Who here has/had trouble with their knees?

Monsterlover · May 30, 2011, 07:30:39 AM

So my knees are bothering me lately. My right more than my left. I figured I'd post about it here to see if anyone else has had something similar before I go see the doc and start the never ending vortex of disappearing money.

A little background:

Im 34 and have never run a day in my life. Never played any sports that could damage a knee. I've crashed 3 times at track days but never any injury.

However, my mom has something where her joints just wear out prematurely. When she was in her early 40's a dr asked her if she'd ever played foot ball. I'm almost certain I have inherited this condition.

If I squat down and then get back up, both knees will pop out on the way down, and (more forcibly) pop back in on the way up. This doesn't hurt, but I can't say it's comfortable. I know they shouldn't be like this.

I have been much more physically active these last couple months getting the shop setup and running. This means tons of time on the floor setting up equipment, etc.

To avoid the popping, I have taken to the "green plastic army man" pose. One foot on the floor, and one knee on the floor. It seems that by not fully collapsing the joint I can get up without the popping.

Trouble is that I can't do this all the time depending on what I'm doing.

Also, if I know one, the other, or both will pop on the way up, I'll use surrounding objects (tables, counters etc) to help take some of the weight off (using my arms) It helps but I know it's not enough.

Then just recently, something is up with my right knee. It still doesn't hurt, but something is going on with the joint where I am "aware" of it when I have weight on it (and sometimes when I'm not)

If I stand on just my right leg, and orbit a circle with the knee I can feel this sensation most on the side-side motion. Not so much front to back.

I have not, thank god, experienced any discomfort while riding either the SM-R or the 999.

But I know something isn't right.

I always figured someday I'd have to have one or both knees replaced. I just figured it would be like 10-20 years from now.

I remember late last year I had the popping going on but it quit (or I was just not moving in a way that triggered it) for a few months. Now it's back.

Can anyone relate?

Should I go see someone about this or it's just irritated and will get better if I quit stressing it?

Any input is appreciated.

He Man · May 30, 2011, 08:01:53 AM

Ive always had knee problems that were directly related to sports related injuries. Ive tried to strengthen my knees throughout the year with good success.

Ive also stopped doing Regular squats in favor for ATG squats. After a regular squat session (thighs parallel to the deck) my knees tend to hurt for several days. With ATG squats, i feel like they take off the load from trying to stop half way. Though this kinda requires you have to very flexiable hamstrings so your knee doesnt past your toes.

Balancing ball squats really help with my knee as well.

But i'd always check out a doctor to make sure. Who knows if im really blowing my knee out? lol im just going by the fact that if it doesnt hurt then keep doing it!!!

Monsterlover · May 30, 2011, 08:32:03 AM

Just so we're clear when I say squat I dont mean exercise. Im talking about getting down on the floor.

Also, I just discovered that when I lock my knee back...doesn't feel so good.

sbrguy · May 30, 2011, 08:35:23 AM

been to the knee dr myself and around your age but i'm a runner, but the knee poppin thing, from what my dr says almost everyone can feel it to an extent so you may not be feeling anything unique, my knee when squatting or such will make a small felling like that always has and like you said this is only when squatting for periods of time and such not during exercise squatting.

but i think you answered your own question here. you have a family history of probably degenerative knee joints, if that is the case maybe your dr can suggest muscle strengthening exercises to take some of the pressure off the knees so that they don't hurt as much too quickly. but everyone is different an none of us can diagnose you over the internet that is for a dr to do.

for now it sounds as though you are lucky in a sense that there is no real pain like you can't walk or such.

so with any luck maybe you are right you probably are years if not decaddes off from any surgery, most of the time surgery and knee replacements are done as a last resort not a first option so with any luck hopefully you are 20-30 years from having any of that happen, hey got to stay positive.

Monsterlover · May 30, 2011, 09:13:06 AM

Good advice.

Maybe by then I can just machine myself a new knee and well just do it the garage

lethe · May 30, 2011, 09:15:53 AM

my knees pop also, to the point it makes others grimace
doesn't hurt, mainly just an annoyance at this point

He Man · May 30, 2011, 09:20:23 AM

Quote from: Monsterlover on May 30, 2011, 09:13:06 AM
Good advice.

Maybe by then I can just machine myself a new knee and well just do it the garage

can you do tendons as well? or should i look for someone who does composites?

i took your thread the wrong way, my bad! My right knee does a poppin thing. But thats again from sports related injury, and it hurts if i do half squats, work out or not. I brought the topic of squats up because ive heard that the half squat (and the dead lift) replicated a human body motion that we often do whenever we work on the floor or pick something up off the ground. It would in my mind, help with conditioning the knee.

lethe · May 30, 2011, 09:24:12 AM

Quote from: He Man on May 30, 2011, 09:20:23 AM
can you do tendons as well? or should i look for someone who does composites?

i took your thread the wrong way, my bad! My right knee does a poppin thing. But thats again from sports related injury, and it hurts if i do half squats, work out or not. I brought the topic of squats up because ive heard that the half squat (and the dead lift) replicated a human body motion that we often do whenever we work on the floor or pick something up off the ground. It would in my mind, help with conditioning the knee.

he can machine some tendons out of butter for you

Ddan · May 30, 2011, 11:01:54 AM

Both my knees have been pretty much beat to hell skiing, but they've also got a lot more miles on them than yours. It would probably be a good idea to have a good sports Dr do a scope on yours to see what actually is going on. You could have some torn cartilage floating around in there, and that might be what you feel when you move it around. There may also be some things you can avoid to get more life out of what you have before you start machining your own.

ducpainter · May 30, 2011, 02:10:54 PM

Being on a concrete floor 12+ hours a day isn't gonna help either.

You might want to look into rubber mats on the floor at workstations to soften things up...yeah I know it makes clean-up harder.

Also your sneakers probably aren't the best choice of footwear.

Monsterlover · May 30, 2011, 02:22:06 PM

Quote from: ducpainter on May 30, 2011, 02:10:54 PM
Being on a concrete floor 12+ hours a day isn't gonna help either.

You might want to look into rubber mats on the floor at workstations to soften things up...yeah I know it makes clean-up harder.

Also your sneakers probably aren't the best choice of footwear.

Well. . .

I have a decent rubber mat at the lathe and bridgeport. To be honest, if I can sit, I do. Always have. It's not a lazy thing, it's that I can't stand for extended periods of time.

Buckethead tells me Marine graduation they stand in one spot for 3 hours.

I about feinted when I heard that. . .

So anyway, i have good floor mats (I'm all about ergonomics) and I don't wear sneakers (or boots) I have this slip on moccasin type things that I love. They're the first pair of shoes I've ever owned in my life that I have not had to put in some sort of arch support type thingy.

ducpainter · May 30, 2011, 02:24:22 PM

If you've covered those bases I guess it's off to the doc then.

Monsterlover · May 30, 2011, 02:32:46 PM

Yeah, probably.

Privateer · May 30, 2011, 03:43:40 PM

Quote from: Monsterlover on May 30, 2011, 02:32:46 PM
Yeah, probably.

I had a time where when I would turn just a certain way my quad would pull my knee cap to the side, out of it's normal groove. It was painful enough that I would collapse, no matter where I was. At work, at home, playing hockey, walking through the mall. If there was nothing there to grab onto, or a person to help me, it was quite embarrassing.

I had tears of various things over the years, but nothing like you're describing. I know I have some cartilage damage which will result in arthritis later. we'll see.

Based on my past knee injuries the doctor will probably start you with physical therapy, is my guess. You could start working on that now, strengthening the muscles that surround the knee and stabilize your hips. Yoga also will help with your core strength and your balance. I know, it's kind of new age hippie crap but it works. I found a DVD I really like and I can do it at home and not be self conscious. Let me know if you're interested.

Monsterlover · May 30, 2011, 04:05:56 PM

Sure. I'd check that out.

Shoot me a pm.

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Who here has/had trouble with their knees?