I'm sure this has been posted on, but I was hoping you all could give me some insight/assistance. I was just diagnosed with this problem today. I am 41/female and have always been an exercise nut (since about 15). When I should have been doing more weights (when I was still young) I didn't. I was all cardio. I decide at 40 to start lifting not only more, but heavier. I guess I should have known something was going to come around to bite me in the butt, and so it did. About 5 to 6 weeks ago I started noticing that my knees were hurting. I attributed it to all the exercise I did. I was also doing two sessions of leg work a week, when you should really stick to one. But me - who sometimes thinks she knows it all - decides she knows better than all the bodybuilders and exercise gurus out there and so I do 2 session of legs a week, thinking I was all right putting a few days (rather than a full week) in between sessions - and I never go easy on myself.
Anyway, I am pretty sure (though not positive, could just be old age catching up) that is what caused the knee problem. About 2 to 3 weeks ago the problem got much worse, even though I had already started to do some cutting back on the leg work. Moreover, I basically stopped all squats, lunges - anything that had my knees bending (and this was hard for me to do because I'm an exercise fanatic). I was surprised when it seemed to not only NOT be getting better, but worse. I cut back even more. The past week and a half I'm doing an 1/8 of my normal daily routines.
I guess the whole thing is getting me very worried. Only the thought of not being able to do anything, mostly exercise, has forced to cut back. I keep telling myself I have to, because the last thing I want is to not be able to do anything.
Well, now I feel so paranoid (didn't help that at the same time I pulled a back muscle, which cause extreme pain for about a week, also got a bone spur on my left heel, and must have pinched a nerve because I have numbness in my right shin and numbness and an occasional shooting pain in my left thigh). Nice, huh?
Anyway, I was hoping some of you could help me figure out what to do. I understand I have to cut back on the exercise. But is there anything I can do to improve the situation? Any exercises (not to belabor the point) or any things I should absolutely avoid or supplements I should take? I just started back using glucosamine/condroitin (which also has hyaluronic acid and MSM in it).
Many thanks,
FGT