help my knee hurts

[Wendy]

The doc said last year that I may have condramalasia patelum. I think that's spelled right.
Anyway, I have never had any knee problems before this. It went away after about 6 months, no more pain anymoer, but now that I am back to diving more (I didn't dive much when the pain went away, but was still active and hard on my knees, no pain) my knee is hurting again and now the right knee is starting to hurt too, it never did before.

Could this condition sbe caused by the modified position of my knees while cave diving or from walking around and up and down stairs in my steel doubles?

I have started wearing my neoprene knee cap stabalizing brace on my left knee when I dive and there is no pain. Guess I'll have to get one for my right knee.

What about cortison shots, will this help. I don't want to have surgery, last resort cu I'd be out of diving for a long recovery.

Help me!

 

[scubabamatxn]

Here is my limited experience. Several years ago, after increasing my tennis schedule, my knees got really sore also. I went to the doctor, and got the same diagnosis. He described it as roughness under each kneecap. I let my knees rest, and carefully started a program of strengthening my quads-- the muscles above your knee-"front thigh'. This gives much better support to your knees. I've not had problems since. By the way, I'm told by quite a few of my friends involved in sports that they have received this diagnosis at one time or another. As I said--'I'm no doctor'--this is just my personal experience. Good luck!

 

[Wendy]

Here is my limited experience. Several years ago, after increasing my tennis schedule, my knees got really sore also. I went to the doctor, and got the same diagnosis. He described it as roughness under each kneecap. I let my knees rest, and carefully started a program of strengthening my quads-- the muscles above your knee-"front thigh'. This gives much better support to your knees. I've not had problems since. By the way, I'm told by quite a few of my friends involved in sports that they have received this diagnosis at one time or another. As I said--'I'm no doctor'--this is just my personal experience. Good luck!

I went to phyiscal therapy last year for 3 months and learned the exercises, I geuss i'll try to do them again.

 

[FreeFloat]

I have that condition as well in my right knee. Chondromalasia patellum - I think that's the spelling, without looking it up.

What it basically equated to, is that my kneecap doesn't track quite straight, resulting in degradation of the cartilage layer beneath the kneecap.

My pain comes and goes - generally I have to do something really bad to my knee before I feel it. I maintain a certain level of physical activity and it's generally at "twinge" level and no worse. At its worst I could barely stand, and without warning on occasion the knee would give out and spontaneouly collapse.

Several things IME make it worse. Stairs. Walking long distances with a load on the back. Deep knee bends (ie getting up with gear on your back). Sitting in one position for long periods of time (such as when driving). Basketball, high jump, volleyball, other hard-jarring-impact sports.

Several things I can do which either don't affect it or give it a chance to rest: diving, swimming, bike riding. Basically any movement that is non-weight bearing.

I'm no doctor, but I would suspect that far more damage happens to your kneecap(s) while walking your gear up or down stairs, than happens during the actual dive (since the diving is non-load-bearing)

I too was given a knee brace, and advised that anti-inflammatories and the knee brace were for intense discomfort or pain, but the only long term solution was to strengthen the quads. I was also advised against wearing the knee brace too much as my quad would never strengthen while the brace was doing all the work.

And yes, my other knee gets sore on occasion too - your body will subconsciously attempt to equalize the load off the "injured" knee and onto the better knee, resulting in twisting/straining and eventually, possibly the same condition.

Surgery (kneecap replacement) is reserved only for the most extreme of cases.

 

[SDAnderson]

Could this condition sbe caused by the modified position of my knees while cave diving or from walking around and up and down stairs in my steel doubles?

Chondromalacia patellae = osteoarthritis of the knee, according to my doc. It's part of getting old, especially if you stay active, especially if you sustain a knee injury, especially if you're a weekend warrior. In light of this, I suppose it's a miracle that I can still walk.

The only good thing about getting older is that it beats the alternative. A pain in the knee is a pain in the butt, but there are things you can do to help...

Avoid stressing the joint. Yeah, walking around with doubles on, especially climbing up and down stairs, is going to aggravate the situation. You're probably doing it with a couple of sling bottles attached, aren't you.

Do the exercises. Work the quads, stretch the hamstrings, you know the drill.

Take drugs. NSAIDs are your friend, just don't burn a hole in your stomach.

Last resort is the surgery. I haven't done that yet but may have to someday, supposedly it's highly effective.

Good luck.

 

[Wendy]

What's weird is that whenI didn't dive much last year and got into the dry caving thing, i was very hard on my knees, crawling and doing vertical caving, which my ascending system (the frog) is a sit-stand method of scent on a single rope, kinda like squats on a rope. And it never hurt my knees at all.

I forgot I have drugs here to take. woo hoo. I'll exercise and work on my quads.

If anything my boyfriend can wheel in in a wheelchair to the water and dump me in with my doubles.

 

[SubMariner]

CHONDROMALACIA PATELLAE
Chondromalacia patellae is degeneration of the articular cartilage (cartilage that covers bone) on the back of the patella (kneecap). Because the cartilage is impaired, the femur rubs against the patella, rather than gliding smoothly across it, which roughens the patellar cartilage even more.

This condition can be accurately diagnosed using an MRI scan. An X ray is not definitive. It is frequently either overdiagnosed or misdiagnosed as patellofemoral syndrome (runner's knee), a more common condition that may occur without cartilage damage.

From 75 to 85 percent of chondromalacia patellae cases are cured by using conservative care for two to six months. Surgery is often not successful.

In the early 80s I started having CP symptoms in my left knee. I had a patella release a few years later, followed by additional surgery in 2000. I've been doing those straight leg raises, etc. for so many years I can pretty much TEACH them in my sleep. :froggy:

However, in 2002 I was diagnosed with severe arthritis in that knee. A few months later, the right knee started having CP symptoms. When I expressed my dismay to my ortho guy (as in "gee.. there goes my GOOD knee") he said he EXPECTED it. Argggh!

So it seems to me that some people are pre-disposed to CP advancing to osteoarthritis, while others respond well to therapy/exercises. Orthotic inserts in shoes also seem to help some people.

IOW, Wendy, it may not even be related to the caving... it could just be you.

Take care,

 

[cool_hardware52]

Growing old generally sucks, but watch the NSAID's. Not good for your liver. Tylenol has a both a short term max dosage and a LIFE TIME LIMIT.

Be real careful about NSAID's and alcohol, real easy to "poke a hole" in your liver.

Regards,




Tobin

 

[pipedope]

I have several friends with similar knee problems.

All have found benefit from cycling and the trick is Long Steady Distance (LSD). You want to make sure that the bike fits (rolling or stationary) and that your feet and knees are in good position. Then ride spinning the pedals fast with very little pressure on the pedals. It is best to do at least 30 minutes at a time. Two or three times a week, it works great as the cardio part of a fitness program, especially when knee trouble usually prevents running.

I have also found that when resting, a warm furry wrap helps.

 

[Wendy]

I have also found that when resting, a warm furry wrap helps.

very funny