Posted by missliz on June 13, 2002, at 2:33:20
In reply to Exercise Suggestions?, posted by Ponder on February 23, 2002, at 16:12:02
> I, too, have found exercise to be incredibly helpful, but have nearly worn out my knees from what my doctor says is overuse. I don't run, just walk. I wear braces on both knees and take anti-inflammatory drugs, but still ache for 24 hours or more after even a 2-mile walk. Now I'm really feeling sorry for myself. Can't afford exercise equipment or even the YMCA (living on disability). Any suggestions?
I know exactly what you're talking about, and guess what? You don't "wear out " your knees walking. The braces are probably not helping, as I'm betting they're the Ace bandage brand neaprene sleeve thingies. These things are junk and only aggrvate injury in the long run buy not allowing the injury to strenghthen and heal. You need to see a first rate orthopedic guy for evaluation for arthritis, overuse injury, or screwy kneecap stuff. I too am on dis. and went to major teaching hospital where the best orthopod in the state fixed me up for Medicaid money. I had an unusual problem (chondromalacia patella) and needed a five minute surgury with six months of brutal rehab. Total joy for an exercise junkie!
You may just need to go to Physical Therapy and get something strenghthened or imbalances corrected. Yuor gait could be screwed up, or abductors or abs weak, you never know. Go get help from the experts.
I was apretty hard core competitive athlete until I was thirty and fell to peices and the headshrinkers caught me. I found that cycling was the best way too pull myself back together and manage my anxiety, but the last few psydocs don't get it. Fortuneately my medicine doc is a tri guy and does get it- He sent me to the orthopods.
Orthotics can help with knee stuff too- go to a real orthotocist, not a physical therapist. ( Orthotics are shoe inserts that push feet back into mechanical correctness- they can fix problems all the way up to the lower back) Medicaid /Medicare usually pays for this stuff.
One of my knees is fixed and I'm walking about ten miles a week (a lot, considering) and I can't wait to get the other one done and get back on The Bike. Nobody can run every day, but The Bike demands 6 or7 days a week at varying mileages and it doesn't beat you up like running.
Stuff has been so awful for the last two years that the idea that I will start training again by X-mas is the only thing that sustains me.
Have you tried walking on dirt instead of pavement, like at a park? It helps a lot. Also the Y is supposed to have a sliding scale fee for the disabled and low income types (at least thet did). call and ask. You may need to become a swimming junkie. You'd be amazed how many psych people are hanging around the Y.
poster:missliz
thread:95123
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020609/msgs/109669.html