My knees - are they actually feeling better?

[rybread]

I posted this in my journal, but I wanted to post it here too. How are those of you with bad knees doing? Is the weight loss helping?

----------------

Rise in obesity driving knee, hip replacements

Interesting article - makes a TON of sense. I've only lost about 25 lbs, but I can already tell the difference in my knees. It caught me by surprise actually, a couple of weeks ago, when I realized that my knees hadn't been bothering me nearly as much as they used to. Usually its this constant dull roar, but I was surprised to realize that they felt ok, and had been feeling ok for a while. Nowadays, the only time that dull roar comes back is when the weather starts to change, like when it rains, or if I've been doing something particularly stressful to my knees, like climbing 6 flights of stairs with my heavy backpack on.

I'm hoping that once I lose these last 25 lbs, that I can totally halt the damage that is being done to my knees every day. I know its not possible to reverse the damage - that's for life. And I know its not likely that I'll ever be able to run again. But I'm hoping by getting down to a healthy weight, I can at least stop the snowball, you know?

[DebbieY]

Re: My knees - are they actually feeling better?

My knees aren't the greatest. Although they don't hurt, the sound they make are annoying. I bought a Slim in Six DVD and ended up giving it to my cousin due to the fact that I was getting tired of hearing my knees creak. They are REALLY loud too. I used to hate to walk up the stairs with co-workers. I just waited for them to comment on what that noise was.

But, they are still loud knees, in my opinion. Just last weekend, I talked to my parents and knees were brought up. I showed them how loud my knees were. I hope one day the sound may lessen, but I have lost almost 60 pounds and they are making the same amount of noise.

[ttdriver]

Re: My knees - are they actually feeling better?

When I was at my heaviest (40 pounds ago), my knees were HORRIBLE. Climbing a flight of stairs was excruciating. I knew what the problem was, but hadn't tried Atkins .. long story short .. and 40 pounds lost later .. my knees NEVER bother me anymore .. in fact, I run 30-35 miles a week on those same knees that will be 50 years old in December.

Its never too late to take back your health!

Betty

[rybread]

Re: My knees - are they actually feeling better?

I'm only 25 years old, and I already have osteoarthritis in both of my knees from an old soccer injury. (I played soccer for 16 years!) According to my doctors, I have the knees of someone twice my age, and to expect knee replacements by the time I'm 50. Gah!

Well, not if I can help it! I don't remember life without my bad knees, but I'll be damned if I sit by and do nothing about them, regardless of what the doctors say. And if I can prevent them from getting any worse by maintaining a healthy weight, then you can bet I'm going to continue doing that. Yep!

[ttdriver]

Re: My knees - are they actually feeling better?

YOU GO RYBREAD!!! You can do it!


Betty

[Terry]

Re: My knees - are they actually feeling better?

I wish I could remember the incredible amount of force you have on your knees for each 5# of weight you are. My arthritis dr told me and as I lost weight my knees were so much better.

Will have to do a google on that one.......

[Yoly1001]

Re: My knees - are they actually feeling better?

I'm with you on this one. I have to be careful with my knees, even though I'm only 24 the amount of weight I've been carying around most of my adult life has really taken a toll. They feel much better now after losing 44 pounds but I still have to watch the type of excercise that I do. Sometimes after my 3 mile arobic excercise they hurt the next morning and it's hard to get down the stairs. But after my body warms up I am all better. I'm sure this will continue to improve as I get thinner.

Another thing I noticed, I love my knees. I love how they look now, it's silly. Knees are not particularly pretty but I must have lost a layer of fat from the tops of them or something because I think I have sexy knees. LOL, I'm nuts, but gotta love Atkins.

[jimmie 48]

Re: My knees - are they actually feeling better?

rybread, i knees got better. i used to be able to go up an 8 ft. ladder just a couple times and my knees would start hurting and give out on me. i do much much better now. like you, i can't undo some of the damage done by doing arobics but at least i have quit abusing them so much.
it stands to reason the getting weight off will help, right? unless all your weight loss is going to happen below the knees! lol

[Moochiecat]

Re: My knees - are they actually feeling better?

It just totally makes sense that a person's knees should feel better when weight is lost and I'm so happy for all of you!

I never had knee troubles, but I did have various aches and pains that plagued me and made my sleep uncomfortable and restless. That's pretty much all cleared up now and I attribute it to both the water intake I now enjoy and the loss of almost 50 pounds.

I do think that proper hydration has a lot to do with aches and pains. I have no scientific reason to back that up, it just seems right to me.

[Hinen]

Re: My knees - are they actually feeling better?

Yeah, I belong to the creeky knee club too. I am waiting and wanting less pain, 10 pounds loss hasn't made a noticeable difference. And inches lost have no benefit to sore knees.

[fawn]

Re: My knees - are they actually feeling better?

your knees are saying "thank you thank you!" Good work!

[cruiser gal]

Re: My knees - are they actually feeling better?

70 lbs ago, my knees were a wreck! I could hardly stand, or walk for longer than 5 minutes, and even then they ached. Stairs were difficult for me to endure, and we have tons of stairs in our home. Now all this has reversed. My stairs are my friends, a source of exercise, and I can walk for at least an hour, without having to rest and take a break. What a demand those extra pounds made on my knees!

[Weighless]

Re: My knees - are they actually feeling better?

I'm really glad to read that some of your knees felt better as you lost weight. Mine have continued to get worse over the past couple years. I'm hoping it's the extra weight. We have several sets of stairs here at the house and their killers some days just to climb up them. Coming down isn't bad...it's getting to the top without pulling myself up by the handrail. And squats....forget it. I have to usually skip any part on my exercise tapes that has squats in them...as the pain is just too much. Walking is fine..its just the climbing and squatting that kills me.

Hopefully as I loose this extra weight they will feel better. Crossing my fingers.

[rybread]

Re: My knees - are they actually feeling better?

My dream is to be able to run someday, but I don't think that will ever be possible. I have strict orders from my doctor to do low impact exercise only, to prevent the osteoarthritis in my knees from getting worse. I want to avoid knee replacements at all costs, so I will listen to her. So it looks like a lifetime of walking, bike riding, and swimming for me.