Knee pain - what to do?

Knee pain - what to do?

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Pulse

Original Poster:

10,922 posts

219 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
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Each time I've walked up a mountain this year (Snowdon, Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike this year), my knee starts to hurt like mad.

The pain is in the side of the knee, and particularly going back down again, it's excruciating. I've just returned from Scafell, and it was the most painful of the three trips; so it seems to be getting worse rather than better.

Before jumping straight to surgery (I had surgery on my right knee a little while ago, and it certainly didn't hurt as much), what other options do I have?

av185

18,523 posts

128 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
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Knee support stocking, glucosamine and chrondroitin, cod liver oil and omega 3.

FiF

44,175 posts

252 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
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Pain in the side of the knee sounds a bit like ligament problem to me, but suggest consulting doc for a physiotherapist referral at first. Going downhill is always the most difficult due to the eccentric contraction, which is a trick of applying a contracting force while actually lengthening.

This last bit is the one that's killing me at the moment, trying to build strength back after a knee joint break. The daily exercises, and especially the weekly lower limb gym class really bloody hurt, at least if done properly. Good luck.

dave_s13

13,814 posts

270 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
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Medial or lateral knee pain can sometimes be improved with orthotics posted to direct the ground reaction force to the unaffected side.

You need to see a physio first. Part of your "any questions" to said physio should be asking if they think a podiatry referral might help.

I've seen quite a few knee pain patients that see great results from orthotics.

Peanut Gallery

2,431 posts

111 months

Monday 22nd August 2016
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What he said ^^^ physio investigated my knee, gave me some strange looking exercises to do, when I remember to do them it really helps!

Spydaman

1,507 posts

259 months

Monday 22nd August 2016
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I was going to ask this question as I've got exactly the same problem. Went for a six mile walk on the flat yesterday and could hardly stand on it when I got home. Assumed it was the medial collateral ligament probably brought on by the way I walk with feet at ten to two. Had a Dicloflex before bed and it's fine this morning. The pill will last about three days before I feel it again. Aiming for C25K and don't want this to stop me.

Foliage

3,861 posts

123 months

Monday 22nd August 2016
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Try ITB stretches, http://www.knee-pain-explained.com/iliotibial-band...


Ive had knee pain to varying degrees and decent stretching always helps. Knee pain is common, along with shin pain in people who aren't used to the intensity.

tenohfive

6,276 posts

183 months

Monday 22nd August 2016
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Internet diagnosis and 'me too'-ism so take this with a healthy pinch of salt.

I'm experiencing the same thing - running down mountains and walking down them. My physio has said it's the IT band and given me a routine of rest (from running), foam rollering (owowow) and stretches. Way too early to say if it's working yet but I trust his judgement. I'd consider doing the same yourself though (i.e. get to a physio) - the last thing you want is to aggravate it if it turns out to be something else.

Edited by tenohfive on Tuesday 23 August 08:32

a311

5,810 posts

178 months

Monday 22nd August 2016
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My advice would be you need an accurate diagnosis.

I had reconstruction this year of my ACL and cartilage repair done by The Doc (user name) who posts here.

A knee specialist may be able to make a diagnosis with just a discussion on the history of the injury etc, in other cases you may need more investigation like and MRI and so on.

Long Drax

744 posts

171 months

Monday 22nd August 2016
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Pulse said:
The pain is in the side of the knee,[...]
Which side of your knee?

The_Doc

4,899 posts

221 months

Friday 26th August 2016
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av185 said:
Knee support stocking, glucosamine and chrondroitin, cod liver oil and omega 3.
Knee support, yes.
Others: no evidence to say that they work.

Sam99

296 posts

174 months

Friday 26th August 2016
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I have a clicking left knee. It’s also very painful going up stairs or hill walking - up the steep hills anyway. I'm 61 by the way.
I went to see a specialist, privately and he recommended a knee operation.
I had an appointment to see him on a lovely summer’s day, so I walked to the private hospital.
Shorts, polo shirt, trainers.
We were discussing the date for my operation when ,noticing my attire ,he asked how I got there.
I told him I walked.
He asked where I live. I told him.
He said that 6 miles away!!
How am I getting home? Walking I said.
He cancelled my operation there and then.
He said keep walking and try to avoid stairs.
That was 5 years ago. Knee still clicks, but I’m still walking. Everywhere.



Enda78

42 posts

104 months

Saturday 27th August 2016
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I have similar issues. I'm fine day to day, but running aggravates it. Tried all sort of supports and the best one for me was a platella band.

Spydaman

1,507 posts

259 months

Saturday 27th August 2016
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The_Doc said:
av185 said:
Knee support stocking, glucosamine and chrondroitin, cod liver oil and omega 3.
Knee support, yes.
Others: no evidence to say that they work.
Dammit, I just bought a tub of these. I'll have to convince myself it's a placebo.

popeyewhite

19,982 posts

121 months

Saturday 27th August 2016
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The_Doc said:
av185 said:
Knee support stocking, glucosamine and chrondroitin, cod liver oil and omega 3.
Knee support, yes.
Others: no evidence to say that they work.
This and plenty of evidence to show a testosterone based steroid would very likely ease your knee pain.

The_Doc

4,899 posts

221 months

Sunday 28th August 2016
quotequote all
popeyewhite said:
The_Doc said:
av185 said:
Knee support stocking, glucosamine and chrondroitin, cod liver oil and omega 3.
Knee support, yes.
Others: no evidence to say that they work.
This and plenty of evidence to show a testosterone based steroid would very likely ease your knee pain.
Meanwhile on Earth, nobody is really going to use something on the WADA banned list for their knee pain. - Directly against any advice their medical professional might offer. It isn't even proven to help Chondrogenesis, the work by Lars Peterson and Daniel Saris is very useful here. The ground matrix and the supra-tide layer are avascular and hormonally privileged. Anabolic steroids...

Ref: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Testoster... can't believe I'm citing

We are never going to agree on this


Edited by The_Doc on Sunday 28th August 14:25

popeyewhite

19,982 posts

121 months

Monday 29th August 2016
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The_Doc said:
Meanwhile on Earth,
That's not very nice Doc.
The_Doc said:
nobody is really going to use something on the WADA banned list for their knee pain.
The OP asks about knee pain, not what drugs are banned currently in some sports. Isn't morphine on the banned list Doc? Not as if anyone's ever taken that for knee pain... .
The_Doc said:
Directly against any advice their medical professional might offer.
Is that the medical professional with no knowledge of current trends in dealing with amateur sporting injuries? As it happens I've discussed this with a couple of GPs directly involved with sports clubs. Oh, I see you said "might".
The_Doc said:
It isn't even proven to help Chondrogenesis, the work by Lars Peterson and Daniel Saris is very useful here. The ground matrix and the supra-tide layer are avascular and hormonally privileged. Anabolic steroids...

Ref: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Testoster... can't believe I'm citing

We are never going to agree on this
Article you've highlighted is over 10 years old and looks at endogenous testosterone.
I'll agree there's nothing to back up chondrogenesis - a great deal of evidence though to show various anabolics decrease joint pain, largely by increasing synovial fluid.
What is absolutely proven is the ability of anabolics such as Nandrolone Decanoate to increase bone density and collagen production. And collagen is quite important to tendons and ligaments... .
And no, I'm not going to waste my time finding an old bit of research on the internet and referencing it, lol.


















swd

81 posts

183 months

Monday 29th August 2016
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Keep it simple. See a physiotherapist.

A good history and exam will narrow down the likely causes and/or exclude a few that warrant further immediate investigation.

A lot of knee complaints can be corrected with prescribed exercises from the physiotherapist and doing them religiously. Then reassessment/refinement. One visit won't be enough.

Your GP will probably not know enough about sports injuries and knees to be useful. An orthopaedic surgeon is overkill for most stuff.

Edited by swd on Monday 29th August 00:49

thebraketester

14,257 posts

139 months

Monday 29th August 2016
quotequote all
Pulse said:
Each time I've walked up a mountain this year (Snowdon, Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike this year), my knee starts to hurt like mad.
Stop walking up mountains?

Pulse

Original Poster:

10,922 posts

219 months

Monday 29th August 2016
quotequote all
thebraketester said:
Stop walking up mountains?
That did occurto me. hehe

Everyone, thanks for your advice! I'll have to nip to the doctors and get referred... I ideally want to avoid any form of surgery or similar, as I don't want to be off exercise for an extended period again.