I am a 21 year old girl who has just been diagnosed with mild to severe osteoarthritis in both my knees and I am wrecked. I have been lying in bed for three days crying because I have been told I’ll never run again.
I don’t know what to do. I can’t believe this has happened to me so young. I am so scared for my future, I am in pain now, what’s this going to be like in a couple of years ? I cannot bear to think.
I have heard varying accounts/facts and studies on whether or not it is good to keep running on affected joints, any advice on this would be helpful too i am not ready to give up on running completely but unsure whether or not this would be completely stupid and just wear out my joints quicker? thanks again
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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Louisamith
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8 Replies
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As far as im aware once you have both knees replaced there is no reason why you can't run again!? Please don't take my word for it though. Ask your gp.
I’m so very sorry for you! I’m an old gal at 65 who has walked and hiked my whole life, it’s my passion. And now, thanks to hip osteoarthritis, I can barely do a block. I’m on the waiting list for surgery, but thanks to covid, who knows when that will be. So I totally understand your despair at just 21!
Have you been able to see an arthritis or orthopaedic specialist? I would ask your dr to refer you to one or both. They would be the ones to advise you best about running.
You owe it to yourself, especially at your age, to investigate all possibilities.
Not much advice.....but I sure am wishing you well!
Hello Sarah4856, its very upsetting to get such a diagnosis at a young age. Don't discount running just yet as activity helps in this type of arthritis, but first you need to establish how to manage the pain and how much you can do or not. What causes flare ups is important too. I have had the disease for forty years and its been fairly stable with help on the pain side , avoiding things I can't do , moderation in all activities and using things that lessen strain on the joints, like trainers or ortho shoes to lesson strain on knee joints, keep control of weight, there are lots of ways to manage your arthritis and lead a full active live . I wish you every best wish for a good future and do try to keep active except during flare ups.
I agree with Katieoxo60, everything in moderation. I got it at 29 and am now 60. You need to be able to manage the pain and flareups. They may replace your knees, ask you're gp. All is not lost, good luck
Hi Louisamith , so sorry to hear that you're in such pain at the moment. The good news is that arthritis pain often comes and goes, sometimes even going completely. Try to stay positive by remembering that the pain will settle.
On your question about running - many people with arthritis worry that exercise can harm the joints, however this is not true. Regular exercise is essential as it helps to strengthen the muscles that protect and support the joints. Exercise has even been shown to help reduce the pain of arthritis and improve function.
Having said this, running is quite a 'high impact' exercise on your joints. After your diagnosis, you may find it easier to try out some ‘low impact’ exercises for minimising impact across the surface of a joint, such as road/exercise biking, rowing machines, swimming, or a circuit class that focuses on non-jarring movements. If you do continue running, a soft supportive running style trainer will help to shock absorb and protect your joints
On a related note, Arthritis Action has just launched a Young Adults hub for people like you who are learning to navigate living with arthritis. In case this is helpful for you, please find the link below:
can completly understand I was told I should give up mountain walking aged 23 due to impact on my knees (the high impact of walking downhill) I had to give-up running when I was 13 due to painful knees. although painful (and it still is painful) 20yrs on I do still climb mountains. I have found it important to do exercise with lower impact though to build up the muscles around the knee (cycling is ideal) and I do hike much less frequently but all is not lost! I would really reccommed taking up a low impact sport (cycling or swinmming) aswell though. I can't deny that I think higher impact stuff does generally wear the knees out quicker. just my experience! so take care. for me running was the worst.... aged 23 I came home and cried too...so thinking of you.....
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