Knee pain - arthritis

[Craphouserat]

I thought i'd done something to my knee months ago.

Long story short i knew i hadn't ruptured anything. I went to physio arranged through work - she thought I'd aggravated something above the knee and gave me exercises and gym routine to rebuild strength. Months later nothing has changed - major pain and swelling. GP says shes now pretty sure its arthritis. Going for an x-ray to confirm. I'm 50 - used to play a lot of sport. Now a bit overweight but started back at the gym 3 months ago because of knee...plan to keep going and lose excess weight.

What can i do to relieve the pain...other than painkillers? My boss said rub goose fat on it...I won't say what i said to her.
Any advice appreciated.

Baz

[MC Bodge]

Craphouserat said:

I thought i'd done something to my knee months ago.

Long story short i knew i hadn't ruptured anything. I went to physio arranged through work - she thought I'd aggravated something above the knee and gave me exercises and gym routine to rebuild strength. Months later nothing has changed - major pain and swelling. GP says shes now pretty sure its arthritis. Going for an x-ray to confirm. I'm 50 - used to play a lot of sport. Now a bit overweight but started back at the gym 3 months ago because of knee...plan to keep going and lose excess weight.

What can i do to relieve the pain...other than painkillers? My boss said rub goose fat on it...I won't say what i said to her.
Any advice appreciated.

Baz

I'd make another appointment with the physio rather than the GP.

[BoRED S2upid]

What are you doing in the gym? Over 50 you can easily do some damage and take ages to heal up. Try changing your routine go swimming take all the weight off the knee and see if anything changes.

[Craphouserat]

BoRED S2upid said:

What are you doing in the gym? Over 50 you can easily do some damage and take ages to heal up. Try changing your routine go swimming take all the weight off the knee and see if anything changes.

The machines where you sit in it and lift weights with shins (seated leg presses?) and the opposite one push down on the bar with the ankles, goblet squats, single and then double leg presses, bike, rowing machine, cross trainer and assault bikes. Other days work on the arms and top half.

The pool is something I'm trying to use more - not my favorite activity but i know this is a good one.

[Craphouserat]

MC Bodge said:

I'd make another appointment with the physio rather than the GP.

I'm heading to see her again on Monday - anything in particular i should ask her? I will obviusly update her on the gp and her thoughts and see what she says.

[ubbs]

Craphouserat said:

The machines where you sit in it and lift weights with shins (seated leg presses?) and the opposite one push down on the bar with the ankles, goblet squats, single and then double leg presses, bike, rowing machine, cross trainer and assault bikes. Other days work on the arms and top half.

The pool is something I'm trying to use more - not my favorite activity but i know this is a good one.

After 13 various knee ops from 1990 to 2011 (exploratory keyhole surgery 3 cruciate ligament grafts, microfracture, meniscus repair/removal, I was told I probably need knee replacement in my 40’s due to arthritis.
I’m 56 now and have been hitting the gym since I turned 30, only going 4 times a week now but have been doing the same low impact workouts, 10 minute sessions on the cross trainer, gentle jogging on the treadmill, bike and all the arms upper body/back strengthening.
No noticeable discomfort or pain in my knees the only discomfort I get is when crouch or kneel down I’m retired now so don’t do that much lately.
IMO the key is lots of regular exercise of the low impact kind.

[Wills2]

ubbs said:

IMO the key is lots of regular exercise of the low impact kind.

Agreed as we get older (regardless of any ailments) frequency and controlled intensity is key, the goal being to be able to keep moving and keep training rather than silly PBs or mindset that says you can make up for lost time (you can't and you'll get injured trying).

[ubbs]

Wills2 said:

Agreed as we get older (regardless of any ailments) frequency and controlled intensity is key, the goal being to be able to keep moving and keep training rather than silly PBs or mindset that says you can make up for lost time (you can't and you'll get injured trying).

Funnily enough I bumped into Mr Bollen the surgeon who did my 3 grafts at the Nuffield gym in Guiseley a couple of years back, he’s retired now but still didn’t stop him giving my knees a going over in the physio room
Even he was surprised I’m doing okay going into my 50’s.

[Wills2]

ubbs said:

Funnily enough I bumped into Mr Bollen the surgeon who did my 3 grafts at the Nuffield gym in Guiseley a couple of years back, he s retired now but still didn t stop him giving my knees a going over in the physio room
Even he was surprised I m doing okay going into my 50 s.

I train at the old peoples home down the road (Hollins hall)

[Bluevanman]

After getting 3 different injuries on my left knee the physio finally diagnosed I had osteoarthritis.
He said with careful rehab I could repair it .
This was primarily by strengthening the muscles around the knee.
I do squats,deadlifts and calf raises with weights,ride an exercise bike and stretching exercises for my hamstrings and knees.I was told not to do any running or anything that involved jumping or similar and no long distance walking, about 4 miles is my limit.
It seems to be working

[The_Doc]

(Osteo)arthritis isn't a light switch, on or off.

It's a volume control on the radio, it starts at 1/10 and builds to loud at 10 out of 10.
You can find it at volume 2 in a 40 year old and also find it a volume 10 in a 73 yr old builder, who won't retire.
There is lots of good advice on this thread about keeping moving and the like.
Just find someone who knows what's going on inside the knee,

and of note to someone who posted above, Steve Bollen trained me, and was for a long time one of the 5 best knee surgeons in the UK. He's also a mean lead guitarist and singer.

[Red9zero]

ubbs said:

IMO the key is lots of regular exercise of the low impact kind.

100%. I have had two arthroscopies on my left knee and one on my right, and the biggest help has been regular walks with our little Westie. He isn't terribly quick and we don't walk far, but twice a day, rain or shine, we are out walking. I have felt a definite difference when we have had a couple of weeks off after he has had ops and we haven't been out so much.

[Craphouserat]

Thanks for all the replies guys...read them all.

[ALawson]

If you have private health cover then MRI/CT Scan and go and see a specialist knee surgeon, The Doc above or if based in London I can recommend Adrian Wilson (Orthopaedic Innovation), one of his team has operated on my shoulder which I ruined when dislocating it cycling ( great for bad knees until you crash).

[Jamescrs]

I also have knee issues, specifically in my left knee, I went to the GP who referred me on to a specialist physio.
Ultimately the thing that has (almost) cured me was losing weight. I've lost about 30kg this year and my knee is massively better, I occasionally get a shooting pain when i'm sat on the sofa at home but compared to how it was i'm over the moon with it.

I have been going to the gym for years doing heavy weight training but I was eating an awful diet and not doing any cardio, I have since upped my cardio significantly and started monitoring my food intake whihc helped me shift the weight.