Knee Pain

“Try MSM. Search for a thread here named MSM. Several others here have started taking it with good results. Also google MSM it is a natural supplement. Good luck.”

“MSM helps a lot. Quickly, too. At least it did for me.”

“Agreed with UPluver and Tango and treebait. My Dr. even told be to double my doseage. The stuff works!”

“I have a similar issue that tends to show up if I try to do a really strenuous hike, or if I push my running schedule to far, too fast.

My pain shows up just at the top of the patella and I'm pretty sure it's cartlidge, or more likely a ligament/tendon issue.

There's never any swelling visible.

I've been able to manage it with advil and have started being able to avoid it by strengthening my leg muscles. I build up my running plan by adding mileage and speed very very gradually.

So far, the old body has responded fairly well.

I looked at the MSM/glucosomine stuff, but it was rather pricey and the pharmacist suggested that if the pain wasn't "in" the joint, that the meds might not really help much.”

“you have to be careful with msm/glucosimine some people have allergic reactions to both. If you can't have shelfish stay away.”

“Thanks for the info so far. My pain isn't in the joint at all. It's in the "meat" around my knee. And no swelling. Just like Roam described. So I wonder if the the MSM will help me after all.”

“talk to a doc or pharmacist - or both.

Good luck!”

“Ever have any knee surgeries in the past? Where I did 4 years ago, it's like what you're talking about. The joint doesn't hurt, but scar tissue in the muscle as far up as my lower quads hurts under similar circumstances.”

“Roam, your quad muscles all attach right there. Are you stretching? Might help a bunch if you haven't been.”

“Ruby, I started having knee pain in the right knee about 8 or so years ago. It happened if you are extending the lower leg. Ended up having my knee scoped and they took the cartiledge out....then two years ago my left knee started acting up. I went to a "Sports Doctor" they showed me some knee exercises that keep the knee from hurting.
My advice is see a sports medicine specialist. You may be able to stretch or warm the injury out. Last resort should be surgery.”

“Kinda funny to see one of my very first threads coming back up. Ruby, sorry to hear you are having this problem, I hope you find a suitable resolution.”

“Mine is killin me this mornin!! It hasn't bothered me in about a week and a half.”

“Currahee....I hate treating over the internet but here goes....this works for me, I have damaged Knee cartiledge.

1. I stretch the knee laterally behind the other leg. For instance my left leg I stretch it behind the right leg instead of straight back.

2. Take a rubber ball (like a volley ball sized or even a nalgene bottle can work) and place it behind the knee. Back up against the wall and press with the knee against the ball (ball against the wall)

When my knees are hurting this stretches them....”

“I am fortunate that my job gives me access to good free professional advice sometimes.

On Friday I did a deposition of a sports medicine doctor. After the dep, he and I chatted and I asked him about my knee pain and mentioned backpacking. He said the simplest thing people can do for exertion-caused knee pain is to do a basic physical therapy exercise at home. I don't remember the name of it, but you stand with your back to a wall and with your feet about 4" from the wall. Then you lower your body down and back up. There is no need to do deep knee bends; just do what is comfortable. He said to do 3 sets of 10 per day. He also said an excellent exercise to build knee strength was to bike.

So I am giving his advice a try. Thought some of you would be interested in the exercise.”

“Every time I try this, gravy squirts out of my right knee.”

“Good deal Ruby!

I've been back on the glucosamin and condrotin and MSM, have stopped running and started using the eliptical instead. Am thinking that I really could be in good enough shape to do that Buff Betty. I'm gonna take a look at the date again and see if I can con Diane into being our "experienced" person.”

“keeping the legs strong is the key for me but I find dayhiking to be as good as anything for doing this”

“Every time I try this, gravy squirts out of my right knee.�
Wounded Knee
11:19:19 AM
3/13/06

Do you carry a bicuit in your pocket everywhere you go?”

“You better believe it! Gotta mop that stuff with a biscuit every time.”

“Three different hikes in two years: severe knee pain on the outside of my right knee, just above the knee joint. Excruciating on downhills and any type of turns/pivots. Feels normally when I stop walking but when I start again the knee has stiffened up considerably. No swelling! Ideas?”

“Sounds like old age to me :P

Seriosuly though, I hope you can figure out what it is.”

“Non, I have a similar issue though mine sounds far less painfull. Do you stretch your quads? Often sore joints result from one muscle (quad) being stronger than another (hamstring) causing an imbalance and the stronger muscle pulls on the the common joint (knee). I have added stretching the last 8 mos after every run and the discomfort is down by my 80%, its there but nothing serious.

Also joint pain (knee specifically) can be caused be loose tendons and ligaments. They take forever to grow,heal and tighten (thats why connective tissue injuries are so common in new runners). Getting a product like a Cho-Pat (https://secure.cho-pat.com/products/product.php?product_type=26) may help.

Good luck.”

“Do you stretch your quads?
birch
7:15:49 PM
10/14/07


I used to until I heard I could go blind.


Seriously though, that could be part of the problem. I was also trying some new boots this time and some foot discomfort was making me change my gait slightly.

What concerns me is the length of time between episodes (with many hikes in between) and the difference in terrain of all three hikes.”

“Non, was there any time you've fallen before this started? Possible acl-tear??

Sounds to me like your cartilage might be messed up. Think about getting an MRI.

In the meantime, in addition to what birch's 1st paragraph, try adding leg extensions to your workout.”

“Hmmm... I don't believe consulting TTers takes the place of going to a doctor... or do you just have a hard time taking advice from your woman? ;)”

“I agree with Tarabull... doctor doctor doctor”

“Honeybunches, what happens on the trail, stays on the trail!


Could be, Sarge. I have had several relatively minor knee injuries in the past. Maybe they finally added up over time. I may have some old scar tissue in there too.”

“Doctor, doctor, doctor!”

“Focus! Geez...”

“getting TTers to focus is like holding a fist full of worms.”

“I had a similar problem after hiking the loyalsock trail.... very painful downhill and no pain uphill or flat trail.
I did experience some swelling too tho.

for about 2 weeks it also stiffend up in the morning or after sitting for longer periods of time.



doc told me I just plain and simple overdone it.
took a long break [almost a year]. Knee is fine now. no problems so far.”

“Non-Conformist ---- GO TO THE DOCTOR. I told you we can make it a date and have the doctor look at our knees together....”

“Should I be jealous?”

“give it up, men never listen to us and go to the doctor when the problem is small, they wait until they are dying and run up million dollar bills in the hospital.

my husband is in the hospital at this moment proving me right once again.”

“Sorry bout your husband, Pammie... read your blog. Speaking of knees tho - how's yours been treåting you?”

“Most of the time they are pretty good. Somedays they hurt a little bit. It's nothing that I can't handle though. I'm good :)”

“Sorry to hear that Pamela. They aren't all the same though. Who do you think told Birch to start stretching? It took him a year and forever to do it, but he did, and it helps immensely.”

“I have the same problem on occasion. The docs have me doing quad and ACL stretches that help immensely.”

“Non-Conformist ---- GO TO THE DOCTOR. I told you we can make it a date and have the doctor look at our knees together....”
mountainrunner
9:01:54 PM
10/14/07


Just due to the fact that you referred to it as a "man-date" made me decide to live with the pain....either that or never hike again.”

“He's cute, NC. I think you are just way too picky.”

“Hey Wolfeyes! DO you still have any of that neat aquarium plant?”

“I do but none extra at the moment. I got rid of a lot of it just because it is driving me crazy. It floats everywhere and is so tiny, it is messy. I am about over it.”

“Darn! Okay. I was going to put the stuff in an onion bag in the aquarium and see if that helped keep it in check.”

“Sorry...”

“That's all right. It sounds like the stuff will grow back before you know it.”

““Non-Conformist ---- GO TO THE DOCTOR. I told you we can make it a date and have the doctor look at our knees together....”
mountainrunner
9:01:54 PM
10/14/07


Just due to the fact that you referred to it as a "man-date" made me decide to live with the pain....either that or never hike again.”
Nonconformist
5:50:46 AM
10/15/07

Is there something wrong with my man that you wouldn't want him NC??? Wolfeyes is right, he's cute... and it will be difficult, but I will let you have him - - 'specially if you can get him to actually go to a doctor :)”

“Something weird happened to me this morning when I got up from bed, my left hip gave way and I fell down, I tried to get up, but I fell down again, my hip and leg would not work. I had to lay down and wait for about 10 minutes before I got some function. I banged my right knee when I fell and it hurts now, doggone it all. It is working now, but it feels kind of weird, anyone ever had this happen to them? I have to go and visit Steve in the hospital right now, so I'll get back on the 'puter and pick up your replies later.

Btw, has anyone here ever had a cardiac ablation? They've suggested three different therapies for Steve, Rhythmol, Toprol XL(Lopressor) or Cardiac Ablation. After researching all three, I like the ablation best. Steve is in good spirits this morning, his left leg, (calf), was hurting badly last night and they gave him Dilaudid and Xanax. I don't think it's a DVT because none of the other symptoms are there for it, but hey, he's in the right place if it is.

OK, getting ready to go now.
last edited: 10/15/07 10:19:38 AM”