Tips for touring with knee pain

[Storm632]

I am glad that you got some good advice from a specialist. I would still recommend a good pair of shoes for the long days! I also will throw in the suggestion of considering a single point cane. I have bad hips and I find using a cane gets me farther than just on my own. It was hard to make that adjustment at 35, but if I wanted to enjoy life I needed to keep myself as painfree as possible. You now can find foldable canes that you can put it a bag and pull out as you need to, they fit in the rides as well. It might allow you a little more park time! Enjoy your trip!!

 

[altaztaz]

Another vote for the KT tape, but you do have to look at the videos a few times and practice how to use it. Otherwise it won't help.
The KT tape saved my 9 day trip in January! Again, it must be applied correctly, but it is not that hard to learn . We leave for another 10 day trip and I will be using it again.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

ABSOLUTELY!!

Narcotics cover up the pain...Ibuprofen relieves pain and heals.

I fractured a couple of ribs last year, and was afraid to take a lot of the lorisets prescribed. My sister told me to take 4 Ibuprofen (that's the prescription strength). Her doctor told her that as long as she didn't take them long that it would not hurt her stomach.

Anyway, the ibuprofen worked better than the lorisets and I didn't pick up a stubborn little addiction.

And for me the hydrocodone is safer than the ibuprofen! I pee dark blood when I take more than 4 ibuprofen in a day, and when I'm in pain it can take up to 12 ibuprofen to cut through the pain (and heaven only knows what I've done to my kidneys), but it only takes one hydrocodone pill.

Ibuprofen and aleve are useful drugs, but they can do just as much damage over time as hydrocodone.

Also, don't dis the drugs that let some people live normal lives.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

OP here! Well, you guys thoroughly freaked me out, and had me convinced that I was going to permanently destroy my knee if I didn't use a wheelchair, so today I went to a specialist to see how HE thought I should approach this trip. It is probably always best to get medical advice from DRs anyway, but the internet is so much easier!

he determined with some tests that it not actually my knee that is hurting, but muscles in my legs are inflamed and making it sort of feel like knee pain. My knee is fit as a fiddle. He gave me a few scripts, that are already working, and told me that walking will not only not hurt my legs, but will be good for them. The pain will be controlled by the medicine, which I hopefully won't have to take for too long, as it is an NSAID, which always freak me out that I have a bleeding ulcer that I am unaware of ;-).

Thanks for all of the advice!

I get bursitis in my hips, but it expresses as knee pain. My knees are fine.

One other suggestion - really, really good shoes. I bought some top end running shoes to help with my hip bursitis (Yes, I try to run, even though I get hip bursitis on both sides. I know. Not the wisest choice.) and brought them to Disney. OMGoodness. . . Best Trip Ever legs and feet wise. No bursitis, no aches anywhere! My beloved Toms never left the closet!

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

And for me the hydrocodone is safer than the ibuprofen! I pee dark blood when I take more than 4 ibuprofen in a day, and when I'm in pain it can take up to 12 ibuprofen to cut through the pain (and heaven only knows what I've done to my kidneys), but it only takes one hydrocodone pill.

Ibuprofen and aleve are useful drugs, but they can do just as much damage over time as hydrocodone.

Also, don't dis the drugs that let some people live normal lives.

I do not have a problem with people taking drugs they sincerely need. However, I will be quick to point out that some drugs are addictive and become unnecessarily necessary for some people.

I had an injury (cracked ribs) that was very painful for a few weeks. Taking lorisets was totally appropriate for the injury. However, it could have set me on the wrong path. I was very happy to take the Advil for a short time, and had no trouble quitting Advil when I no longer needed it. I chose Advil because I have a bad reaction to Aleve.

Keep in mind, I needed to use a pain killer for a couple of weeks.

 

[JennyDrake]

Others may have said this, but GOOD SHOES. I blew out my knees as a rather serious ballet dancer in my teens and early 20's. I have a farm now and am on my feet all day in the office, in the field or on asphalt at markets. SHOES make a huge difference for me. I wear Brooks running shoes w/ Superfeet inserts indoors and on asphalt. Out on the farm Ariat workboots.