KNEES - mine are shit. Come and talk to me if you have crappy knees

[ButImNotOldYet]

Namechanged because this will out me as one of my closest friends is a mnetter.

I fractured my tibial plateau about 5yrs ago. Since then I have ongoing problems with my knees (the injured one is worst but the other hurts too). I had an arthroscopy a few years ago on the worst one. I have a hole in the cartilage in my knee joint.

Walking up and down stairs hurts. Sitting still for too long hurts (when I get up), I can’t crouch down to pick things up, carrying heavy things hurts my bloody bastard knees. I’m in my 40s, I feel more like I’m in my 90s Come and talk to me about your knees, grumbling or positive stories welcome.

[Hatingliferightnow]

I have heard of this ButImNotOldYet although don't know anyone who has had this done. I had stem cell treatment which worked well.

[marzipancustard]

Ta1kin I really disagree with hypermobikity is a sign of weakness! It's genetic. I'm incredibly fit and strong but unfortunately my body is completely hypermobile. Strength helps control it but it will never fix it.
For example however strong my hands are, or my jaw are, they are still hypermobile which causes lots of issues. Knees are one of the joints where strength can help to minimise the issues but if a physio had said that to me I would really have lost my temper. What a load of BS (& patient blaming BS at that!)

[gingergenius]

I'm hypermobile too - caused so much lower back pain during pregnancies too.

[marzipancustard]

The problems with my knees are caused by hypermobility and a range of other physical abnormalities in my knee structures. I was offered a TTT on the nhs but ended up paying to have a trochleaplasty which has massively improved one of my knees - and improved my prognosis. It was a massive, massive surgery to go through and recover from but eventually I'd like to have it done on my other knee too.

[Ta1kinPeace]

Marzipan
I know that hypermobility is genetic.
every female in my family has it to a greater or lesser degree.
But it makes a huge difference to strengthen and shorten the tendons
and to strengthen the small muscles around the major joints.

Balancing exercises are fantastic for knees.

[marzipancustard]

Ta1kin you said 'strengthen the muscles and it goes away'. That just isn't true

[Ta1kinPeace]

OK, I apologise. In your case it won't
in many, many cases the symptoms subside to the point of not being an issue (as per the physios, the consultants and 30 years of watching people doing exactly that)

[marzipancustard]

Butim I was offered this- the continuous passive motion machine was a part of my recovery for my trochleaplasty and it was horrendous. I will consider it at some point but not yet- I'd like to hold off and see if research comes up with anything else new as micro fracture surgery has only been around 15 years or so - so who knows what the possibilities will be in another 15!
#hopeful

[burntoutmum]

I’ve got rubbish knees ( joints in general!), all started in early teens when my right started dislocating. I had an op to stabilise it aged 20. Several years later neither are great and I can’t kneel properly, crouch and I suffer in the cold. I feel like I’m in my 60’s never mind my 30’s!!

[ButImNotOldYet]

Marzipan - why was the continuous motion machine horrendous? It’s an enormous time commitment isn’t it .

[AlpacaLypse]

If the continuous passive motion machine is the infernal device I think it is, I wanted to stick a small thermo nuclear bomb into it around 3 am the first day. It wheezes and then it grumps and then it huffs. Beautifully timed to be in synch with neither your breathing nor your heartrate. Bastard.

[marzipancustard]

Butim Because 90 minutes out of surgery they stuck me on it, for 30mins at a time 5 times a day for 3 days. I have never known pain like it. The only time I've ever vomited or passed out from pain.

[Ta1kinPeace]

Interesting, A couple of people I know have had total knee
neither were put on the machine
but then they are gym bunnies so clearly it was not relevant

[Hatingliferightnow]

I had knee replacement almost four weeks ago. I am using cpm machine daily. I hired it for 6 weeks. I was in gym regularly until operation but am having trouble bending knee. I don’t mind the machine. I use it 3 times per day but I’m very slow to increase the flexion as to feel comfortable.

[OhWhatToChoose]

I have mild arthritis in one and a muscle imbalance in the other leg which manifests in the knee. I cannot knee down at all and up and down stairs hurt.

But I'm carrying a lot of extra weight and working to lose that which will hopefully improve them. I know it will never go away completely and that's fine.

I'm 37.

I also got a trainer at the gym to give me a routine that doesn't impact on my knees so I can safely exercise.

[gingergenius]

Cpm machine is really interesting. Am getting the impression that getting a level of fitness prior to replacement is beneficial to recovery!

[AllThatMatters]

Dislocated right kneecap 13 years ago just walking across a room, had an Arthroscopy and lateral release op at the time followed by extensive physio. 4 years ago I dislocated other knee after pregnancy by just leaning over to open blind. (Luckily healed quickly). In April this year I dislocated right kneecap again after pregnancy by knocking it slightly on a chair. Had an Arthroscopy to repair damage and now need to have it fixed in place. Still to weak to have operation so will have to be next year sometime, but with 2 young children to look after I can't see it happening. I hate my knees!!

[Ta1kinPeace]

OhWhat
I cannot say enough on knee pain : lose weight
I was hungry for six months
and have had to manage my food actively for the last 15 years
but I am no longer in pain ....

I try to liken the difference with putting down heavy shopping bags every instant of every day
our knees are not designed to cope with excess fat (anything over BMI 24.0)
sad but true

(5:2 makes it bearable by the way)

[AlpacaLypse]

yy being fit is absolutely vital for quick recovery. And incredibly hard to achieve with small children interfering in your life.

[buckingfrolicks]

Diagnosed with Patellar tendinitis (so) in both knees. Fucking hurts.

Sporting injury. Snort. I ran for the train and bam... buggered them

I wish I had not read this thread as there are zillions if other knee problems to look forward to.

I too feel 186 years older than my calendar age. Grunt like a hippo at every movement.

[SmiledWithTheRisingSun]

I find swimming loads of crawl helps still need to lose weight mind

[FannyFifer]

My knees are totally fucked, used to dislocate when I was younger, also when pregnant.
Years of being a nurse has wrecked them further, they make grinding noises, it's awful.
I know I need to get something done but I don't get paid for being off work and just can't afford it. Wld be off for months of knee replacements needed.
I'm not even bloody 40 yet.
Sympathies to everyone else, it's awful.

[gingergenius]

I have shit knees. My back is fucked and I just feel totally defeated by my utterly fickle and disloyal body.

[Mumelie]

I know this sounds awful but I'm so glad there are more dodgy knee suffers out there - I feel very lonely being one amongst my friends (all in our 40s).
I've had arthritis for 20 years in one knee (2 arthroscopies) and an accident a year ago set the other one off. Now my wrists and neck are giving me problems (being investigated for inflammatory conditions but keep being told nothing found).
I had horrendous SPD with my pregnancy 15 years ago which has bothered me ever since.
I hate my body most days with the pain I'm in. I can't take any nsaids so survive on paracetamol!
I totally agree with losing weight to relieve the pain. I've put on 2 stone since my other knee went (partly my fault partly some meds I'm on) and it really has increased the pain level and immobility - some days I can barely get out of bed. I've been so low I can't face dieting at the moment but know it needs to be done. ☹️
So glad I found this thread x