Knee Problems

[Mythical]

I've noticed a few people on here mention that they've had knee problems, and now i seem to be suffering too, I'm wondering how you all cope with it?
I developed some problem with my knee a couple of years ago when I got really into running. The only help I could get from the doctor was the advice "well don't run then" (He never did find out what was wrong with my knee!) - Good advice, 'cause since I gave up running it's gone away. But just in the last few weeks, it's started to come back - Same pain, same place - I'm just wondering if anyone has any advice, because I really don't want to give up another much loved hobby because of this.

[Twirly]

Go to the doctor again. It could be any number of things - weak muscles, arthritis, weight problems (don't know if you're svelte or "curvy" so please don't take offence), simple wear and tear. You might get referred to a physio to help strenthen the muscles.

If they give you the "give-up" line again, refuse to take it. Point out that dancing is exercise and helps to keep you fit, thus preventing other health problems.

[DundeeDancer]

My advice would be to have one visit to a proper physiotherapist, ASAP!!!

Will cost £30 or so but worth every penny.

I hurt my knee playing badminton 6 months ago, hurt the Patella tendon.

I've had to give up lots of things I love, ceilidh dancing, mountain biking, badminton, tennis, jogging etc...

I can manage by with Ceroc but I still have to go home and rub ice on my left knee to help take away any pain and to speed up recovery.

I can feel my knee is slowly getting better but it is a slow process!

I've read it can easily take up to 4 months for a Patella injury to go away and thats if you don't keep re-injurying it.

It is fustrating but you have to listen to your body and take it easy...

[killingtime]

But just in the last few weeks, it's started to come back - Same pain, same place - I'm just wondering if anyone has any advice, because I really don't want to give up another much loved hobby because of this.

I've, unfortunately, totally forgotten what the thing I had an issue with in my knee was called. A friend of mine (who is a physiotherapist) gave me a quick check and recommended some stretches to try and alleviate it. Unfortunately I'm crap at actually getting around to doing them so the fact that I still get the pain, from time to time, is my own fault. Anyway it is worth going to go see a physiotherapist; if you strengthen or stretch the wrong muscle then you might just do more harm than good. Good luck.

[tsh]

I found that running actually helped with a knee problem, but you do need to be very careful to avoid doing more damage.

Dancing doesn't seem to help.

Sean

[Brian Doolan]

I had a full right knee replacement a couple of years ago, before that I could hardly walk the length of myself, now I'm into climbing Munros, dancing and thinking of buying a bike (to get to the start of the more remote Munros).
Drastic but fantastic!

That reminds me, I'm looking forward to KT's new album, come September

[killingtime]

That reminds me, I'm looking forward to KT's new album, come September

Yeah, me too. Think of the groupies .

What ?

[cms]

Yeah, me too. Think of the groupies .

What ?

yeah what? i dont understand you either!

seriously though - i am a physio and without someone actually having a look at your knee its impossible to give out the right advice. but the people on here are right- go see one asap - anyone worth their salt wont want you to give up dancing altho there are several things you may have to do to get it better - and one might be toning the dancing down for a bit - but i cant say that for certain unless id seen you.

if you were in scotland id say come see me cos i have just got back from travelling and looking for work!!! but go to your gp and get an appointment - or if you cant wait then go private - it will cut the queue!

let me know how it goes

Claire x

[NZ Monkey]

I'd injured my knee in a car crash when I was 11 and spent years making trips to the physio (learning how to walk again isn't fun....). Eventually I just gave up trying to help it get better and avoided doing anything too painful with it.

10 years later I was highly frustrated by my limitations and went to see an Oesteopath that was recomended by a very active friend. He bought my knee up to 95% in three sessions and it's been there ever since. Admittadly the man is something of a prodigy in the oesteopathy field but I didn't believe such a difference was possible until I'd seen him.

The moral of this story is that it pays to shop around, and don't just stick to one field either. Really good people exist in every medical field and at the end of the day it's the skill of the specialist rather than his or her title that get's the job done.

[Tartaniad]

I had bad knee problems until I bought a pair of BLOCH dance trainers.. Seemed to cure my problem with sore knee,just have torn metatarsels now any ideas?

[stairman]

if you were in scotland id say come see me cos i have just got back from travelling and looking for work!!! but go to your gp and get an appointment - or if you cant wait then go private - it will cut the queue!

let me know how it goes

Claire x

I might PM you on my way to Blase 2 if you want some work, If I haven't seen a physio before then as I have intermittent knee problems. Unless you are passing Aberdeen before then (no I cound not afford to pay the travel expenses or travelling time for you to come up)

[drathzel]

My advice would be to have one visit to a proper physiotherapist, ASAP!!!

i have a physio friend who has helped piece me back together after football injuries, car accidents and dance injuried when docs have told me to take paracetamal and go to bed for a few days or to not do certain things!

The man is a god send! i cant recommend physios highly enough!

[cms]

torn metatarsals??? ,metatarsals are bones! how does that work?!!!

C x

[cms]

I might PM you on my way to Blase 2 if you want some work, If I haven't seen a physio before then as I have intermittent knee problems. Unless you are passing Aberdeen before then (no I cound not afford to pay the travel expenses or travelling time for you to come up)

damn i was just in aberdeen this weekend seeing friends inc freya! u could speak to her too - shes a qualif physio in aberdeen! pm her - im sure shed meet u for a chat anyway!

C x

[drathzel]

Just at my pyshio! God i love that man. I have a cold ankle but i love him very much!

[sassy1]

went on a ceroc and ski holiday - took a fall and I have not really danced since
had one op and may need a 2nd mabye this year
miss dancing miss friends more
so take care xxxxxxxxxx
Margaret Rose

[Scotch Bonnet]

I've noticed a few people on here mention that they've had knee problems, and now i seem to be suffering too, I'm wondering how you all cope with it?
I developed some problem with my knee a couple of years ago when I got really into running. The only help I could get from the doctor was the advice "well don't run then" (He never did find out what was wrong with my knee!) - Good advice, 'cause since I gave up running it's gone away. But just in the last few weeks, it's started to come back - Same pain, same place - I'm just wondering if anyone has any advice, because I really don't want to give up another much loved hobby because of this.

I had an accident ski-ing around 10 years ago,I spent years going to doctors and several hospital appointments just to be fobbed off all the time.Eventualy I insisted on seeing a specialist and have now had a knee reconstruction plus a cart-lidge op.That was 2 years ago,haven't done much dancing lately but nothing to do with the knee,my advise is to always wear proper dance shoes and always make sure you only dance on a proper dance floor,learn which moves you can and can't do,and you,ll be fine.
Enjoy dancing and never give it up,good luck

[Andy McGregor]

I had an accident ski-ing around 10 years ago,I spent years going to doctors and several hospital appointments just to be fobbed off all the time.Eventualy I insisted on seeing a specialist and have now had a knee reconstruction plus a cart-lidge op.That was 2 years ago,haven't done much dancing lately but nothing to do with the knee,my advise is to always wear proper dance shoes and always make sure you only dance on a proper dance floor,learn which moves you can and can't do,and you,ll be fine.
Enjoy dancing and never give it up,good luck

I think this is great advice. Whenever I do myself a mischief it's because I wasn't prepared, was wearing the wrong clothes, doing it in the wrong place, hadn't warmed up, etc, etc. Get the right shoes, only dance on a proper dance floor, don't do things that hurt and get some professional advice from somebody whose objective is to keep you dancing rather than someone who will tell you to give up everything. Imagine if a professional footballer went to the team physio and was told "give up football" - however, that's the attitiude of some members of the medical profession. If you encounter one of those, find somebody to give you a second, third, etc, opinion.

[jinski]

I sympathise with everyone who has knee problems!

Both my knees are weak due to a combination of age/wear and tear and ski related injuries, however to add to this I managed to damage ligament and the medial meniscus... (pass - you know as much as me!) last summer which has resulted in me dancing permenantly in a knee brace!

This does work and does not impare my dancing at all. However it does look naff with a skirt / dress so I know have a dance wardrobe I can't wear which any female will know is very frustrating. For my part I really miss being able to wear a skirt or dress but at leasr i can still dance.

So protect and support is the answer...

[Whitebeard]

I sympathise with everyone who has knee problems!

Both my knees are weak due to a combination of age/wear and tear and ski related injuries, however to add to this I managed to damage ligament and the medial meniscus... (pass - you know as much as me!) last summer which has resulted in me dancing permenantly in a knee brace!

This does work and does not impare my dancing at all. However it does look naff with a skirt / dress so I know have a dance wardrobe I can't wear which any female will know is very frustrating. For my part I really miss being able to wear a skirt or dress but at leasr i can still dance.

So protect and support is the answer...

Any details on that knee brace ? In my case it is simply age and longterm wear and tear - osteoarthritis at its most simple. Both knees equally affected and no significant out of the ordinary injury to blame. Green lipped mussel and other quack cures absolutely ineffective. I take paracetamol, to cover the corners, but this seems to be equally ineffective. [If I could find a supply, I'd try the dreaded weed ;-) ]

Long term; dancing is probably going to aggravate the problem but, in the short term, I totter across the car park into the venue but stride out at the end with something vaugely appproaching former vigour and ease. Strange that.

The Doc seems to be saying, keep up with the exercise but when the pain becomes unbearable I might refer you to ......

And, although I've just lost one, there are still two other dogs to be cared for, as well as my own needs out here alone in the wilderness, in the event of the incapacitence and inability to drive following surgical intervention. A quanundrum without an easy answer.

And the hip, that's going as well !!