2,459 Member
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    I went for decades with docs just having me strengthen the muscles around my knees. Eventually my pain doc did a simple exam when I mentioned it to him that showed that my kneecaps are extremely hypermobile. It freaked him out how they can move, and so we looked into it more. My pain is because of bad tracking during movement, and now I have bone-on-bone grinding after so many years. I certainly wish I'd known that before the gazillions of lunges, etc, I've done since the pain and noise first started :(

    That is not at all necessarily what you have, but it does show that if your doc(s) don't know exactly what's causing the pain, keep pursuing a real diagnosis. I can't believe none of my docs noticed such an obvious abnormality! It's crazy.
  • hekla90
    hekla90 Posts: 595 Member
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    You've been at it for 5 years, sounds like an overuse injury. I'd get a referral to a specialist
  • fiddletime
    fiddletime Posts: 1,862 Member
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    Ask for a sports medicine referral. Those docs don't tell you to stop exercising. I did martial arts from 42-52 years of age 6 days a week and had very strong legs. At the end my knees would get a little sore but that resolved if I took two days off in a row. My point is, you're pretty young.
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    edited December 2015
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    I had a burning pain right over my kneecaps; was diagnosed by physio as quadriceps tendonitis (tendinopathy). It came about after several months of high-rep squatting etc.

    You should get a more precise diagnosis, but if it's tendon stuff, rest is a legitimate response and sometimes the only thing that helps in the short- and mid-term.

    http://www.tendonpain.org/current.shtml

    (The effectiveness of the newest treatments for tendinopathy - biologics (e.g. stem cell) injections - is still being established; looks promising but is also expensive & not always available to people.)

    I've also been told (multiple times) that I have unstable (also "weak" or "lax") knees (those words used by sports meds & physios). In my case it just means that the soft tissue structures around there are generally a little loose. Only thing for that is strengthening muscles around there.

    Re getting help:
    - Most GPs are not great about muscle/bone stuff.
    - Orthos are good, but sometimes don't care if they can't operate & in that case will likely refer you to physios for further evaluation anyway.
    - Physios can make diagnoses based on clinical evaluations - they are often more careful about this than other specialists. They can't order images, though.
    - Sports med - useful, would start here.

    I would stay away from cortisone shots if anyone suggests that. The long-term effect on tendon health isn't great.
  • tiggerlove
    tiggerlove Posts: 225 Member
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    i have a knee pain for years and the best thing to do is see an orthopedic doctor and get an MRI..Xrays..always get another doctors opinion..good luck to you.
  • Sweepypie
    Sweepypie Posts: 161 Member
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    I have knee pain in both knees, been diagnosed with arthritis in nearly every joint! I was referred to an orthopaedic surgeon in 1988. Have had MRI scans, X-rays, operations and medication. Over the years the pain has gotten worse causing difficulty in movement. Merry Christmas everyone! o:)<3
  • AllanMisner
    AllanMisner Posts: 4,140 Member
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    Find another doctor, one that actually understands the human body. If a muscle is weak, you should train it to be stronger (especially being 28). I would guess the pain might be overuse and muscle imbalances in your legs. Without doing a physical assessment of your movement patterns, I can’t really offer any direct advice. But you could go to a Physical Therapist and have them give you a program to deal with the imbalances.

    Then, when you’re in a position, make sure your knees line up with your toes and avoid locking out the joint.

    Allan Misner
    NASM Certified Personal Trainer (Corrective Exercise Specialist, Fitness Nutrition Specialist)
  • Fit4LifeAR
    Fit4LifeAR Posts: 233 Member
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    A doctor that tells you that you have weak knees, should not even be trying to diagnose you. Go to a specialist, otherwise you are wasting your time.
  • pokesushi
    pokesushi Posts: 14 Member
    edited January 2016
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    Hey, I know this topic hasn't been used in about a month but I'd like to update everyone on whats happening.

    I've just been to a knee specialist, and after doing a quick examination he believes I have patella pain syndrome. From what he told me I do have a 'weakness in one side of my muscles' (in my own words, it'a kinda hard to remember everything he explained), and I have a slight condition of knocked knees. Both knocked knees and pps are apparently quite common in women. I've been told to do a few months work of good physio, and to not do any deep lunges. However I can still walk and cycle which is good. If after this the pain hasn't gone away he gave me a prescription to get some x-rays/MRI's

    So all in all I have a better understanding of whats going on, which is good. I'll look into my health cover to see if they can cover some better physio, and I'll try not to do any of the real deep stances for martial arts.

    Again, thanks everyone for your advice :)

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