New member long term grief with my knees!

[Renegadecrab]

Hi all, looking forward to some advice or help having decided I need to try and sort them out before they get much worse.

I am 34 and when I was 18 I had a very severe car accident where I broke both my legs above the ankle and my pelvis in four places, this will no doubt have put a lot of strain through my knees and once I was walking again I was asked to avoid contact/impact sports.

Obviously I decided to take up playing football (five and 11-a-side) for about 8 years, squash (never played before) and tried running although my flat feet meant shin splints were awful. I also became a fairly avid gym goer and frequently lifted heavy weights, all of which no doubt contributed to making my knees worse than they already were.

Fast forward to today and I struggle to kneel, if I cross my leg over when sat on a chair I can only do it for a few minutes, squatting is very hard and when my knees are bent at say a 45 degree or less angle for any extended period of time it can get very uncomfortable and takes some effort to gently extend and loosen up again.

My personal diagnosis has been that they have just worn down and there is little cartilage or anything between the bones but I don't know that for sure.

Oh! Stairs are my nemesis, climbing any stairs at all gives me a burn in both knees and if I was climbing the stairs in a football stadium I would almost definitely end up at a snails pace by the end.

That's my story and if there are any comments or anyone that that has experienced similar and done anything to help it would be hugely appreciated!

Thank you

Lee

[Vickster]

Who gave you the diagnosis? Sounds like getting a referral to a specialist for examination, X-rays (to assess joint space) and MRI (to get more detail on the bone surface and other structures like meniscus) would be sensible.

I'd also see a sports physio and get a water based and land based exercise and stretching programme (do you stretch regularly especially after exercise?) and also get some custom orthotics made to help the flat feet (and any other deformity). Sports massage might also ease tight muscles which can be a major contributor to knee pain and stiffness (as well as daily stretching)

It might be time to ease off the impact sports, gym and weights and avoid doing things that aggravate the pain (like kneeling without a cushion, or squatting) or cause inflammation (if the knees get swollen, use ice to dampen the inflammation as this will damage the joint surfaces further in time. 

Swimming and cycling (on a properly set up bike) are more knee friendly (for arthritic knees as you suspect) and great CV exercise.

Good luck

[Renegadecrab]

Who gave you the diagnosis? Sounds like getting a referral to a specialist for examination, X-rays (to assess joint space) and MRI (to get more detail on the bone surface and other structures like meniscus) would be sensible.

I'd also see a sports physio and get a water based and land based exercise and stretching programme (do you stretch regularly especially after exercise?) and also get some custom orthotics made to help the flat feet (and any other deformity). Sports massage might also ease tight muscles which can be a major contributor to knee pain and stiffness (as well as daily stretching)

It might be time to ease off the impact sports, gym and weights and avoid doing things that aggravate the pain (like kneeling without a cushion, or squatting) or cause inflammation (if the knees get swollen, use ice to dampen the inflammation as this will damage the joint surfaces further in time. 

Swimming and cycling (on a properly set up bike) are more knee friendly (for arthritic knees as you suspect) and great CV exercise.

Good luck

Thank you for the swift response!

I haven't had any diagnosis, I just put up with all this discomfort and am constantly told I should do something about it!

The sports and active side of my life all stopped ranging from 2-4 years ago so I don't do anything active really other than walking. Previously I have had orthotics but never stuck to wearing them, always found them uncomfortable to wear but I appreciate they may have helped over the years.

I definitely use cushions if I have to kneel as it is too uncomfortable otherwise and unsustainable.

I'm moving to a new area shortly so I will register with a GP and make an appointment so I can hopefully be referred for scans, I don't really want to engage in physio before the scans as I have had this suggested in the past and it didn't work. My preference is to somehow get straight to x-ray/MRI and see what is going on inside and then look at suggestions to remedy or just improve.

[Vickster]

Do you have private healthcare? Will speed an orthopaedics appointment up immeasurably! (Or the funds to pay?)

Unfortunately, if it is widespread arthritis, your options at 34 are very limited as knee replacement is unlikely an option. So it’ll be exercise, medication and lifestyle modification (do anti inflammatories and painkillers like paracetamol taken regularly help with pain and stiffness?)

In the meantime, get stretching and swimming. A good physio should be able to assess what’s best even without scans

Orthotics wise, custom ones are far better as they are made from moulds of your feet and take any misalignment into account (are you bow or knock kneed when you stand up straight with feet together?)

[Renegadecrab]

Do you have private healthcare? Will speed an orthopaedics appointment up immeasurably! (Or the funds to pay?)

Unfortunately, if it is widespread arthritis, your options at 34 are very limited as knee replacement is unlikely an option. So it’ll be exercise, medication and lifestyle modification (do anti inflammatories and painkillers like paracetamol taken regularly help with pain and stiffness?)

In the meantime, get stretching and swimming. A good physio should be able to assess what’s best even without scans

Orthotics wise, custom ones are far better as they are made from moulds of your feet and take any misalignment into account (are you bow or knock kneed when you stand up straight with feet together?)

I would say I am knock kneed, my feet point outward and my heels always wear on the outside at the back.

No private health care, I may look into it provided there are no reasons for me to be excluded with past history etc..

[Vickster]

You’ll need to organise the healthcare before you see anyone. It’ll depend on whether you’ve seen anyone or had treatment in the past 5-7 years usually (corporate policies tend to be less demanding of you can access one)? You’d need to declare your accident and anything else relevant

Usually if knock kneed, your feet will be apart when you stand with your knees together

The feet pointing out is more about probation I think