Permanent knee injury...very hard to lose weight

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vaniglia33
vaniglia33 Posts: 9 Member
edited August 2016 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi Guys,
To explain my saga shortly...I am 45, ex semi pro figure roller skater, ex rock climber and spinning maniac. I had a ligment injury many years ago and all went back to normal, until my cartilage started to degenerate. Surgery did not resolve and knee replacement is not an option (thank god!).
I have always been a bomb of energy but since the injury even walking has been a problem..forget proper gym..cardio...so I got really depressed gained 15 kgs in 2 years and almost never left the house in my spare time.
I am now in a better mood and willing to ask for help and try anything before even my good knee will let go because of the weight gain.. I've done several test and because of my high cortisol levels sweating is my best option....
I do not struggle with the 1200 calories...but I need some suggestions to sweat without running or squatting or putting weight on my knee.

Thanks for reading guys!!

Replies

  • AmandaDanceMore
    AmandaDanceMore Posts: 298 Member
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    Swimming? Cycling? A friend of mine has horrible knees, and she finds cycling is pretty easy on her. She also has found that yoga makes them better.
  • vaniglia33
    vaniglia33 Posts: 9 Member
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    AmandaDanceMore wrote: »
    Swimming? Cycling? A friend of mine has horrible knees, and she finds cycling is pretty easy on her. She also has found that yoga makes them better.

    Thanks Amanda...unfortunately no cycling for me I basically got banned :) i am seriously considering swimming.
  • BeckyD1105
    BeckyD1105 Posts: 444 Member
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    What about water aerobics?
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
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    There's this cool hand cycling machine at the gym I go to. I've watched people work up quite a sweat on that thing. There's also a rope climbing machine that uses only the upper body.
  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,209 Member
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    vaniglia33 wrote: »
    I've done several test and because of my high cortisol levels sweating is my best option....

    Who told you this? That doesn't sound like something a Medical Doctor would say. :+1:
  • MelissaPhippsFeagins
    MelissaPhippsFeagins Posts: 8,063 Member
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    Power walk. And get a physical therapist to recommend other exercises to strengthen your knee. I am 47 and have had a partially town left meniscus since I was 20. I am able to lift weights, bike and run a 5k. Leg curls and leg extensions have helped me a lot. I can almost squat my bodyweight and can leg press it now. That's fabulous progress from where I started in January 2015. However, there are days that my knee just won't let me move a lot weight. I take what I can get.
  • vaniglia33
    vaniglia33 Posts: 9 Member
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    Cherimoose wrote: »
    vaniglia33 wrote: »
    I've done several test and because of my high cortisol levels sweating is my best option....

    Who told you this? That doesn't sound like something a Medical Doctor would say. :+1:

    It was an endocrinologist...he tested me for several genetic diseases because most diets do not work on me.(forgot to mention I have asthma)..his words were more like " you need to sweat and do cardio to lose weight because of the high levels you have and the fact you absorbe the cortisol in your medications...but you cannot now because of your knee"..and goodbye. He is one of the big names and I was able to see him just cuz my hubbie is a doctor too.
  • vaniglia33
    vaniglia33 Posts: 9 Member
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    MelissaPhippsFeagins wrote: »
    Power walk. And get a physical therapist to recommend other exercises to strengthen your knee. I am 47 and have had a partially town left meniscus since I was 20. I am able to lift weights, bike and run a 5k. Leg curls and leg extensions have helped me a lot. I can almost squat my bodyweight and can leg press it now. That's fabulous progress from where I started in January 2015. However, there are days that my knee just won't let me move a lot weight. I take what I can get.

    Very inspiring thanks!! I managed to do a little squat a couple of months ago and is amazing what you did and do!!!
    I am having some visco supplement injections and the take away most of the pain (oh yes I am in constant pain)..so I can move more freely!
    I wonder sometimes if is me or I was unlucky with the doctors here in UK...I am alway ready for a fight...but this one is hard to beat! :smiley:
  • vaniglia33
    vaniglia33 Posts: 9 Member
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    BeckyD1105 wrote: »
    What about water aerobics?

    Thanks for this...I have been looking and found few places around my work...one even has bikes in the water...I will ask if they think I can...I never give up trying to go back on a bike :)
    Is amazing how many different point of views I can be given by physiotherapists or pilates therapists...
  • illusion2269
    illusion2269 Posts: 95 Member
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    As another person with some pretty messed up knees (2 knee surgeries on left, 1 on right, no ACL or lat. meniscus in right) and a bad back, I started my weight loss path at a local gym with stationary bike, 15 minutes to start, worked up to 30 minutes, increased the resistance level, and added treadmill work later on as I started up a C25K. I also did some moderate weight lifting, as well as a change in my diet. 2 years later I am 125 lbs lighter, and have been able to run a number of 5 - 10k races and I feel so much better overall. The biggest thing to do is find what will work for you, stick with it, and don't give up!
  • cmtristani
    cmtristani Posts: 117 Member
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    One more vote for the hand cycle, if you have access to one. I was in Florida last Christmas, went to a gym that had one of these. It is seriously much harder than you think. Great way to get cardio that doesn't involve legs, if that is what you are after.
  • STEVE142142
    STEVE142142 Posts: 867 Member
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    I'll give you my stats last year double hip replacement. I also have a bone-on-bone arthritic knee and my ACL has totally disintegrated. At the top of the list I have an arthritic shoulder that needs to be replaced.

    My first suggestion to you cuz I know where you're coming from cuz I used to be a gym rat you're going to have to be approached the way you work out and fit that workout into your limitations.

    As far as exercise swimming is a great exercise also something as simple as walking. One other point and I'm sure you realize this but the lose weight you don't have to exercise. It's just a matter of eating less calories then you need and you'll lose the weight. Also as you lose the way it'll take a lot of stress off your knee. In the US the medical belief is that for every pound you lose it takes six to seven pounds stress off your knee.
  • MelissaPhippsFeagins
    MelissaPhippsFeagins Posts: 8,063 Member
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    vaniglia33 wrote: »
    MelissaPhippsFeagins wrote: »
    Power walk. And get a physical therapist to recommend other exercises to strengthen your knee. I am 47 and have had a partially town left meniscus since I was 20. I am able to lift weights, bike and run a 5k. Leg curls and leg extensions have helped me a lot. I can almost squat my bodyweight and can leg press it now. That's fabulous progress from where I started in January 2015. However, there are days that my knee just won't let me move a lot weight. I take what I can get.

    Very inspiring thanks!! I managed to do a little squat a couple of months ago and is amazing what you did and do!!!
    I am having some visco supplement injections and the take away most of the pain (oh yes I am in constant pain)..so I can move more freely!
    I wonder sometimes if is me or I was unlucky with the doctors here in UK...I am alway ready for a fight...but this one is hard to beat! :smiley:

    If I can do it, you can. I have asthma and an autoimmune disease as well. It may take a long time, but you can do it. And I hate specialists like your endocrinologist. My Ortho doctor stops and listens to my knee while I am weightlifting. Sometimes he tells me add weight; sometimes he tells me take weight off. I listen and I make progress and when I am 60 plus, he'll replace my knee.
  • vaniglia33
    vaniglia33 Posts: 9 Member
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    MelissaPhippsFeagins wrote: »
    vaniglia33 wrote: »
    MelissaPhippsFeagins wrote: »
    Power walk. And get a physical therapist to recommend other exercises to strengthen your knee. I am 47 and have had a partially town left meniscus since I was 20. I am able to lift weights, bike and run a 5k. Leg curls and leg extensions have helped me a lot. I can almost squat my bodyweight and can leg press it now. That's fabulous progress from where I started in January 2015. However, there are days that my knee just won't let me move a lot weight. I take what I can get.

    Very inspiring thanks!! I managed to do a little squat a couple of months ago and is amazing what you did and do!!!
    I am having some visco supplement injections and the take away most of the pain (oh yes I am in constant pain)..so I can move more freely!
    I wonder sometimes if is me or I was unlucky with the doctors here in UK...I am alway ready for a fight...but this one is hard to beat! :smiley:

    If I can do it, you can. I have asthma and an autoimmune disease as well. It may take a long time, but you can do it. And I hate specialists like your endocrinologist. My Ortho doctor stops and listens to my knee while I am weightlifting. Sometimes he tells me add weight; sometimes he tells me take weight off. I listen and I make progress and when I am 60 plus, he'll replace my knee.


    Oh my god you are my new hero!! Thanks so much, and bless your Ortho. I am seeing my next week

    ..all you guys have been great and make me feel new hope.
  • vaniglia33
    vaniglia33 Posts: 9 Member
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    Hi Guys,
    I had my first session of aqua fit (spin bikes in the pool!) and thanks to the aqua factor i had 45 minutes cycling with little effort. Most important it was a great work out and I have no pain at all today. I found my new fav sport.

    Thanks so much for your suggestions!!! <3
  • Return2Fit
    Return2Fit Posts: 226 Member
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    vaniglia33 wrote: »
    AmandaDanceMore wrote: »
    Swimming? Cycling? A friend of mine has horrible knees, and she finds cycling is pretty easy on her. She also has found that yoga makes them better.

    Thanks Amanda...unfortunately no cycling for me I basically got banned :) i am seriously considering swimming.
    Swimming is what I'd be doing. That's a great workout with little stress on the body.
  • smile_laughter
    smile_laughter Posts: 3,682 Member
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    vaniglia33 wrote: »
    Hi Guys,
    I had my first session of aqua fit (spin bikes in the pool!) and thanks to the aqua factor i had 45 minutes cycling with little effort. Most important it was a great work out and I have no pain at all today. I found my new fav sport.

    Thanks so much for your suggestions!!! <3

    This is wonderful! I really hope you are able to keep this up. Very inspiring.
  • mazdauk
    mazdauk Posts: 1,380 Member
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    I wish they had that round here! I can't do spin because of my knees - I just about manage zumba and clubbercise, but often with kinesiology tape. Sometimes its fine, sometimes I just run out of bounce by the latter part of the class. Moderate walking is good, I can get up to 6 miles no problem now (with a few small hills too!)
  • nadler64
    nadler64 Posts: 124 Member
    edited August 2016
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    Tried cross-country skiing? I have an old Nordic-Track skier that I've been using for 30+ years. I adore it. NT still sells them, and you can find reconditioned machines online. I'm a triathlete, and I use that on the days the pool is closed and I can't swim. No impact, great for the legs, butt and back, and you'll sweat, I promise you.
  • sgt1372
    sgt1372 Posts: 3,991 Member
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    OP: Have you ever considered getting fitted for an orthopedic knee brace?

    Technology has advanced since I got fitted for my carbon fiber brace after tearing all 3 ligaments in my left knee but I was able to use it to ski fast downhill for over 30 years after the injury and, although I have sibce given up dkiing, I stilluse it for support when doing squats or any activity where I might have to turn on my knee.

    Never got the surgery (the videos scared the heck out of me) and just strengthened my leg muscles to allow normal and some not so normal physical activity including hiking, backpacking and lifting w/o even needing to use the brace.

    If you strengthen the knee and wear an ortho brace, I'm pretty sure you could return to figure/roller skating and rock climbing. It would just take time to build up your leg strength again. Good luck!

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