My knee is acting up. It started earlier this month and hasn't gone away-I'm sick of it! I have had it in the past where it is stiff and sore when I go to get up after I have been sitting for a while. It would go away on its own, though. This time it's not just sore when I have been sitting for a while anymore, I am constantly aware of it. It doesn't hurt enough to warrent taking advil (which I try to rarely use) but it bothers me enough that I find I am rather irritable. I'm not nor have I ever been in sports, I am not currently exercising and I am not obese so that's not it. I have never injured my knees that I am aware of. My mother seems to have bad knees and gets cortisone shots in them every few months bc she has actual bone on bone pain. Her doctor said some people just have this (hereditary) and don't realize it until the cartilage is worn away and they have really bad pain. She said he told her that certain knee exercises can actually restore cartillage and prevent this from happening when you are older or something. I haven't been to a doctor yet bc I don't know who to see and I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this and did something that made your knees healthy again. I am only 34 y/o! Also, I want to do things that fix the problem not treat the symptoms and I DO NOT want to end up needing shots someday--keep that cortizone away from me! I was going to start exercising recently but I'm not sure if it's a good idea to do leg stuff now until this goes away or if the right exercise could actually help it get better. Any insight would be much appreciated--including a referral to a GOOD, experienced, caring doctor (not someone who just wants to MRI me and do surgery so he can go on another vacation.). THANK YOU!
(To the powers that be: I am reasking this same question but not making it specific to my area this time because I only got one response in 3 days.)
OK, so it really made me think when someone replied that putting it off might cause irreversible damage so I decided to go see someone. I went to the chiropractor and was told I have IT Band Friction--totally treatable w/o surgery!! :D He is going to do a simple x-ray to rule out degenerative stuff like arthritis just to be on the safe side but his physical exam seemed to get right down to the issue. I can't say enough good things about Landgrebe Chiropractic in Tinley Park! So I am going for regular treatment and he is using the Graston technique along with back and hip adjustments. Thank you all so much for your helpful insights and suggestions. I think I'm going to look into that hot yoga stuff eventually, too.
I had a similar problem a few years ago, and my knee was out of alinement and one adjustment from a chiroprator and I have not had the pain since!
As a person who has almost NO cartilage in her right knee let me tell you ... it does NOT come back. Once it's gone the only way to fix it is replacing it through surgery.
Now ... you can take chondroitin and glucosamine. Both help with joint movement. They DO NOT grow back cartilage.
There are exercises that you can do to help strengthen the muscles and tendons that support the joint. You can probably find them online. They are pretty simple and don't add to any damage that might be there already. DO NOT do any kind of impact exercises ... aka running, jumping (unless it's on a trampoline) etc.
See your family physician before consulting a specialist. He may have other suggestions as well as know what specific questions to ask to get a better idea what is actually going on with your knee. And he would then also be able to refer you to a specialist if needed.
On a final note ... PLEASE introduce me to these doctors who do MRI's and surgery just so they can go on another vacation. I'd really love to meet one, since in my 45 years of life and multiple bone and joint issues I never have. It would be a novel experience for me.
You need a MRI so that you know what is actually going on with your knee. I would start with your primary care doctor. I would do this right away. You could be doing more damage as you wait.
I had tendonitis and didn't go to the doctor because it's been my experience that it would go away on its own. When it didn't, I went to my primary care doctor who said I now have a "frozen" shoulder which requires specific treatment. If I'd gone in at the beginning my arm would most likely be healed by now. Because of the symptoms I didn't need an MRI.
I have had pain in my knees and that has always required an MRI when physical therapy didn't ease the pain. Knees are easily subject to injury.
See your primary care doctor now. He'll send you to a specialist if you need one. You do not want to wait until you have bone on cartilage and you don't want to wait if you have a torn ligament.
I have knee pain constantly and have bend certain ways with no weight on the knee, etc., etc. but mine is from a slight injury many years back when I got on my knees and lifted a HUGE ficus tree out to repot it. My knee cap slipped or something but I also have arthritis which I'm sure now makes it worse. I was told around the time it happened that I needed surgery but didn't want it so didn't do it and look how long I've gone on with it like this. Years. You could get the info on it with MRI and then get therapy if it needs it but I doubt you'd need surgery from the way you described it so just don't do it if suggested and you don't think it's what you want. I would find out the issue or cause though. The exercises they gave me in therapy were not strenuous but to strengthen it and may help you.
My knee has bothered me on and off for years now. Right before Christmas I added lunges to my exercise routine and I started having a discomfort going up and down steps so I stopped the lunges after doing them for about two weeks. My knees continued to bother me but like you, not enough to take Motrin or even mention it to my husband. Then on Jan. 15th my knee swelled horribly and I could barely walk. My doctor thought I had a torn meniscus and sent me for an MRI. Turns out I have a congenital condition where my patella (knee cap) is too high and does not sit in the groove properly. As a result of this improper placement I now have severe osteoarthritis of my patellafemoral. Eventually a knee replacement is in my future but since I am only 42 they would like me to wait 18years. (My doc sure is not rushing me to surgery!) In the mean time I have started physical therapy. I highly recommend that to learn the proper exercises to do as well as the proper technique to use. Although I am not a doctor I would think they would have to figure out what is going on with your knee before they treat it so you may need to have an MRI.
One more thought... In November I was fine. Now I am having major somewhat life altering problems with my knee and I am only 42 years old.
Also, My orthopeadic doc also told me to take glucosamine.
I struggled with knee pain for years before proper diagnosis and treatment. Mine was petella femoral pain syndrome (runner's knee). It was always worse after I started an exercise program. It hurst mostly at rest and when I slept at night. Occasionally i would aggravate it so much I had to walk down stairs backwards and do squats with one leg sticking straight out since it hurt to bend. Orthopedist took x-rays and sent me to physical therapy where nothing improved. Years later I tried a new approach and went to a podiatrist where I was diagnosed with collapsing arches which in turn caused petella femoral pain syndrome. I now wear orthotic arch supports and its has made a tremendous difference.
I've had runner's knee, although I'm not a runner, which for me was tendonitous (sp) under my knee cap. I also have degeneration of the menicus in the same knee. The degeneration will not get better, but the doctor did give me some exercises. He told me that if I strengthen the muscles and stuff surrounding my menicus that it will aleviate the pain. It worked. The tendonitous went away also, that can be fixed. If you want it fixed, see a doctor, if they recommend surgery always get another opinion, but until you know what you are dealing with, you can't fix it. I also know people that swear by glucosomine supplements to lubricate the joints. I tried it and didn't feel any better.
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Your situation sounds like mine, except I'm older ;)
Squatting down was so painful; I went to a chiroprator. He said my pelvis was out of line. He adjusted it over a couple of months and suggested an exercise routine. I now take strength and aerobic classes at a local gym. I also got a 2 inch memory foam layer for my old mattress (which I can't afford to replace at this time) and stopped sleeping on my side. I can't believe how much that helped! No more pain!
Good luck!!
You could go see an orthopedic surgeon to find out what is causing the pain. Youl could also see a chiropractor and see if that helps. Depending on the problem, I'm sure there are exercises (usually rather simple and painless ones you can do at home) you can do to help alleviate the pain. My knees bothered me most of my life until I started practicing yoga - especially hot yoga. Give that a try and see if it helps.
Good luck!
Granted I was in gymnastics when I was a kid but regardless I would have knee issues. As my orthopedic surgeon puts it I am genetically predisposed to weak cartilage. My oldest daughter is already having pain and she is 21.
No exercise will restore cartilage but glucosamine will help protect and rebuild.
Consider yourself lucky I had three knee surgeries by your age. All of them because the cartilage tore off and twisted around the bone so I could not walk.
I would suggest you get an orthopedic surgeon. Don't let the surgeon part confused you they also do therapy or point you in the right direction. Find one that is associated with a good hospital and deals with sports medicine. For some reason they tend not to want to open you up without cause.
Another thing is don't fear the surgery, I can assure you two days post op I felt 500 times better than before!
I must warn you one day you will probably need shots but it is better than my future, I will probably need my knees replaced, not much of them left anyway.
Some thoughts:
1) Maybe you should start exercising, swimming is good, and the aches and pains may go away
2) Maybe you should see a rheumatologist and make sure there are no arthritic issues coming up
3) Yoga may be good for you.
Good Luck!
