Hi

I have suffered i would probably say for 2 years about with knees that when i bend down etc, it hurts and i cant put much weight on them for long (i am only 20!) without it hurting, i put it down to being normal... until recently.. i have started kickboxing as some of you know and running (not full on running, just walking my dog, with bursts of jogging for short periods of time throughout my walk), and recently i am in agony with my knees.. they are aching, they click, they are really sore and i find it hard to walk at the moment, it is possible but its really killing me.

Went to the doctors last night and he said it sounds like i have something (cant remember the name what he said now) and sent me for an xray, i went for the xray this morning and have to wait 10 days now.

I am a bit scared that its something serious, as at 20 i shouldnt really be having problems wtih my knees should i? I eat healthy, exercise regulary (although not doing anything tonight as in too much pain and think i should rest)...

I had problems wtih my fingers a while back, they got achy and really ached a lot, so i thought it was some sort of artheritis, so wore a copper braclet and it seems to go, not really had the same problem since but cant open my fingers and close them too fast because it hurts...

Any suggestions, dont think i can keep sane for 10 days, or am i just over reacting? I dont want to do any damage any more than may of already been caused...

There are forms of arthritis that effect the young and you have done the best thing by having it investigated. Hope when the results come back they will be able to treat it for you and you will be able to continue your life pain free.

I hope it isnt that, my dad has recently been diagnosed with Oestio Artheritis... (cant spell it properly sorry!) so i just hope it doesnt run in the family of my dads side because it may stop me doing an awful lot of things i love such as exercising the way i do, i couldnt live my life without that :(

Running especially road running is notoriously bad on the knees and joints. Obviously it would be worth giving that up until you get the results.

Some people are just unlucky unfortunately Yorkies but at least things are being picked up on now rahter than you suffering and getting diagnosed with something years down the line when its too late.

Try to be positive :-)

I was going to post about knee problems and here was your post!
I hope you don't mind me posting under your title as I don't want to do a knee problems 2 -posting :)...
I really feel for you as it is such a pain isn't it having hurty knees...

I have had problems for the last month or so.
I was ill at the beginning of December(cold, very high temperature) and have since then had problems with my knees!
I am fine walking and moving them, my problem is when I sit down and have my knees bend they really start aching.
I want to see a musical last week and I was really struggling to sit down for an hour or so!

I know I should go to doctors about it but I have lost my trust(previous bad experiences) and they will probably just tell me to take painkillers and see how it goes...
I was hoping they would improve with time but I think it's are getting worse(I wake up in the middle of the night because I have my knees bend and they really hurt!) and I have to say I am little worried now.
Never had problems before and I'm in my twenties too so would not expect having problems with my knees yet!
Anybody heard of this before?

Thank you for your advice :)

I just love exercise and running and walking outside, its just something i really enjoy and keeping fit is another thing i love to do... so going to be gutted tonight with having to stay in, its going to be hard but i guess i need to rest otherwise i could end up wtih some serious damage

I guess the reason i am really scared, if my friend did herself a running injury and has been unable to walk for over a year, she is on crutchs, her muscle has totally wasted away on one leg and her foot is permantely bent in one postition now and she can no longer move her foot or her calf muscle very well. no one can tell her whats wrong with it, they think CRPS but now the hospital in Bath has told her it may not be this... she is doing physio but it just doesnt seem to be improving and all i can think of is her and i worry even more now

Thats quite an extreme and rare case Yorkies, stay positive. Im sure yours wont be that bad :-)

And if you need an op or something there are some fantastic surgeons around and the rehabilitation is really good and quick, you'll be on your feet in no time!!

Oh gosh Noora, that sounds similar to what i have! I wasnt going to go doctors etiher, but i thoguht i best had and they have sent me for an x ray, i would serously recommend going

Do you do any exercise that could put extra pressure on the knees?? Mine are killing now, sat at work at my desk i am in sheer agony

I struggle at cinemas too, thats why i dont enjoy going all that much, prefer to have no one in front of me so i can straighten my legs out on the chair in front, naughty i know, but i eases the pain

I lost all trust after my friend lindsay and fact that no one seems to understand or be able to help her (she is our age too!) and its ridiculous how a girl of 21 is unable to go out of the house, walk and is literally housebound, thats why i have lost faith in doctors!

It is rare yes, but i still panic and that is always in the back of my mind really, however hers is her leg, this is my knee, so it is different i guess

Would any knee exercises help does anyone know? And any advice or knowledge on what i decribed my friend having whilst we are here would be greatly appriciated as well xx

I would wait until you speak to the doctor or specialist. Without knowing about knees/seeing x rays you could do more damage than good. Just rest up for a few days days (however difficult it may be and fidgety you get!)

Thank you, i guess you are right, i am just so stubborn to just stop lol! Dont like breaking my routine lol!
But i guess when it comes to my health sacrafices have to be made, thank you everyone i do need to be more firm wtih sitting down ha ha,

By the way completely of subject but how did you do with the 'speech'

Had to read that a few times then as i didnt understand it! lol! I am doing it this Friday coming up, when i was at the docs i also got some tablets so hopefully that will help calm me down anyway, as i dont think i can do it, i am still really nervous but i will let you all know how it goes Friday after i have done this dreaded stupid thing, thanks for asking :)

I used to run everyday but I have not done any running since I was ill...
My dog and "running buddy" was hit by a car so we both have been more or less house bound for a month or so.

What really confuses me is that I have stopped doing something that could cause problems and I definately have not damaged my knee when out and about.
Only now have this pain and it did start straight after my illness so I tie the two together, maybe incorrectly and maybe my illness has nothing to do with the knee pain.
I did have joint ache when I was ill and for example my back was really achy for few days, I actually had to take painkillers for that.
Other joint pain went when I got better but the knees have remained and even got worse!
I think I need to go and see what my doctor says, even if it is take painkillers and se how it goes.
Maybe I should change doctors...

Can you not go and see another doctor at your doctors? See a different one instead of your usual one??
I didnt get any painkillers, if anything you will get cream and maybe sent for an x ray

Just taken my cold towels out of the freezer as per a recommendation, so will see if they feel any better, they are freezing lol! Looked a bit odd putting them in i must say

Maybe it is your illness, or maybe its taken a while to kick in on your knees and since stopping thats when its taken a hindrance? Not sure, but definatly worth a trip, if anything it will just put your mind at rest

A little while ago, I had trouble with my back and I went to a chiropractor.  My back was manipulated to correct one of my hips which was out of line due to one of my dogs running headlong into the back of my legs one day on a walk.  My back was wonderful after only one treatment along with my knee which had been 'playing up' for years.  I hadn't though to mention my knee to the chiropractor but on the second visit, I mentioned it and he said that if the back is out of line, the knees will also be out of line causing 'clicking' and sometimes pain in the knees!  Just a thought! :)

> Oestio Artheritis

This isn't a hereditary disease as such although it does tend to run in families, however you are very young to be suffering from this, from experience it normally sets in during the later years of life. My dad has this (amongest other several serious joint problems) & he didn't start to show any signs until mid 40's.  You've done the right thing in having it checked out, maybe you could take some supplements to help also glucosamine perhaps (seems weird to be recommending that to a person normally said to dog owners with joint problems!), don't think you should be doing any running on it as this applies great pressue to your knees, maybe change to swimming.  Swimming & a sauna can do wonders for joint problems. HTH x

if you like exercising why not go swimming or aqua aerobics, that will take the pressure off your knees.

Thanks Oldilocks, definately worth considering.
I shall mention it to the chiropractor when I take the dog in :).
I think her broken pelvis and walking funny because of it has caused her back pains as she seems to strech much more than before and likes her back rubbed. Definately nothing wrong with her back(xrays) so the vet recommended chiropractor when she is little better so can take manipulation of her lower back.
I need to wait for few weeks before taking her though as the pelvis needs to heal little more so I think I will need to get myself seen by a doctor before then...

I have already started to take take my dogs Green mussle and Glucosamine :) :).
Only been taking it for little over a week now so has made no difference yet...

I have had arthritis since I was 11 and suffer with knee pain (and most other joints - hands are the worst) - especially in damp weather. For me personally, running really helped. I never used to be able to do squats at the gym but running improved my leg muscles so that my knees were supported better. I do have to take it easy at times.

It's also worth knowing that you can get viral arthritis after an illness. I had it after measles and it was extremely painful. My uncle had it after food poisoning and it took 6 months for him to fully recover.

Hope you're both feeling better soon.

PS - You could try taking cod liver oil supplements - it works for some :)

Oh yes - the correct shock absorbing trainers are even more important for runners with joint pain.

I have had knee problems all my life.  Then I was stupid, and did ballet!!!! 

To this day I have pain in my knees when the weather is cold or damp, and when I have been sedentary to long.  I have had many surgerys, from a scope (minor) to a Realignment done.  If I could change it, I would not have gotten the first scope! 

I would say, for the next 10 days, keep off your leg as much as possible. I know you like to exercise, and run, but for a matter of 10 days, you could really mess your leg up worse.  I tried dancing through the pain (as most ballerinas have joint pain and just dance through it) and it really messed it up.  I had to give up dance (with a fight, but I still had to) and it was because I was stubborn and tried to do what I wanted to do.  Instead of taking time off to heal, and get back into dance slowly, or change dance styles.  Now, I cant even do what I loved to do!  And trying to get over that, trying to come to terms with that, was a lot harder than it would have been to take the time off and heal. 

Hope your knees are ok, and that with a brace or something, they will feel better.  BTW, you said you were only 20.  I had my first knee op when I was 16 years old, and then just finished operations last year.  Health problems dont have an age limit.  They just have a more common age range. 

Hi Yorkies

Is it possible that the doc said you hade rhuematics?  That has been mentioned to me before, I had something like that during my late teens (not that long ago lol!).  Also, I had growing pains (even though I am only 5 ft tall and have always been the titch).  Personally though I think I have something wrong with the cartilage.  As a very young child I had complications of tonsilitis which made my joints swell and I was unable to walk or move.  I do think you should get it checked out and maybe an ultrasound might be better than an x-ray?

Hey, calm down I did not suggest it was anything, would not dream of doing so, just hoped that when it is diagnosed the doctor will soon sort it out for you. :-)

Clicking is what i have and i cant do squat thrusts at kickboxing as its too painful and last night we had to do it and i thught i would get shouted at for not doing it, but i simply couldnt do it...
Even bending down to the bottom shelf seems such a task and yes (dont laugh) i often get stuck and cant get back up easily lol!!

I have started taking omega fish oils so hoping that will help, i take a daily multibionta vitamin as well.. and i eat healthy, fruit and veg etc..

Swimming is hard time wise, and plus our local pool always has idiots in it and i dont have the patience for them nor do i have the patience to get dressed and undressed and dry etc lol! Oops, my lazy side and i cant stand saunas, i nearly pass out with the heat, walked in one once and walked straight back out, i cant tolerate it ha ha ha oh dear!

Also i might need to invest in some new trainers then, are these those "shocks" trainers then you are referring too?

I also have quite muscular legs, they arent chicken legs anyway LOL cos i used to walk a lot up hill and stuff so they are fairly strong, so not sure why my knee is funny, man today also mentioned something under his breath like my knee is a funny shape or something....

Oh Crespin i am really sorry to hear that about your knees, thats a bit like my friend although she cant even go out of the house.

I will listen to your advice though and everyones on here and maybe just a little walk with my doggi and no running, nice and gentle? Would that be ok??

Sorry having to reply seperatly because i forget what people have wrote!

Rhuematics, i am not too sure really... sounds familiar, but i really dont have any clue what he said now, will have to ask in 10 days again and write it down lol! Might be something different anyway when get results back... :-O

Thanks Granitecity ill bear all this in mind and remember it for when i go back then i can maybe suggest things to the doctor, because they dont always diagnose correctly do they

Doctors are very much like vets :-)  Sometimes they need pointing in the right direction.  And when it comes to symptoms, nothing is too insignificant.  But a 20 year old should not have pains, that's not normal so needs to be thoroughly investigated.

Hope you get better soon.  I never had problems with my legs when I was horse riding - by far the best physiotherapy I could ever recommend.

I would also ask for your back to be x-rayed.  I had similiar problems at the same age, didn't get anywhere with the doctors and actually ended up seeing a chiropodist, self referral.  I have cervical spondylosis (usually an old person's illness) and when I got orthotics etc. it has definitely helped. 

Should also go to the GP, as I've always had problems with my legs.  Last time I did a Cani-Cross event I couldn't feel one of my legs below the knee for the last half a km and took about 25 minutes after finishing for the feeling to come back!!!

Sorry I havnt had chance to read all the posts but thought I had better give my view.
I did my knees in 3 years ago, and nearly went under the knife. I was off running for 8 months,
I went to a sports physio and was back running within a week :) :)
I have early artheritis, (narrowing of the cartiledge) in my knees, so have knees of a 50 yo and only 31.
So I strongly advise you to
A- Go see a specialist sports physio(not NHS). Yes it will cost, but worth it. They go on course after course specifically about joint problems, that doctors dont!!! I found mine was due to poor core strength!!!!
B- Take Glucosmine and Chondrotin, Minimum of 1000 mg of Gluscosamine per day. Take for 6 weeks before deciding if there is a difference
C- Listen to sports physio and get them to advise you on Foot wear etc, as if they are not padded enough that will cause problems.
This is from both a personal and professional view.
I thought I would not run again, but since done various half marathons, 1 marathon and training for London marathon and another marathon in September after doing all the advice above it is well worth it :) :)
HTH
Lea :) :)

Sorry to sound thick, but what is a chiropodist? lol

Do you get one yourself, or get one through your doctors?

And what are orthotics ? lol

But yes, i agree, doctors do sometimes miss things and i think ill mention these things upon the result of the x ray though of course

Thanks for the advice everyone

Think ill wait and see what i get from my xray, then suggest to the doctor the other things what have been mentioned, might print this off so i dont forget lol

Only problem with private physio Lea,is you have to do quite a lot of sessions and that can be really expensive and i cant really afford it to be honest... but i will bear it in mind just in case, thank you my dear :)

I only did about 5 sessions before I was sorted, and as a single mum I couldnt afford it, but was worth every penny :)
One thing I found was that they were going to operate on my knee to see if there was anything not shown up on Xray AND MRI scan,
And mine was due to not having core strength(stomach pelvis etc muscles).
So please bare in mind, that if nothing shows up, then think 'outside the box'
Good luck :) :)
Lea :) :)
(Level 2 athletics coach specifically Endurance running)

> just love exercise and running and walking outside, its just something i really enjoy and keeping fit is another thing i love to do... so going to be gutted tonight with having to stay in, its going to be hard but i guess i need to rest otherwise i could end up wtih some serious damage
>

if your cutting out the running why not do what you'd get advised for a dog with painful legs- hydrotherapy! a good swim is great excersize and won't cause any impact damage.

obviously after you've seen the doc.

have you tried accupunture? it works fantastically well for this sort of thing.

> i am still really nervous but i will let you all know how it goes Friday after i have done this dreaded stupid thing, thanks for asking :-)

try rescue remedy to, its great!

sorry slightly off topic but lea can you reccommend a good pair of trainers? i'm starting doing excersise, mainly walking to start but the gym at some point, and as i'm pretty heavy would like to defend my joints as well as possible.

:) at Askarte and hydrotherapy.
I'm taking my dog for a session of Water Treadmill tomorrow maybe I should ask if I can walk behind her :)...
She is getting all this treatment while I just suffer quietly with my knees...
I was told for my doggie, she needs to do water treadmill first as it is a "closed circuit" excercise compared to swimming which is "open cirquit" so she could still damage herself in normal Hydrotherapy=swimming...
So there are obviously changes of damaging your joints in normal swimming too...
So we should walk around in circles in the pool instead of swimming :)...

Chiropodist is someone who deals with feet!  But they go into the ins and outs of the way you walk, your back alignment and everything!  Went to an orthopaedic specialist and they also queried about an operation to look at the knee but they didn't really want to with the x-ray etc. looking OK.

Ohhh thanks everyone!

I never knew that about the chip thing for feet lol, cant spell it sorry

Didnt go for a walk last night, it killed me ha ha, sat at work with my feet on a box as it seems to relieve the pain, not sure if they are getting worse or not, but just taking it easy at the moment and going to go on a gente stroll with the dog tonight

Start with cod liver oil tablets and Glucosomine they are available in Boots/Sainsburys/ Holland & Barrats under the title Jointaid - my son had them at about 18. I have arthirits so have huge doses but you should take a low dose unless advised otherwise.
Its not necassarily anything to nasty but you should avoid high impact sports until your Dr & Consultant sort out the problem. I have been plagued since my twenties but it hasnt stopped me doing weights and gym work for years and years it just has to be the right exercise. I also have been many many places and on adventure holidays still do - you just need to know what you can do, what you cant and take glucosomine to protect your joints and cartlidges, if you do get advise from your GP take it!!

I have osteoarthirits and it has not stopped me doing exercise, just go to a gym and get advise on low impact exercise. Its not earth shattering I had a friend with rhumatoid type now that one can be a problem, the other is just a nusciance and can be easily controlled. Dont panic... there is always another option.

My OH ran every day from 16 - 43 then had bad legs and had about 10 shin splints?? so yes give that up asap.

Yes a result of a viras (why cant I spell right) go see your doctor you may need an antibiotic or blood test to exclude glandular fever, I also hate Doctors but, sometimes the devil you know is better than the worry you have. Bite the bullet my friend and go and make sure you are ok.

Both of you use ice not heat on bad knees its to reduce the inflamation and parecetemol. If you can take ice and ibrufren great ( I cant Im allergic to asprin so no Ibrufren for me). You can also go see an osteopath privately about £30 and he can advise if its muscular or skeletol. But your GP can get all that advise for you free.

I too have osteoarthirits in my lower spine and fingers, caused by playing too much rugby, cricket (caused the problem with fingers because of various breaks) and squash!  I control it by using excercise to keep the back muscles strong so the spine is supported properly.  Like Whistler excercise is not a problem but you have to keep it low impact (I do a lot of cycling).  I do have flare ups normally when I'm ill or run down but if it's particularly bad I will take some paracetemol (not allowed asprin), flare ups happen about once a year for me

Ditto Im a bit rough at the moment as its flared up in my wrists and knuckles but give it a couple of weeks and it will be as normal. But I walked three miles yesterday without losing breath - dead chuffed I was.

Thanks everyone

Sprayed some deep heat on them last night as a last resort as my knees werent half killing me, and it seems to hurt more, but then i fell asleep and this morning i felt a bit more flexable, but dont know if its because of that or not as to why, anyone know anything about this deep heat? Does it do more harm than good...?

If it easies off with deep heat your talking rhumatic (muscle) rather than joint so yes and try Radian B in a cream or liquid.
Volterol - I think its called its an anelgesic (pain killer) and cant do you any harm, unless you come out in a rash and I never had. I would rather have rhumatic than arthiritis anyday. Plus a good massage.