HELP - Have Knee Question

[iluvwdw_2002]

Hey, everyone!!!

The past six months, I have been on a major weight loss goal. So, I joined Weight Watchers and started exercising. I started running every other day. I started off just being able to do about half a mile and have gradually worked up to two miles. I was really excited about it, and felt myself with so much energy and getting into really great shape. I have lost 28lbs so far, and I feel great!! Well, with Spring I have been going for mornings jogs before I go to work...I just love it!! It is an awesome way to start my day.

Anyways, on Friday my knee started popping when I walk. It does not hurt or anything...it just pops when I walk, which is really annoying. My DH, my mom, and my second mom say that it is because I run on the pavement around my neighborhood. They told me to stop running and just walk. So, since Friday (I know it's not long), I have not ran at all. My knee is still popped (not as bad at Friday) when I walk, and I have no idea what to do.

It does not hurt at all, and I have no fluid in my knee. It is not swollen or anything...just the pop when I walk. My dilemna is that I leave for our vacation on Wednesday, and I really want this popping to go away.

Anyone know what may be causing this and what I can do to help it out (if anything)? Any helpful tips would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks!

 

[CleveRocks]

I'm hoping you have a good relationship with your primary care physician. Call his or her office and if they can't squeeze you in today or tomorrow, at least see if you can get a quick telephone consultation. There's no way you'll be able to get to see an orthopedist unless you have an existing relationship there, but hopefully your primary care doc can help you or at least set your mind at ease.

Sorry, I can't help you with any advice before Wednesday, but when you get back home let me advise you to run on the asphalt of the street rather than the concrete of the sidewalk. Asphalt has more "give," so every time you plant your foot your joints won't take as much of a pounding.

But running on the street has a pitfall, too (and I don't mean watching out for traffic!). Most streets are "crowned," meaning they are slightly curved, with the center of the street being the high point and both sides of the street (as you go towards the curbs) being slightly lower. While this is usually something you don't notice, you'll notice it after weeks of running, because your feet and legs will be hitting/reaching the ground at two different levels -- if you don't adjust your running for this, it can cause problems with feet, ankles, knees, hips and back. The solution is during each run to alternate the direction you run on a single side of the street. In other words, if you start running right out of your house on your side of the street, when you reach your halfway point and turn around STAY on that same side of the street for your return run. DON'T cross to the other side of the street to run back, because that won't solve the problem.

HAVE FUN AT WDW!

 

[iluvwdw_2002]

Hey, CleveRocks!! Thank you so much for the info!

I called my doctor and explained to her about my knee, and she advised that I come in today, so she could check it out and see what is going on. She said she wanted to take X-rays and such. She definitely wanted to do this before I left, so we will see.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[Bev J]

First congrats on your weight loss!!

I am glad your getting into the doc before your trip. My husband started having the poping knee problem about a year ago- he kinda ignored it for a long time, then the pain started comming with the poping. He ended up with a torn menescus in his knee. He had surgery last november but that is a very temp help for him and eventually he will have to have a total knee replacement. Hopefully since your getting to your Doc right away you may be able to avoid all this...
We went to WDW last June and it really helped him if he wore a knee wrap and took Motrin. He also did stretching exercises every morning before we started our day and that helped too. Ice became his best friend at the end of the day.
Probably would be a good idea to stop the jogging for a while, it is so jarring on your joints. Walking is just as healthy.

Hope your doc can help you out and your trip to WDW is painfree, popfree and loads of fun!

Bev

 

[iluvwdw_2002]

Bev,

Thanks for the info!!! I hope it ends up being nothing serious, and I don't have to end up having surgery in a year or so. Eeekkkk... But whateve happens will happen. I do think I will lay off the running for the time being...I have a lot of people on my back now to stop running do walking instead. It will probably be better for me in the long run...as much as I love to run...gotta do what my body wants me to, or I will pay later.

Thanks again!!!

 

[golfgal]

My best guess is that this is what is happening:

Before you started exercising your knee cap was grooved into a certain spot based on your muscle tone at that time. As you started running your muscle tone improved thus changing the groove your knee cap is following and you have scraped off some cartilage. When you walk, the loose cartilage is catching and that is what the "pop" is. It isn't a big deal but it can be annoying and uncomfortable. If the piece of cartilage comes off all the way it can drift into the joint and cause your knee to lock up but that only happens at certain times like walking down the hallway at work with the president of the company , just kidding, but it can lock up your knee.

Your best treatment/option would be to go to a sports medicine clinic, not your family practice dr. The sports med clinic will look at your 'injury' differently then a family practice dr, who will most likely tell you to stop running for 2 weeks or more. A sports med clinic will probably tell you to continue to run, work through this 'regrooving' stage and see what happens. If it becomes painful or a piece starts floating around, they will take it out arthroscopic, which is a VERY minor procedure these days (they numb the area, slip a camera and a suction tube into two very, very small openings and suck out the cartilage--easier then getting a filling done).

I was an athletic trainer for a college and I had the same problem with my knee when I was running in college. I had my knee scoped about 20 years ago and haven't had a problem with it since.

 

[iluvwdw_2002]

Golfgal,

Thank you so much for the tip!! I have continued exercising this week, just took out the running and am looking into investing into a treadmill to avoid running on the pavement. I can do my walking outside.

On a side note, my in-laws are all from Minnesota!!! We are planning a trip up North soon...once it warms up some more. I have that Texas blood!

Thanks again for the info!!

 

[golfgal]

Golfgal,

Thank you so much for the tip!! I have continued exercising this week, just took out the running and am looking into investing into a treadmill to avoid running on the pavement. I can do my walking outside.

On a side note, my in-laws are all from Minnesota!!! We are planning a trip up North soon...once it warms up some more. I have that Texas blood!

Thanks again for the info!!

From my own experience a treadmill might be worse for you then the pavement. I would wait and see. I can't run on a treadmill for more then about 5 minutes without my legs hurting. Some of your knee issues might be your shoes, too. What kind of running shoes do you have? If you have a running shoe with a wide bottom, that might be some of the knee pain. You might want to go to a REAL running shoe store, not a Foot Locker type place, and have them fit you for some shoes. There is a great one in St. Paul called Run and Fun. They specialize in running shoes and can look at your old shoes and recommend a pair that will work. If you don't have some place like that handy try some Asics (A-six is how you say that). They are great running shoes.