What should I do about my bum knee?

[Magrittes Pipe]

Here's the thing: I've got this on again/off again HORRIBLE FUCKING PAIN in my right knee. Actually, the left sucks, too. But not nearly as bad. This has been going on for... eh, about 8 years.

I mean, probably 3 out of 100 days does the bastard act up. But when it does, like now --- DAMN! it sucks.

[ET Awful]

1. I vote for massive amounts of THC, administered via

inhalation as needed to dull the pain and lighten the mood :).

[noonwitch]

11. Take ET Awful's advice, but also wrap your knee in an ACE bandage

Or buy one of those knee brace things at the drug store/Target. I have an old knee injury that acts up when it's humid out. The Ace bandage does really help.

[the Kelly Gang]

2. ibrofen

[terrya]

3. See a doctor.

Or see the doctor again. You shouldn't have to put yourself through this.

[ze_dscherman]

4. Different things

Go for a orthopedists opinion on it, but AVOID arthroscopy. It may become necessary, but you should try anything else before. I've heard some very bad stories from friends who got big problems afther arthroscopy.

I've had big time trouble and real bad pain after my left knee which had been damaged by a childhood accident developed arthrosis. I got excellent results from taking up regular bicycling (EVERY day). That made the previous problems almost go away. I still feel my knee, occasionally, and will probably never be able to trek through the himalayas ... but I can walk quite some distance without trouble and ride my bicycle for 70 miles. The "secret" is both the strengthening of muscular support (thus stabilizing the joint) and the "greasing" of the knee through movement without pressure (which you apply when walking or, even worse, running). However, my cycling technique has to avoid heavy pedalling, instead, I go with high frequency. Otherwise, I'll get knee trouble by cycling!

I'm very happy that this has helped me, since I was feeling very shitty about not even being able to walk for a mile without pain when I was not even 35 years old.

However, your problem might need another long term solution. I would also suggest you try osthepathic treatment - I can't grasp how it works, but can confirm that it did help very well with shoulder problems I got from computer work.

For short term treating of symptoms:

If your knee is hot and/or swollen, you might take some meds to soothe the inflammation. Since I prefer as little chemicals inside me as possible, I only take some Aspirine for pain/anti-inflammatory effects. Creams containing comfrey (Symphytum officinale) are working very well for me and can also be used as precaution (BTW, the German name for this plant is Beinwell, meaning "leg well").

A natural remedy that I have not tried but which was recommended in a medical paper recently is a package of cabbage. You cut away the ribs, crush the leaves somehow with a bottle or rolling pin, and apply them around the knee for some hours (an old sock with cut off tip could do). The cabbage contains some sulfur compounds that are are anti-inflammatory.

Hope you get better soon!

[lil-petunia]

5. I say, throw the bum out!

[Divernan]

6. You have GOT to see a Physical Therapist.

In most states you've got to get a medical prescription to see a physical therapist. Your family doctor or an orthopedic doc can give you that. I had major knee problems. Saw an orthopod, who did the xrays and told me (A) what my problem was and (B) what caused it. However, his "treatment" was rest and handing me a printout of 4 exercise diagrams. No one showed me how to DO the exercises and a week later, I called and insisted the doctor send me a prescription to get physical therapy. I knew phys. therapy really helped me with back problems from an auto crash & figured they'd help with the knees. WELL! the physical therapists not only showed me how to correctly perform the exercises the doctor had recommended, but gave me heat, cold, water and massage treatments for the knees which have got them in excellent condition. However, if I stop doing those exercises for a week or more, the problems begin coming back.

Problem with medical doctors is that they don't understand some specialty areas like physical therapy or dietary stuff.

[TexasProgresive]

7. High cadence cycling has worked for me

spinning at 100 strokes a minute with the saddle set high has really help me with pain in both my knees. I was scheduled for the arthoscope years ago and pulled out. So far I have had fairly good knee health in the years since. Don't cycle when you have your bad three days, do it in the 97 that follow.

Cycling does several things. It strengthens the quads which takes pressure off the joint and it increased lubrication of the joint itself. Good luck to you-nothing much is as miserable as knee pain.

[ze_dscherman]

9. Cheers

:toast:

See my previous post - it has done wonders to me, too! Especially, if I compare to what happened to a friend who got her knees ruined by doctors poking in them. BTW, settin the saddle to high may cause some problems, too, at least for me. Click pedals are also very good - but not for beginners. Makes my pedalling even smoother and activates other muscles as well.

[no_hypocrisy]

8. See an orthopedist. You may be suffering from a past injury(ies) or as a

joint, the knee will incrementally wear out, like the cartlidge.

It's more than the knee that will trouble you if you don't do something about it. You will walk in a compensated manner, which will affect your spine, and soon, you will have a backache to go with your knee.

Your therapy may be nothing more than heat and physical therapy. Or yes, you could have to opt for surgery.

The knee takes a lot of abuse from years as a shock absorber for the leg. I gained a whole lot of appreciation for the joint after I totally tore my ACL last November. Please take care of your pain.

[VelmaD]

10. Swimming

Seriously. Learn the breast stroke. It really helped with the mobility in my knee. You can't move fast enough underwater to fuck up your joints or really hurt yourself and the breast stroke kick really works your knee out.

Oh...and see a doctor.