grr. knees! bah!
Aug. 3rd, 2004 11:08 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
topazA few years ago I was registered and training for the Boston->New York AIDS Ride (back when it was all Pallotta/TeamWorks). I was naive enough about long-distance bike riding that I tried to build up my strength by mashing the high gears a lot. This isn't a great idea for some people, like me, because it tends to contribute to knee injuries. And sure enough, I developed a consistent painful twinge in my right knee which persisted, on and off, for over a year.
Since then I've been careful to stay in lower gears. That means that I'm turning the pedals around more quickly, but each stroke puts less strain on my knees, so it's a net benefit. In the last few weeks, however, encouraged by my increased muscle mass, I've been allowing myself to spend more time pushing the high gears. And lo and behold, sore knee!
Just like the last time, it only manifests itself when I bend the knee and put my weight on it, but is very painful when that happens. Google research suggests that this is probably a cartilage/soft-tissue injury, and that the treatments include (a) avoiding the high gears on the bike and staying in a gear where I can keep a high cadence, and (b) glucosamine chondroitin supplements.
Still, I respect pain. I believe in pain. So I should probably be looking for an orthopedist now. Especially since it looks like the Brattleboro trip is really going to be happening and dammit, I intend to be on my bike for that!
Since then I've been careful to stay in lower gears. That means that I'm turning the pedals around more quickly, but each stroke puts less strain on my knees, so it's a net benefit. In the last few weeks, however, encouraged by my increased muscle mass, I've been allowing myself to spend more time pushing the high gears. And lo and behold, sore knee!
Just like the last time, it only manifests itself when I bend the knee and put my weight on it, but is very painful when that happens. Google research suggests that this is probably a cartilage/soft-tissue injury, and that the treatments include (a) avoiding the high gears on the bike and staying in a gear where I can keep a high cadence, and (b) glucosamine chondroitin supplements.
Still, I respect pain. I believe in pain. So I should probably be looking for an orthopedist now. Especially since it looks like the Brattleboro trip is really going to be happening and dammit, I intend to be on my bike for that!
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no subject
Date: 2004-08-03 10:09 am (UTC)knees are stupidly designed, yet undeniably useful joints
Date: 2004-08-03 09:01 pm (UTC)longer version: i crunched the living daylights out of my knees in '95 by running down mt. katahdin for several hours, and they haven't been the same since. i'm told it was primarily a tendon injury, but the resulting weakness seems to have led to intermittent cartilage problems as well if i don't take it easy enough. (but i don't *like* to take it easy. grrr...)
last summer, i finally bit the bullet and got some incredibly effective physical therapy by someone who listened and then really thought about the problem.
first he listened to the problems i was having, to the story of how they began, and to the kinds of activities i wanted to be able to do without pain.
and then he came up with a way to fix the problem. i worked a whole whole lot, and eventually it worked. i doubt they'll ever be back to pre-injury level of taking abuse, sadly.
but i was again able to walk up the 42 stairs to our apartment while carrying my work stuff without having my knees complain (it had gotten that bad). and i was able to hike in the tetons last summer, something i would have thought impossible.
i prolly should have resumed riding my bicycle at that point, and/or i should have at least continued with the program... but at least i have an idea of what i need to do to get them back into shape, once A is physically able to go out and do things with me that would otherwise hurt my knee again... i just have to remember to take it slower than one thinks is possible before moving onto the next step.
if you want to have details of what worked, happy to share. i think seeing an orthopedist for a Dx and ultimately getting a really good PT person is the key, though.
best of luck!
Re: knees are stupidly designed, yet undeniably useful joints
Date: 2004-08-04 08:36 am (UTC)SORE KNEES
Date: 2004-08-04 02:56 am (UTC)Re: SORE KNEES
Date: 2004-08-04 08:33 am (UTC)I picked up a huge bottle of glucosamine chondroitin tablets -- 1500mg G and 1200mg CS per day. Wow this stuff is expensive ($40 for a 2-month supply, and that's a generic brand.)
--t