View Full Version : My knees, my knees!
BumpJumper
10-03-2008, 21:22
I dont know what is wrong with my knees. Sometimes when I hike, it clicks and goes out on me and hurts like a mother. Then a few minutes later, it is just fine. A little sore but good to go. And it has a burning feeling in it when this happens. What the heck is it? Ole age?:eek::datz
Blissful
10-03-2008, 21:41
Check (http://www.kneepaininfo.com/kneepatellofem.html) this out about your knee problem. Exercises can help as well as making sure you have the right footwear, etc.
BumpJumper
10-03-2008, 21:59
You know, that sounds like it. But, the pain goes away in like 30 minutes or less sometimes. That is what is so weird.
I don't mess around with joints. If I have a problem with one, I see a doctor about it. My advice is to go see your personal physician/practitioner or an orthopaedic surgeonizer. :D
seanb724
10-04-2008, 08:43
I've had various knee issues for a while, and what you describe could be a torn meniscus... When there is a flap in the meniscus, it can move into a very painful position, and then slide out to normal just as easily.
It could also be many other things, so I would definitely go see an orthopedic doctor to start. A torn meniscus usually shows up on an mri.
Speer Carrier
10-04-2008, 09:16
I mean no disrespect, but based on your pictures, I'd say part of the problem is excess weight. I used to have knee problems, but when I went from 215 pounds to 175 pounds they pretty much went away.
Toolshed
10-04-2008, 09:43
I believe that's what they use to call a "trick knee". This was more common back before the 70's & 80's and the widespread use of reconstructive knee surgery. Usually what happens in either the Anterior or posterior cruciate ligaments get torn (partially or fully) and then the knee joint loosens up. In the process you could also tear your meniscus, which acts as a pad between each of the bone ends in the knee joint.
Check out this site for more info and a diagram: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00349
I have reconstructive in one knee, My sister and 3 of my friends all have damaged their ACLs and never had problems with them, so they never bothered with the surgery and now all have trick knees. My knee went out 2x on me between the initial tearing of the ACL (Complete Tear) and the surgery. I have had great success with my knee in the past 18 years since the surgery.
You're best bet is to go see a Orthopedic Specialist for an examinations and consult.
max patch
10-04-2008, 10:26
Its been too long ago to remember the details, but my wifes knees also used to click--sometimes you could hear her coming. Arthroscopic surgery fixed whatever the problem was.
Gray Blazer
10-04-2008, 16:14
Sorry to hear about your knees.
Stop jumpin' all those bumps! :D
Whoops, I just noticed this was the women's forum and I never post here. :rolleyes:
FL Gathering. 2nd weekend, Dec. Where??
BumpJumper
10-05-2008, 06:37
Gray, I havent been bumping jumps or jumping bumps or whatever....and I dont know about a gathering. I just started a new job and I dont know when I will be working yet. I have to wait and see. Go ahead and post it and organize it. You can do it.
Sorry to hear about your knees, perhaps it would be a good idea to get it checked out?
I was also wondering if running as exercise exacerbates this problem? I used to run quite a lot but cut down because I could feel the strain on my knees on hikes, especially downhill. Am I getting this all wrong?
I dont know what is wrong with my knees. Sometimes when I hike, it clicks and goes out on me and hurts like a mother. Then a few minutes later, it is just fine. A little sore but good to go. And it has a burning feeling in it when this happens. What the heck is it? Ole age?:eek::datz
If you're not already using them,...i'd suggest KNEE braces...while hiking.
Vitamin I @ the beginning of your day & the end.
And maybe a short break when you come to a COLD stream...its amazing! (& it helps keep swelling down & pain away!):D
BumpJumper
10-15-2008, 05:22
Jay what is Vitamin I? Never heard of it.
Ibuprofen.
Hope you solve the problem.
Fr.
A cute way of saying Ibuprophen. Many hikers swear by it for their various aches and pains when on the trail, popping them several times a day. I'm leery of using it for an extented period of time. I had a doctor suggest to me that when I give Ibuprophen to my kids if they have a fever, to alternate doses with Acetaminophen. Because they are processed by different organs in the body, one organ doesn't get all the side effects of pain killer usage.
Toolshed
10-15-2008, 08:11
Commando Candy. Make sure you take it with food. Take it earlier in the day prophylacticly, before you have knee pain. I use get 800mg tablets after reconstructive knee surgery. It works wonders.
Before taking any meds, talk to your doctor. Any advice you get on here is always worth the price you paid.
Chenango
10-15-2008, 09:12
I had the same problem twice. For me it was a torn maniscus each time. The 2nd time it happenned it was very minor .. more like a burr on the maniscus. Arthoscopic surgery fixed it each time.
Chenango
10-15-2008, 12:04
Oops, sorry! :o Just saw this was Female Hiking forum.
BumpJumper
10-15-2008, 20:15
Thats ok Chen....we dont mind that good advise and what nots. :D
I would love to hear the latest shoe recommendation from someone to help with knee issues!
1. See an orthopedic surgeon to get a professional diagnosis - not an internet diagnosis. Then go ahead and do what you want to do. Hike. If your knees are shot, they are shot. But you can still hike.
2. Lose weight on both your bod and your pack. Get fanatical about ultralight and weight loss. Your knees will feel the difference.
3. Beware of Ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflamatory drugs (NSAIDs: asprin, naproxin sodium and their branded offspring). They hamper healing on the trail. Swelling and irritation - up to a point - are your body's way of focussing blood and nutrients where they are needed. They are useful for short-term, acute injury and severe swelling. Tylenol (acetamenophen) is not a NSAID and can be used safely if you don't overdo it.... Anything is dangerous if overused. Use Tylenol at night to help you sleep.
4. Get a shoe-needs diagnosis from either a physical therapist recommended by the orthopedist or from, ideally-more-than-one, good specialized running shoe shop. Check for pronation or supination and if you have either condition, choose shoes that correct it. New Balance has the widest selection for such conditions.
Background: I did the AT first with one bone-on-bone knee - completely shot. It hurt, but I made it. The second thruhike was after total knee replacement on that leg. It was a more comfortable hike. After I stopped using NSAIDs - as my doctor demanded - pain in my natural knee - from the overuse that is a natural condition on a thru-hike - cleared up in about a month. I hiked pain-free except for occasional night twinges after that.
BumpJumper
10-23-2008, 08:50
I used to use Ibruprophen all the dang time. Usually 4 at a time. I stopped about a year ago using it for every ache or pain I had. I have noticed something. I have taken it lately, only 2 at a time, and found it kills my tummy. I have a pain in my stomach when I take it for some reason. Now I dont want to take it at all.
Obsidian
10-23-2008, 09:57
I use to have a lot of problems with my knees, I started taking glucosamine and it helped a little, then I lost like 40 lbs and that helped a lot. Now my knees never hurt like they did before. Another thing you might want to consider is a decent orthotic
nurseygurl
12-20-2008, 20:34
holy basil. herb google it.
good orthotic orange gell or new balance makes one 40$$ range,
or *make your own out of jello, candle wax ( balsam citrus fragrance is best) and jb weld.
*just kidding.