Bad knee. (legs, arms, punch, bike)

[TKramar]

My right knee has been bothering me for the last week. Especially if I kneel down on it. Have to use it though, there's already a guy at work using "bad knee" as an excuse to call out--so I get to do his work, even though I have a similar issue.

Anyway, am I better off getting a brace specifically for the knee which I can get for anywhere between $9 and $24? Or settle for an Ace bandage, which costs around $6? Also, the latter comes in three widths, from 2" to 4". Which would be best, in your opinions?

[Practice]

You can pick up a professional grade knee brace at Sports Authority or any other decently sized sports store like that. It all depends on how much support you need... the price will vary depending.

[Bosco55David]

Glucosamine will help as well.

Bodybuilding.com - Glucosamine Sulfate Information and Product Listing! Glucosamine Sulfate FAQ!

[ChessieMom]

Originally Posted by TKramar

My right knee has been bothering me for the last week. Especially if I kneel down on it. Have to use it though, there's already a guy at work using "bad knee" as an excuse to call out--so I get to do his work, even though I have a similar issue.

Anyway, am I better off getting a brace specifically for the knee which I can get for anywhere between $9 and $24? Or settle for an Ace bandage, which costs around $6? Also, the latter comes in three widths, from 2" to 4". Which would be best, in your opinions?

Better to just go see the doc and let them look at it.

[Synergy1]

Originally Posted by TKramar

My right knee has been bothering me for the last week. Especially if I kneel down on it. Have to use it though, there's already a guy at work using "bad knee" as an excuse to call out--so I get to do his work, even though I have a similar issue.

Anyway, am I better off getting a brace specifically for the knee which I can get for anywhere between $9 and $24? Or settle for an Ace bandage, which costs around $6? Also, the latter comes in three widths, from 2" to 4". Which would be best, in your opinions?

Most knee problems get more painful as time passes. I am 59 and have knee problems due to having my knee cartledge and ligaments torn due to military injuries.....The doctors first recommended a good knee brace for me and they provided me with several. It slips on the foot and wraps around the knee.

Deflamatory meds work best but please do not self administer any medicial theories before going to a doctor.




Do not wait for the extreme before visiting a physician such as:

• Can't bear weight on your knee
• Have marked knee swelling
• See an obvious deformity in your leg or knee
• Have worrisome pain
• Have a fever, in addition to redness, pain and swelling in your knee, which may indicate an infection

Glucosamine combined in a liquid form with the ingredients below helps me but not cure the symptoms and can be picked up at a reasonable price.

Glucosamine HCl 1500 mg
Green Tea Extract 240 mg
Vitamin C
(as ascorbic acid) 60 mg

I puchase the small cans of it in a Tropical punch flavor in a Sparkling Water base makes it good.....


Good luck....

[StarlaJane]

Be careful about going to a doctor, as they will want to take x-rays ($300) and do an MRI ($1000+). Unless you have insurance, which I guess would cover those fees.
But I have known a lot of people who have had knee problems, and then surgery, and who have said that they have had to have multiple surgeries and that surgery, therefore, actually made the situation worse.

[TKramar]

Yes, I don't understand why I'm having pain. Particularly if I kneel down on that knee. It could be arthritis--but there's no swelling or anything apparent. Temporarily, I bought some ICY HOT knee braces to fit around it. I see how those things work now. They make the skin around the area so uncomfortable that you're not even thinking about the knee pain any longer.

I'll be getting a brace sometime this weekend, but I'm going to try to stay off it as much as possible first. The ICY HOT only lasted about four hours, halfway through my shift at work. Using my arms instead of my legs to do most of my lifting helps somewhat.

[StarlaJane]

Honestly, the best remedy is to stay off of it. My guess would have been a torn meniscus b/c it is a fairly common injury (pain would be located towards the inside of the knee.) However, it might be arthritis or that you injured something else.

If you did injure something, then it will take a while (anywhere from 2 weeks to a month, maybe even longer) to heal. Rest, elevation, an ace bandage (not too tightly applied), ice and ibuprofen for pain and swelling (swelling doesn't have to be apparent to exist.) If it is arthritis, I would take a supplement (glucosamine), heat (heating pad) regularly and wear a brace (neoprene.)

[jimboburnsy]

Originally Posted by TKramar

My right knee has been bothering me for the last week. Especially if I kneel down on it. Have to use it though, there's already a guy at work using "bad knee" as an excuse to call out--so I get to do his work, even though I have a similar issue.

Anyway, am I better off getting a brace specifically for the knee which I can get for anywhere between $9 and $24? Or settle for an Ace bandage, which costs around $6? Also, the latter comes in three widths, from 2" to 4". Which would be best, in your opinions?

TK,

Years of heavy squats, powercleans and all the wear and tear associated with 10 years of interior defensive line activity did a number on my knees. I've never had an injury, just a lot of miles on those joints. Never had a problem with it until I had a job that required climbing ladders, stooping, kneeling, etc.

The problem with the brace is that it may have zero impact on your pain. There are a lot of different ways to get knee pain and unless you know what the problem is you have no idea how to treat it. I think that purchasing a good brace is probably not a bad "shot-in-the-dark" idea, but if that doesn't work out you can either live with it or get a medical opinion. If the first thing you hear from an orthopedist is "you need surgery", your reply should be "I need a second opinion." A good-faith orthopedic surgeon is going to try a number of non-surgical techniques before he or she starts slicing up your knee unless you have really junked it up, but if you are still functional, working but dealing with some pain it shouldn't be that bad.

[cncracer]

Originally Posted by TKramar

My right knee has been bothering me for the last week. Especially if I kneel down on it. Have to use it though, there's already a guy at work using "bad knee" as an excuse to call out--so I get to do his work, even though I have a similar issue.

Anyway, am I better off getting a brace specifically for the knee which I can get for anywhere between $9 and $24? Or settle for an Ace bandage, which costs around $6? Also, the latter comes in three widths, from 2" to 4". Which would be best, in your opinions?

I was in your situation for four years not because I was concerned about work, but because I did not want to lose the time for knee repair. My first recommendation is not to do what I did and put off getting it fixed. The next is a brace will help support the knee, and for me helped control the pain. Ice when you take off the brace, and limit the heavy lifting with your knees. I did this for at least three years, might have been four, but it cost me 70% of the cartilage in my left knee, and years of pain and limping. I had the surgery last month, and today walk with out a limp. I have not hurt one day as bad as I did pre surgery, and actually rode a bike for 6 miles yesterday (the first time in at least two years)
The braces I used varied according to what I was doing, and the clothes I wore. Stretch type braces were hard to see under dress clothes, or I thought they showed less. If I was active, I wore a brace with metal bands down the side, it gave support from the sides which I needed if hiking, or trying to do anything more than walk on a flat surface. I had several Velcro braces which were good if the knee was swollen too much to take the elastic or metal braces. You need to remember the brace gives support, but also aids in the advance of weakness to the joint. It is just a short term fix.
I can't stress enough to get it fixed as soon as possible. I was on crutches only two days and a cane for less than a week. I lost 70% of my cartilage because I waited too long and that in addition to damaged joints and ligaments. It hurt a lot more pre surgery than after they fix it.