ace bandage

[overrocked]

I tried the two inch ace bandage to help a bum knee last time out. It didn't work so well. Is there anything else I can use? My knee usually gets out of wack when I go downhill, and I use a wallking stick. The bandage didn't stay in place very well, and then it was too tight, and then it was too loose......etc. Any suggestions are appreciated.
_________________
Your life is dyed the color of your imagination

[Shawn]

Been there, done that, both knees. Go to a Sports Authority and get a velco adjustable knee brace, one with the hole for the knee cap. The ace pulls the knee cap into the grove where its been too much already.

For exercises, get on the stair stepper at the gym backwards, this builds your quads which helps realign your knee cap. Leg lifts, squats, etc. are also recommended.

If its really bad and does not get better, acknowledge that the cartilage on the back of the patella is probably shot, and surgery is likely. You can get a great video of the inside of you knee if you are nice to the doc.
_________________
The bear went over the mountain to see what he could see.

[Daddee]

I approach this with a bit of trepedation myself, but I too am feeling the effects of some wierdness in my right knee. Not sure what it is, but it comes and goes and is highly localized on the left lower edge of my right patella. I'm going to se a doctor about it next week - but I fear the worst. I've never had knee problems before and this has me kind of worried.
_________________
"Only small minds want always to be right."
- Louis XIV

"...haven't you lived long enough to know that two men may honestly differ about a question and both be right?"
- Abraham Lincoln

[Shawn]

Go see an orthopedic surgeon, I know a couple. That and a sports therapist, I know a couple of those guys too. There are things you can do now to delay the need for surgery, who knows for how long. Maybe till they can replace knees and grow cartiledge (SP?). Don't put it off, you are going to want to hike with Caleb for many years to come.
_________________
The bear went over the mountain to see what he could see.

[overrocked]

This problem is hopefully just a temporary thing, since it only hurts during and after a long hike. I never heard of doing the stair stepper backwards, that sounds like fun. I guess if i wear the knee brace, i won't have to carry an ace bandage anymore Am truly only backpacking with less than 25# In summer it is 18#, don't think i can lighten up much more, especially with having to carry a lot of water most of the time. I do the stairs at work, and wear ankle weights 2X week. My coworkers make fun of my 15 minute stair routines, but it sure beats sitting at the desk for hours. I know all the stairways in the building!!!!Since I work in the basement where the labs are I can go from the sub-basement to the second floor, and that is a pretty good workout. But we now have a mini-gym with two stair steppers and various other stuff, I haven't tried it yet, even though i'm signed up. Hopefully strength training may be the key to getting less injury. Thanks again for the input...
_________________
Your life is dyed the color of your imagination

[mike t]

Gotta jump in here. 1) I work with surgeons. 2) Avoid surgeons as long as possible. For every good outcome story you can probably find a bad outcome story, a mediocre outcome story, a so-so story, and a horror story. Docs will tell you what you want to hear. "it's a simple procedure" "it's easy" "it won't hurt" "you'll be back at it in no time" I can't argue with a couple of Redfields points though. A physical therapist is a good idea, especially one specializing in sports injuries. A lot of these things can be remedied with exercise and strengthening the area. A therapist can make sure you are doing an exercise right or can determine if you should be resting instead. I also agree with seeking a Doc if it gets worse or doesn't improve over time despite your treatments. Make sure you initially give it enough rest. Working an already inflamed area may be self defeating. That may be the hardest thing when all you can think about is getting back out there. Also ask yourself some questions: Have you hurt the area before, even a long time ago, this could be a high school or earlier injury catching up with you. Is it constant or intermittent? Are you overweight, even a little? All that stuff will factor in. Good luck! Mike
_________________
Mike T
---------------
less is more

[evenstar]

Properly fit orthotics by a good sports poditrist may help as well.
_________________
John Richardson and Richie Rich, El Perro de Playero
http://members.tripod.com/~evenstar/index.html
http://www.arizonahikers.com
When the Man waked up he said, "What is Wild Dog doing here?" And the Woman said, "His name is not Wild Dog anymore, but the First Friend, because he will be our friend for always and always and always. Take him with you when you go hunting."
--Rudyard Kipling, from Just So Stories, 1902

[Canyon Dweller]

My dad came across a doc that told him that after the surgery his knee should be hurting even more for a while. Before the surgery he was walking in alot of pain, but after the surgery the pain minumized, it shocked the doctor. He happened to find a really good doctor in Flagstaff (from what I understand thats almost impossible up there.)
_________________
Mountains are there to be climbed!

"Meaningless! Meaningless," says the teacher, "Utterly Meaningless, Everything is meaningless."-Ecclesiastes 1:2

[Nealz]

[Shawn]

I forgot about the poles, yeah, I use em. Prefer my old $2.98 hoe handle, but now have a pair of Leki's with which I fairly rattle and clatter down the trail.

I did therapy before my last knee job, thinking that would fix it. It didn't, but it sure set me up for a quick recovery. Did the surgery 12/26/01, and another Rim - rim 10/12/02. Many other hikes long before that also.

I'd reconsider just wearing ankle weights around the office or home. I've heard that can be really bad on knees.

My first knee job was from an injury very long ago, which is obvious in the video. THe torn miniscus was worn down to a knob, where as the fresh one was clearly still just a tear.

The business about a sports podiatrist in interesting, may check that out.
_________________
The bear went over the mountain to see what he could see.

[evenstar]

[Nealz]

[shy]

Another thing, think about inflamation before it happens, if possible. I had horses for many years, and I can tell you that premedicating a horse with an antiinflamitory drug the day before, the day of and the day after makes many a "crippled" horse comfortable enough to use. In the ER we tell persons with orthpaedic injuries to medicate with ibuprofen (600-800mg with food) three times daily for three days ROUTINLY. This isn't for pain, rather for the swelling. When tissue swells in an already tight area, such as a joint, tissue damage results. The more swelling, the more damage.

[evenstar]

[Nealz]