Knee problems

[Zer0-G]

After 12 years of playing basketball on tiles over concrete twice a week religiously for 4 hours straight each time and recuperation from two knee surgeries (arthroscopic) - Torn miniscus right and left knees as a result of playing basketball, I am happy to say that I am Pain Free !!!

BUT - for up to two years after the sugeries which were a year apart, I was in substantial lingering pain while hiking. Which is what I started to do after I stopped playing basketball.

So, why am I now Pain Free?

IMHO -

a - I kept walking,
b - I lightened my load (base weight of 5 to 6 pounds not including consumables - water, food, fuel - my base weight goes to 10 pounds in winter)
c - I ditched my hiking poles for all except for uphill climbs (those of you who have or who will walk with me will see my poles attached to my pack and some may even ask me "Why the heck do you bring them? I don't see you using them!" Unless I am snowshoeing. Then I use them constantly because I am very clumsy on snow shoes and I find myself in a perpetual state of falling. ) Ditching the poles helped me to strengthen the muscles in the surrounding areas.
d - I kept lengthening my trips and kept bagging those peaks with real gusto.

The stronger my legs became, the less my knees hurt.

This is my experience.

Now for Neil, I have a question for you from the tongue in cheek department since I am always impressed with witty use of acronyms -

At certain times of the day, while backpacking, my PVO starts to ache. If my TMJ rolls at the same time, the SVT connecting thingy slides off of my LBJ. Which causes, in the most oblique rube-goldberg-ian way, my SKO to bind to my COL. BUT, if I twirl my HIJK my LMNOP stops twitching. What do you think could be causing this? Do you think it is in my head or in my LEG?
MOST RESPECTFULLY, Zer0-G.

P.S. Oh yes, and by the way, most definately SEE A DOCTOR.

P.S. Again. Since my current Psychiatrist doesn't want to have anything to do with me any more, can I have the number of that good animal Psychiatrist I just heard about? Perhaps they can help me......

 

[jrichard]

If it were me, I'd see a sports medicine doctor.

Lots of people will give you their opinions here, and I won't be an exception. The doctor can at least verify that you don't have a serious problem or advise you if you do have a big problem.

That said, I have what sounds like a similar problem. I've seen 5 doctors, orthopedic, sports medicine, etc... for my knees. I've also seen quite a few physical therapists. Typically I see a doctor, go to a few months of physical therapy, and live pain free for a few years. The odd thing is that I get diagnosed with different "syndromes" each time. Same symptoms, same diagnostics results. Similar therapeutic exercises.

So when I was reading The Last Well Person I was not too surprised to find that when you get diagnosed with a "syndrome" it essentially means that the docs have no real idea of what's wrong. (That book's an interesting bit of analytical medical info, a good read.)

That said too, here's how I try to maintain pain-free knees:
- lower weight -- pack weight and body weight
- stop the weekend warrior thing -- work out every day or plan to take it very easy on the trails -- work up to big hikes with frequent small ones
- stretch and do light strength training - as per physical therapist

If I don't do all the above but still try to do 15-20 mile days over steep trails, I get trouble.

I've stopped using poles since they didn't seem to have any affect for me. I'd get IT band and femur-patella syndrome just as frequently with them as without. I believe it's possible that they do have some affect, but they aren't nearly as effective as the above maintenance.

 

[CaptCaper]

I'd like to add a minor correction to Jazbo's comment. The ski pole is pretty new, it's me tha is old.

Hamstring curls are helping significantly in reducing downhill pain

Come on up to Littleton. Dr. Chen who did mine is the best. He's the US Ski Team doc.

Nice hospitable too. Brand new and great staff.

 

[Lawn Sale]

Well, I saw a specilaist today for about an hour, and he found my pelvis to be misaligned. He said it was most likely due to a lower back alignment problem, which skewed my pelvis, which caused my feet to supinate slightly, which was irritating my knees. My X-rays came back fine, so there is no problem structurally, and the doctor said the muscle strength and tone is exceptional.

I'm pretty confident he's right as I have had minor lower back pain for awhile and many of you have witnessed me stopping on a trail and sitting down to 'crack' my lower back. He will align my back and get me on a program of walking properly, with an aid or orthodics, and said the knees should come back to normal in short order. We made significant progress in just one hour, I was impressed.

I would not have guessed the lower back, so I'm glad I made the appointment.

 

[DougPaul]

I would not have guessed the lower back, so I'm glad I made the appointment.

When my knee problems were being diagnosed (and found to be partially due to an overpronating foot), the doc told me that foot problems can show up in the back. (Orthodics eventually helped cure the knee.)

Everything is connected to everything...

Doug

 

[MtnMagic]

After seeing Lawn Sale hopping on one leg upon his return from the Cannon Balls to the summit back at the LL hut, I wondered how much pain he endured. Hope it heals quickly for you!

 

[Jasonst]

I am currently having PT for this Patellar tracking problem, and just about everything that Neil said is exactly what my Ortho doctor and Physical therapist said. Stretch the quads & hip flexors, do exercises that strengthen the head of the Quad (the exercises Neil recommended) along with very short knee squats. I also found that short strips of medical tape placed on the kneecap, biasing the kneecap inward have helped me a bunch. Good luck

Don't forget about "referred pain" That's an entirely different animal - one I have been also dealing with in the kneecap area.