Does anyone else suffer with bad knees??

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leo_04

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I have had a dull ache in one knee in particular since I was a teenager, I never noticed it when I rode. But recently (I'm in my 20's now) my left knee has been inflammed and I have felt some pain when I ride which has really annoyed me!! The doctor said riding is the most likely cause of the pain.

Does anyone else suffer with this and if so do you wear a support?? Does anything help?

Thanks
 
Yep - mine are bad!! Come from an old injury and jumping in particular makes them worse!

I went to see a physio who receommended I avoid harsh movements/concussion like running/jumping but advised cycling is good. I must admit it did help and built up the muscles around the knee which makes it more comfy for jumping. If it gets that bad I wear a knee support
 
Would your doctor send you to a specialist? I would advice haveing it sorted/diagnosed before you agrevate it further. I no longer ride and many knee operations is one of the reasons. I carried on working with horses through it all, a bad mistake to be honest. HYave it properly looked at now before you make things worse.
 
what the doctor said is rubbish imo. Riding doesnt cause knee pain, an underlying condition causes the pain, riding can sometimes bring that to the fore.

If it bothers you a lot, see another doctor or ask for a referral. An xray/physio/orthopaedic referral will let you know what's going on, I had ongoing knee pain and was diagnosed with osteochondritis (denegerative wear of the cartlidge), that was when I was about 15, I had a cartlidge repair op at 23 and I still ride & do sports (execpt running) (32 now). My knee aches when I ride short for a while, so when I jump, I do find that those bendy stirrups help. don't usually wear a support, although my friend does find hers helps. You could try an ice pack or ibuprofen after you ride to bring any inflammation down. x
 
Get it looked at by a specialist - even if it means paying for it.

I didnt and now at the grand old age of 42 I have terrible arthritis and have to take very strong prescription anti-inflammatories and painkillers or I cant walk. Basically my knee is falling apart on me.

Also if you have ANY weight to lose - do it. One of the major causes of knee problems is being overweight (and I am a terrible sinner in that department as well).
 
I seem to have one bad knee.... but its not really aggravated by riding. More by changing gear (left knee) in the car, after about 5-10mins of driving my knee will get more and more 'stuck' and uncomfortable until it clicks and crunches really loudly and then its ok.....? It is EVERY time i drive anywhere though am starting to get a little worried...
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Yes! I have cartilage damage in both my knees. It was diagnosed by MRI and I am on a waiting list for arthroscopic surgery - oddly enough the same procedure my horse recently had on his hock! I've been told that the surgery will relieve the pain and swelling quickly as they will remove the damaged cartilage and prevent any further degeneration. Hopefully.

In the meantime, a neoprene support wrap helps with the swelling and pain, and ibuprofen when it gets quite bad.
 
I have terrible knees and up until a year ago I was still having physio 3 times a week (lots of low impact lower leg exercises help) but someone suggested to me to try the sprenger stirrups (as I do a lot of jumping) and they are wonderfull as I have found they support my ankles and knees a lot better than normal stirrups.
 
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Yes! I have cartilage damage in both my knees. It was diagnosed by MRI and I am on a waiting list for arthroscopic surgery - oddly enough the same procedure my horse recently had on his hock! I've been told that the surgery will relieve the pain and swelling quickly as they will remove the damaged cartilage and prevent any further degeneration. Hopefully.

In the meantime, a neoprene support wrap helps with the swelling and pain, and ibuprofen when it gets quite bad.

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had this in both knees now, helpped lots to start with then i went and injured them again
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OMG that's what happens to me. The knee then starts grinding when I left the clutch up. I find it's bad on stairs as well, especially if I've been jumping (on horse) or running (own two feet). No idea what it is, been like this for years. Bendy stirrups have helped on every day basis but not so much for jumping. But being stuck in traffic si the worst. Have had to physically lift leg off the clutch with my hands before now!
 
My 14 year old daughter has had bad knees for about 5 years off and on. They ache and then sometimes "give way". She has just had an arthroscopy but I am still waiting for the results. Both knees are inflammed and have fluid on them. Riding def makes them much worse.
 
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But being stuck in traffic si the worst. Have had to physically lift leg off the clutch with my hands before now!

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Yep done this too.

Not sure what to do about said knee though!

As its only really really noticeable when i'm driving!
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I seem to have one bad knee.... but its not really aggravated by riding.

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Me too. Mine's an old ballet injury. I can't run without triggering it off.
 
Oh yes, driving in traffic is awful, especially driving the lorry as the clutch is very stiff. As is walking down stairs or steep hills. OUCH.
 
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But being stuck in traffic si the worst. Have had to physically lift leg off the clutch with my hands before now!

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Yep done this too.

Not sure what to do about said knee though!

As its only really really noticeable when i'm driving!
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Buy an automatic??
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Sorry - just couldnt resist.
 
Oh yes me too! Steep hills are a killer. But only when knee in "bad" phase.

Knee gives way going up/down stairs from time to time and has caused some embarrassing moments especially at work when trying to look professional doesn't go hand-in-hand with crumpling to the floor with pained expression.
 
I would suggest you ask for an MRI scan to be done of your knee, it sounds like cartilage damage. This can be trimmed and treated through micro surgery and you won't believe the difference when its done. As a child, teenager you can damage it whilst playing netball, rounders etc any sport which involves twisting, pivoting of the knee. If you leave it and put up with it you will find it will just get worse as you get older. If it is just a dry joint causing the swelling and ache they again can just wash the knee out under micro surgery.
 
Leo_04, as someone who has had a lot of trouble with my hip recently and ended up having an operation earlier this year, please take it from me that what your doctor has said is rubbish. I was also told that riding was 'causing' the problem to begin with. Riding doesn't cause the problem but just aggravates what is wrong.
Please go back and insist on being referred, or if not go to see a physio who might be able to shed some more light on the situation. If I hadn't insisted, my surgeon has said I would probably have needed a new hip by the time I was 30.
 
Yes, and I have yet to have my doctor take it seriously. I also suffer from bad lower back pain and believe both are related to my completely flat feet and associated poor posture. I am currently pursuing a referral as I've had enough of my GP!

In the meantime I also find that those springy stirrup irons help as well as elasticated sports supports for when it's really bad. Those stick-on warming pads for pain relief are expensive but provide temporary utter bliss
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Definately try sprenger type bendy stirrups they have really made a difference to my bad knee and I find my ankles don't ache on very long hacks any more.
 
Yep! Both knees as a result of a car accident in my twenties.

The right one is worse, have had two arthroscopies and a couple of other ops on it. Both could probably do with a hoover out as the cartilage is breaking up but more noticably on the right which is much fatter now than the other.

They have good days and bad days. My excess couple of stone do them no favours so I'm trying to lose weight before I do anything else.

My specialist said I can have a new right knee but, since new knees only have a lifespan of about twenty years I've got to wait!!
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In addition to what other's have said about getting to the bottom of the problem, my physio swears by Glucosomine sulphate tablets (from health food stores) which support healthy cartilidge/ joints and have a natural anti-inflammatary affect (Ibuprofen is OK for one offs but is aspirin based so ideally shouldn't be taken every day.
 
Yes!
I have had 4 arthroscopies (sp?) and a full op to remove a tumour from my left knee.
Riding for long periods of time does still aggrevate it, getting damp or cold also causes major problems. I still ride though - I get very high strength painkillers from my specialist so if the worst comes to the worst then I just take a couple of those and strap it up.

They will eventually replace my knee but I'm only 30 so they won't do it yet.
 
Thanks every1 for your responses-it's comforting I'm not on my own! I do have sprenger stirrups which I have always found helps. My knee has really flared up since getting on my 17hh from the floor a few times-I have obviously stopped this now. I also get the problem with driving-I find this much more painful than riding!

My friend is an osteopath and is looking at it next week but I will definately go back to the GP and ask for a referral. I have recently started taking Glocosimine Sulphate so will be interested to see the results

I hope every1 who has responded knees improve x
 
Shauna your daughter's symptoms sounds like Osgood schlatter's disease which my daughter has.
Basically it's like stifle problems in a horse, the cup holding the knee bone is a bit shallow and it slips out making the leg give way.
They give you excercises and advise against jogging/running etc.
Joint supplement s improved my daughter's a lot, she used one from Boots that was liquid and fruit flavoured.
 
You don't have to tell me about bad knees!

I'm on the waiting list for surgery to both my knees by the guy inthe links I've posted.

WARNING LINKS CONTAIN COLOUR PICS OF SURGERY

I am having this done to my left knee as my kneecap dislocates several hundred times a day. I also have two subcondral bone cysts under the pateller.

http://hipandkneeadvice.com/knee_pro_pat.htm

and this done to my right knee which I have injured as a result of my left knee being so bad!

http://hipandkneeadvice.com/knee_pro_cru.htm

I am having both done at once and will be in a wheelchair
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I have had terrible knee problems for over 30 years now, had more ops than I can remember, was told not to ride anymore, was told I need knee replacment ops etc etc.
I am still riding, but it is unbearably painful and makes staying on quite a challenge at times!
I was finally diagnosed with Hyper Mobility Syndrome a couple of years ago, and now have problems with most of my joints, which includes pain, partially dislocated shoulders etc.

I will go on riding for as long as I can as it is the one thing that keeps me sane - I DO have to hit the wine bottle after riding though - medicinal reasons only, my physio told me wine was probably as good as taking pain killers and much more enjoyable!
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Ah thats the thing the specialist told me I had, which is also why my hip is now killing me.

Alcohol and painkillers is great for knocking yourself out for a few hours of pain free sleep.

Edited to add: my shoulder has always partially dislocated and so does my right thumb which can be a real pain when plaiting as only way to get back in is to wack it against the wall.
 
I have had lots of major surgery on one knee following an accident. I think that you should either see a different doctor and get a referral to an orthopaedic surgeon or get yourself some physio. You can self-refer for physio these days and there are many things they can try. If the physio can't help they can advise your GP that you need to see a specialist.
 
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