Replies

1. 
   VtMike | Jun 13, 2003 04:46am | #1

   Boy, have I been feeling it a lot lately too. Gonna try some stretches and regular exercise. They just feel so weak and tired sometimes. I'm going to be fifty soon and this could cut down on my motorcycle riding, the reason I work.

   Yesterday I couldn't even spell plumber, today I are one.

2. 
   ClevelandEd | Jun 13, 2003 04:50am | #2

   I've been taking Glucosamine Chondroitin for a couple of years now.  My knee has become less prone to inflamation from general use, though only in the past year. Placebo effect?  I have no idea, but I do know that there have been quite of few bona fide medical studies where it has been concluded that it is of benefit to a sizable portion of the studies' participants.   My medical doctor takes it.

3. 
   NickNukeEm | Jun 13, 2003 04:51am | #3

   If you haven't already, get thee to a doctor.  Skip the family physian and go straight to an orthopedic surgen.  He will assess the condition of the knee and provide recommendations.

   I've had an ACL repair on the right knee and cartiledge removed from the left.  Best thing I've ever done; improved the quality of life greatly.  (Took me 17 years to have the ACL repaired after injuring it in the late 70's playing softball, just 'never found the time'.  Took about 6 months to have the cartiledge addressed.  We learn by experiance.)

   But, only the orthopedic guy can answer your question for sure.  In the meantime, ibuprophen, ice, and take it easy.

   Best of luck.

   I never met a tool I didn't like!
4. 
   dthodal | Jun 13, 2003 06:38am | #4

   40 years of soccer has taken it's toll on my knee. But I am avoiding surgery so far. The Glucosamine is more than placebo, but add to it salmon oil, and vitamin C & E. Stretching and an exercise bike help with strengthening.

   Last Monday, tried Prolotherapy. Still early to tell for me, but I have heard of some excellent results. Having it done felt like lubing the ball joints of my truck.

   More evidence is coming out that many of the anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofin, cortisone actually do much damage by destroying the cartiledge. So no more aspirin. Something is helping with the inflammation, but when it does occur, ice works wonders. For active inflammation, try rubbing in Arnica gel or taking Devil's Claw.

   I was told after the second blowing out my knee in 74 that I wouldn't be walking by the time I was 50, if I didn't take care of my knee. Well I beat them at that and I still am playing soccer.

   But more important is what works for you and your specific injury. I had an MRI done and an orth look at it but am trying to avoid the knife through other less intrusive healing techniques.

   Good luck. It's tough having a bum knee.

   walk good
5. 
   Dinosaur | Jun 13, 2003 07:46am | #5

   I'm 51 years old--is that age-challenged enough for you?

   I'm also a professional ski patroller, which means I do it 50 hours a week all winter long (and get paid!) so I don't have to shovel snow off the scaffolding before I can fall off the roof. Blown knees are an occupational hazard for patrollers. There's just soooo many different ways we can screw them up....

   I got hooked out of a high-speed quad chairlift once when the tips of my 227cm downhill skis caught a snow drift. Result--a partially torn meniscus. It took 4 weeks of light duty, physiotherapy and anti-inflamation pills (Naprosen-E) to avoid going under the laser, which, for a skier, means a brace for life and it hurts anyway.

   Many persistent knee problems that are not the result of a particular trauma are partial meniscus tears. You can learn to live with that, but you have to be sure that's what your problem is. A scan will tell you (MRI). If that's your problem, you'll have to decide in conjuction with your doc whether or not you want to have the surgery, or try the route I did. It depends a lot on what you want to be able to do with the knee afterwards.

   A partially torn meniscus manifests itself as an intermittent, sharp, shooting pain that comes and goes without warning. It is sometimes referred to as a 'Joint Mouse'. Depending on how big the piece of the meniscus is that's torn and 'flopping out' into the wrong place (this is what causes the pain; it's getting pinched), it can be coaxed back to its normal place by massaging around the knee with your fingertips, or sometimes by rapid no-load flexing and straightening of the leg. This is why exercise bikes (or real bikes ridden at high RPM in low gear) are good physio for this type of injury. Ice or cold compresses will help with inflamation; hot baths will make it feel better temporarily. If the pain is persistant and won't go away, you've likely got a big piece torn and you may be looking at surgery like it or not. Analgesics containing 325mg of acetominophen + 8mg of codeine will work well to control the pain unless you're allergic to codeine; in Canada you can buy this OTC as 'Lenoltec #1'; in the States you'll need a prescription.

   If you've just got sore, achey knees after a long day climbing around on a roof, but no shooting pains that come and go with no warning, the meniscus probably isn't what's bothering you, just generalized inflammation. (Working on your knees a lot without good knee pads will cause this too.) For that, ibuprofen will work well, or ASA (aspirin). Forget acetominophen (Tylenol), it's got -0- ZERO ZILCH anti-inflammatory qualities. If you see your doc, you can get prescription anti-inflammatories, like the Naprosen-E I mentioned; Vioxx is a newer drug that works on different enzymes and creates less stomach problems as a side effect (I also find it works faster). Cortisone injections should not be used for chronic problems; a good doc will not give you more than 3 cortisone injections because of the danger of tissue damage.

   If you've injured the knee in a fall, you could have strained, stretched, or torn ligaments. Sideways twisting of the lower leg usually injures one of the ligaments on the sides of the knee; hyperextension (stepping down onto a step that isn't there) or forcing the leg straight to push yourself back up once you've fallen can cause damage to the ACL. Strained ligaments will usually get better by themselves in a few days with rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Badly stretched ligaments may or may not come back; torn ones have to be repaired or replaced surgically.

   Stretching exercises don't do any good for knee problems--in the first place, there are no muscles in the knees to stretch, so when you do stretches you are stressing the ligaments, which aren't very elastic to start with. Not a good idea.

   Being aware of how your knee is built can help you understand how to use it without abusing it. Try to find a good medical illustration of the knee and study it. And wear knee pads whenever you're working on your knees, even for a short time. After all, we're not getting any younger, and neither are our knees.

   Dinosaur

   'Y-a-tu de la justice dans ce maudit monde?

6. 
   jimblodgett | Jun 13, 2003 08:01am | #6

   I've been taking 1500 mg of Naproxin daily and Vicaden for those nights when I'm really hurting for the past decade or so.  The article in the last FHB about getting fit gave me a nudge and I have started taking a brisk one mile walk morning and night.  After a few weeks, my knees already feel better - don't get that locking in the back when I stand up or that stabbing pain in the front as I sit down any more.  Of course, the weather here has changed over the past couple weeks too, but I really think just that little bit of exercise helps, too.  It's nice to run into my neighbors regularly, too.
7. 
   Rugby | Jun 13, 2003 08:05am | #7

   Matt: Not sure of your level of stiffness and or pain, but from my personal experience when I am able to maintain regular strength training at my gym, most of my aches, pains, stiffness are minimal or non-existant.  I don't have any serious joint problems (other than than a permanently separated left shoulder) so the prior posts about seeing a specialist are wise advise just in case there's something serious going on with your knees.

   I also highly agree with Dinosaur on the knee pads.  My 40 years knees really thank me when I wear them.

   Rugby

8. 
   PhillGiles | Jun 13, 2003 08:16am | #8

   I really screwed up my knees early; based on advice from orthopedic surgeons, here's what's worked for me

   1) wear knee pads - it really, really, helps.

   2) if your knees start to hurt, then stop what you're doing: an hour or two off now is better than a day or two off if you push it.

   3) if you can strengthen your knees (big IF, check with a sports doctor to see "if" and "when"), you can get surprising relief. I was doing high reps, with high weights, on what's called a leg-press machine - I have not hyper-extended my knees since (17 years, but who's counting).

   .

   Phill Giles

   The Unionville Woodwright

   Unionville, Ontario