Ask:
Knee Problems
I'm 16 and have pretty much always had problems with my knees, but my mom used to just brush it off as "growing pains." I started running and biking at the beginning of the summer, but had to stop because the pain got much worse. I haven't run in at least 3 months and they still hurt really bad. I'm not going to be able to go to the orthopedist for a few more months, if I'm able to go at all. I need to get back into shape, so I need to take care of this soon. I have a knee brace, but it almost always either just gets in the way (especially if I'm wearing jeans) or just doesn't help at all. What can I do?
Answer:
Knee Problems
Can you tell me more about your knee pain?
Where does it hurt?
Any locking or clicking?
What makes it hurt more? Stairs? Running? Sitting?
What have you tried so far for relief?
Biking should be pretty good for you knees, but you can also try swimming.
Answer:
Knee Problems
Usually I'm not able to pinpoint the pain, they just kind of ache all over. But every two or three weeks the pain gets excruciating and I can feel it pull in the tendon just below my knee cap. My knees tend to alternate which one hurts, and on bad days they hurt at the same time. Occasionally, if I sit still and bend my knees I can hear them pop or click, and I can feel it, but it doesn't hurt. I have a kneebrace, but it usually either just gets in the way (especially if I'm wearing jeans), won't stay in place, or doesn't help at all. I don't remember the brand, but it's the type my friends who have knee problems use, and it works for them. I also take ibuprofen when it gets really bad. They didn't really start bothering me until this summer. The first time was while I was out biking. I wasn't doing anything more than I normally do, and after going once around the block at a reasonable pace I felt a pull on the tendons under my kneecap in both my knees and it was all I could do to get home. I thought the pain had something to do with my biking and running, so I stopped for a few weeks to see if it quit. But it didn't. And since then I haven't been able to do either. I am going to start swimming about once a week, but with my Personal Fitness class coming up I need to be able to do other activities. More importantly, it's just irritating to have to put up with this everyday.