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Knee Pain Resolved
I am a female age 67 and I have suffered from knee pain and problems such as knee buckling since age 30. I managed it for years by watching my weight, strengthening supporting muscles with targeted exercises, knee braces, use of a cane, pain medication, RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) and so on. About twelve years ago I saw a knee specialist who said I had some bone on bone, but not enough for surgery. He recommended RICE (nothing else). Almost two years ago I was having increasing difficulty walking down stairs (up was fine) so I saw another knee specialist who prescribed physical therapy sessions. He said the next step would be either gel or steroid injections. After physical therapy I was better for a while, and I continued the exercises but over time I started to have issues once again. Two months ago I was ready to get some kind of injections and made a follow-up appointment with the doctor. Later that week, but prior to the appointment I was waiting for a prescription at the drug store and began a conversation with another woman who was also waiting. She shared that she had nearly died from sepsis following knee injection. The next day I was working out at the health club and noticed for the first time in my life that when using the leg press my ankles turned inward (over pronation). Later that day I had an appointment for plantar war removal and mentioned my ankles to the podiatrist. He confirmed overpronation, and recommended orthotics, beginning with the over-the-counter kind. A few days later I started using them, and I have had no knee pain or problems since that time. I have no problem going down stairs, I can vary my stride in length and speed, I can do squats with ease. I have had no knee pain whatsoever. I don't know if this will solve things long term, but I'll take the win.
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WOW, @ivannafeelgood !!!!!
I'm thrilled to hear of your discovery and the beneficial outcome!!!
This makes me think twice (and many more times) about all the information that we don't know, and don't know is relevant to our condition, that we can't possibly, therefore, communicate to our treatment/rehab teams. What a wonderful confluence of events that led to your podiatrist's recommendation!
I have a consultant I work with who is also an Alexander Technique practitioner. He often says that if we can address patterned movement behaviors in our head-neck region, we can eliminate a significant percentage of pain in the rest of our bodies. And, of course, I met him 5 months after having ankle surgery for tears in my peroneal tendon. Had I been aware of this information and resource two years earlier after a significant fall that involved quite a bit of bracing in my head, neck and shoulders, (an instinctual response to prevent hitting my head) I might not have needed the surgery at all.
Thank you for sharing this. I will double down on finding ways to understand sources of pain in my body (knowing that the sources of pain and locations where it is experienced are not always the same) before I up the ante on intervention.
Wishing you continued good health and fitness,
Gynosaur
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2 ReactionsCan you tell me what over-the-counter orthotics you started with? I am in the exact same situation. For years now, I have had a gel shot, but it doesn't last.
The orthotics worked for about 8 months. When other temporary remedies no longer work (gels, PT, orthotics, cortisone), surgery is necessary (knee replacement). I had mine last week.
@ivannafeelgood
The Medicare standard, and increasingly that of private insurance companies as well, is that to be "medically necessary" for a TKR one must have tried at least two alternative therapies and found them to be unsuccessful. The OP has done that. In his case, they worked and may have saved him the pain and potential problems from a major surgery.
I have been wearing orthotics for years. They did help with foot and ankle pain.
Last year while I was waiting for my RTKR I had a lot of ankle pain. I even went to a foot/ankle surgeon to check it out and he found it was structurally okay so I was pretty sure that it was referred pain from my non functional knee. After my RTKR that pain disappeared.
The medically necessary standard may be annoying but it also can help prevent major surgery that would be unnecessary and could cause severe pain for many months. Yes...some of us did well and had no pain after the surgery but we are a group of outliers on the bell curve for TKR recipients. Most incur pain and many severe pain so it is good to try other remedies first.
I tried shots in the knee and they didn't do squat for me. I tried a custom knee brace and I could never get it to stay up on me (it would start sliding down and end up around my ankles). I was already wearing orthotics. I was also severely misaligned with bone on bone arthritis in all three compartments and that misalignment caused a nerve impingement and severe pain.
Celebrate your victory and lets hope it is a true remedy.
@ellenm616 & et.al: Walk-fit Platinum Orthotic Insoles were my choice when I suspected poor body alignment needed adjusting. They are inexpensive, purchased online and very effective for me. By wearing them in my tennis shoes most of the time this allows me to occasionally wear dress shoes and sandals occasionally for short times. I have not had a back or knee pain issue since I began using these insoles. Best health to you. dbamos1945