Anyone who knows about knees out there? If so, talk to me

[HerBeatitude]

... about mine.

Every time I get up from kneeling or sitting, my knees absolutely kill me, I sometimes walk like an old woman for about 30 seconds after getting up.

This is not because I am unfit - I do running, swimming and yoga - and it's not because of my running as the knee problem pre-dated the running.

Doctor has told me to walk around with knee supports for a few weeks to see if there's any change. I suspect that's his way of saying "get out of my surgery, tiresome woman". Anyone ever cured knee problems like this?

I find witch hazel soaked bandages help redue inflamation and make them comfier. I still get a lot of problems but they have been reduced greatly since i have found that it was partially linked to a dairy allergy. I have a developmental problem with my knees and they have been bad since i was 10 so it is a case of managing rather then curing. Non impact exercise when bad helps, and have found that reducing impact rather then stopping exercise actually helps them more. ALthough it is rare that the impact itself causes my problems they contribute when bad already. so it might be worth considering. They have also been better since i shifted a little weight (about 1/2 stone)

Housewife knee i believe is the technical name for the condition. Good luck.

Anyone for a Heads, Shoulders and Toes thread ?

Housewife's knee?

Blimey, I'm not that good at polishing floors....

I don't think you've got housemaid's knee because that would give you pain when you are actually kneeling, not as you get up.

It sounds as if you have a problem with the extensor mechanism of your knee (the process for straightening the leg out from a bending position). There are lots of possible causes, depending on the exact site of the pain but pretty much all of them are essentially wear and tear (except for pain that comes on suddenly after an injury). Basically knees are only good for about 25 years. After that, everyone - no matter how fit - has wear & tear. This website's pretty good for more info www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/knee_injuries.htm.

Treatment is to relieve the strain on the knee. Physio is one way - by building the thigh muscles. Some people do find knee supports helpful too. If I were you, I'd give the knee supports 6 weeks (there are no quick cures for knees!) then see your GP if yo are not better as physio would be the next step.

Thanks for that Jybay, v. helpful