I'm feeling my age - knee pain
 

My wife and I went on a hike with our son and his cub scout troop this morning. It was just a 3 mile hike there and back. However, it was an uphill trail called Cataract Falls in Marin County, CA. We had no idea it was rated as moderate to difficult trail with rock and wood stairs for most of the way. Climbing wasn't a big deal since I've been going to the gym. The descent is what killed my knees.

I've taken ibuprofen and I'm getting ready to ice them now. I've never had knee issues like this. Guess I'm getting old (54). I felt bad for one of the dads who's a little older than me but heavier. He struggled both there and back. He took his Advil as soon as he got back to the car.

Off camber hammering (I just made that up).

Reminds me of a story...........

I told the doctor I broke my leg in two places. He said "Stay out of those places".

Same age as you and my knees have been giving me grief for the last year or so.
Had to stop playing hockey for a while. The right knee was really clicky and sore. Now that has gone away but it twitches when I am walking but only when turning to the left. Weirdest darn thing.
Just back from a day of skiing. Crappy drive up and back but my son and I had a good day on the slopes. Got home and my wife said "you look tired". Knees are a sore.
Last year our cubs group did a back country camping trip with fully loaded packs about 4.5 miles hike one way. Fun trip but man I was a bit sore and tired for a few days after that.

I find it helps to take a hiking pole or two. Can use them on descent as putting it/them down on the ground ahead of you takes the weight off the joints.

The more you hike it should get easier but steep ascents/descents can be challenging for most of us. See your doc for advice.:)

Me too, I've tried the glucosamine/condrotin stuff and it takes several month to work, it helps me. Through my HMO, I started some phys. conditioning that includes ultra sound (not for imagining) and some kind of muscle electro stuff to stimulate the muscles/joints. Just started it this week, we will see if it works.

What I think killed me was moving six months ago from a ranch house to a three story townhouse.

Best thing I ever started doing was dead lifts and competition depth squats at 45 yrs old and after a L4-,L-5 discectomy. Obviously technique is important. Major strength builder for many of the usually weak muscles from toes to neck. Having a super strong back, butt and legs really takes pressure off the big joints like knees, hips and low back. Been a life changer for me.

After 10 years of pt, ortho doc appointments, steroid injections, massage, electric stim, hanging upside down and then surgery, more pt, more injections etc... the “muscle heads” at the gym had it right. Think of all the money my insurance company spent over all those years. Now my grip strength has gone through the roof, i feel like I can kick anyone’s ass if I needed to and, he’ll, even sex is better.

Old fashion real strength training did it for me. Not that plush wimpy physical therapy, electro stim, massage crap. And I had the best money could buy. Now $30 a month and I make my own testosterone.

Could be osteoarthritis, which occurs when the cartilage in the joint breaks down. Had this problem myself a while back, exercising the legs make a big difference. Mix it up with different movements don't just stay with the basic squats.
Building up the muscles around the knee can help.
However, I would avoid the the knee extenion machine at the gym....it's not a natural movement.

I my case the knees were "bone on bone", meaning no cartilage left, totally worn out. My Ortho doc gave me a series of 3 euflexxa injections over 3 weeks directly into the knees. It took about 3 weeks to totally get the benefit, which helped me greatly. Next stop is total knee replacement. The doc said, meaning squats, etc., "if it hurts don't do it".

Look up 10 best exercise for knee pain on you tube. It took about a month for all the pain to go away and I felt much better after the first time. Now I'm doing squats and leg exercise at the gym witch also, seems to help. The exercises seem too easy and only takes 10-15 minutes. But, they really helped. Do them and you will feel younger again.

You are right. Helped me , too. Forget the IB Profin. Also, got rid of shoulder pain doin lots of back exercises like seated rows.

mine clicked, too. try exercises

Interesting. Those two exercises particularly, or those and a bunch of others too?

There are only about 1000 videos for "10 best exercises for knee pain". Is there one particular one that you recommend?

This is much more dominated by weight than age. I have hiking machine friends and family into their 80s - but none of them carry extra weight around with them.

Biking does wonders but I also agree that strength training is very good - I’d consult an ortho and PT before doing anything on exercises though.

I guess we will see you on the weight loss thread! ;) sincerely hope your knees feel better soon!

G

And yes - two hiking poles next time!

Easy on the Ibuprofen, it's bad fer yer balls. (look it up)

Ice them, and lay off them totally for four days. If one is worse than the other, favor it heavily.

Totally avoid stairs if you can.

When I started having knee pain a daily regimen of Glucosamine Chrondoitin for a few months made a big difference. Actually made it go away.... Its made with Shellfish though so if you're allergic - no go. Helps rebuild joints but does take months to start working.

Best thing is too warm-up by taking it very slow at first, rest often and listen to your body. Keeping the after-the-fact inflammation to a minimum helps tremendously. A phrophylactic anti-inflammatory of choice before exertion is a good practice, too.

Nothing worse than two weeks of bilateral epicondylitis (tennis elbows) after an afternoon of too-exuberant leaf-raking, for example.

Stuff takes longer but it also justifies standing in stuporous contemplation every ten minutes or so.

I had the same experience.

Specifically the competition depth squat and dead lift changed my body tremendously. No one else has your body so, stay away from YouTube. Go to a real body builder’s gym and get some knowledgeable eyes on you. Someone who has successfully competed nationally needs to know your body and watch you do the lifts. You are not a Porsche. You are unique - so is the way you will interact with weight. Stay off YouTube and spend time in the gym with guys who are pulling big. I pay $30 a month for the membership and $50 per hour with a world record holder/gym owner - best money I’ve ever spent on my health.