On the IC since developing pain in my right knee overnight after a 4 mile run last Friday morning.
I think it's arthritis, because that is not unknown in my family, and if my knee is hurting the pain goes away if I drink alcohol.
There is a parallel in that I play the piano and as I've grown older I've found if I play too fast and hard for too long, in the hours afterwards I may develop pains in my hands and forearms which can last for days. Hasn't stopped me playing the piano, and I believe this mild arthritis should not stop me running. Though that depends upon me managing my running better than I have been doing. At the moment my mobility is reduced to less than 1 mile of walking at a time, compared to being able to walk for 20 miles no problem before I started C25K, so I either have to do better, or stop running.
At the moment if I walk for 1 mile I will provoke pain that lasts for hours. If I walk several miles more the pain lasts for up to 24 hours. On the bright side I have the use of a nice car, and this is an excuse to enjoy driving it some more!
Don't plan on going to the doc because the next time I see my GP I want to have proved I can bring down my blood pressure through exercise. So it may not be arthritis, but that seems to me to be a logical explanation.
I believe my knee is gradually getting better and I hope to be properly mobile again within a week or two. Onwards and upwards!
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ForbiddenPlanet
Graduate10
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Pain in knees comes from many sources. If it keeps returning or not getting better it really is best to check it out and not self diagnose. I understand you wanting to reduce blood pressure but as I see it you have a number of options. Go to gp, explain you want to reduce BP through exercise but that the pain in knee is preventing this and can they check it out to let you continue with your exercise. Go armed with details of exercise you've been doing to prove you are trying. Alternatively go and see a sports physio to check your knees. Good luck
Hello gtb, and thank you for your support, as ever. I had to go for a drive and talk myself around to making a GP appointment, but I got there in the end.
Lots of folks do run with Arthritis...but you have to know whether it is, in fact Arthritis first... We are not medical experts and we would always advise not to run through pain at all.
So, despite your wish to let the GP see how you have improved your BP. it may be a good idea to go and get an accurate diagnosis of what is happening?
Thank you, and I hope you didn't feel I had put you on the spot, as though I might be seeking medical advice! Was kind of just thinking aloud after a sleepless night.
I agree with others that you should get an expert opinion to know what you are dealing with. You should never run through pain or take painkillers to enable you to run.
Before I started running, an MRI scan showed early onset arthritis in my knees and gradual introduction to running has actually helped strengthen my knees and I do not suffer the pain I used to. It’s not necessarily the end of running but you do need to check it out.
I was able to reduce my blood pressure once I increased my running distance so good luck with that. Reducing weight was a contributory factor too.
Hi Dexy - just wanted to say thank you for relating your own first hand experience of arthritis, and fantastic that you were able to reduce your BP through running and weight loss.
My weight has stayed constant since I began C25K, with a BMI around 29, but my face was getting thinner. I have heard that it can take a year for the body to adapt to running, and my ambition is to make a habit of running a good distance three times a week and see where that has taken me after a year.
Yes the weight loss came more by reducing the alcohol and changing the diet to help my running. Your doctor may refer you to a physio to help your knees. I was given some knee strengthening exercises which made a lot of difference. Better to treat it than just give pain killers.
Seems an excellent point about knee strengthening. I had pain in my knees for 5 years. In an effort to reduce my BP I was walking up to 30K steps a day and more.
Doing that day after day brought on bursitis, so I cut back to below 20K steps a day. At which point, I was suddenly pain free. On reflection I concluded that was because all the extra walking I was doing strengthened my knees.
It was being pain free which emboldened me to think I could do C25K as I was convinced walking was not giving me good cardio - and in fact when I got a Garmin watch I could see that even on fast hikes my HR struggled to get above 100 bpm.
I have it but nothing major. It’s in my hands, big toe, shoulder. I keep my weight down, eat healthily and don’t drink. I found that alcohol made my joints ache terribly, so I kicked it into touch I don’t drink fruit juice either as that has the same effect
I walk everywhere 😃. My knees have got much stronger as I’ve kept running.
I take a daily omega 3 oil capsule to keep the pain away.
My friend had quite bad arthritis at one point and had to stop running briefly. He lost weight and cut down his intake of beers and real ales, of which he was particularly fond He is a runner, triathlete and skier 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing your experience. I can see from your profile you have some fantastic running achievements - which is inspiring! If I can achieve a fraction of what you have I will be very happy.
I would find it very difficult to give up alcohol, though my GP "ordered" me to give it up because of my BP and I'm expecting a lecture as I haven't done so.
I also drink four cups of fresh brewed coffee a day which some people say is a contributing factor. But I love coffee - and wine.
I try to walk everywhere, though I have cut back since I started running. Running seems wonderfully efficient exercise by comparison to walking - it gives me much better cardio.
Also inspiring to hear about your friend. My nephew does Iron Man triathlons - I am just in awe of what fine athletes they are.
Thanks - I really appreciate you sharing your experience.
I notice you post a bit about treadmills. Did that make a difference for you versus running outdoors?
I'm hazy on the details but I recall meeting a relative 10 years ago who'd been told by his doctor (in the US) that after a lifetime of running, at 59 his legs were wearing out, and he should stop running outdoors to be kinder on his legs.
Thanks very much. I hope you are able to run outdoors come the spring.
Re the legs wearing out, it sounds odd to me too, but my relative is a PhD in molecular biology and works in capital markets investing in rich US biotech companies with Nobel prizewinners and eminent doctors on staff.
So, he's much smarter than me, with access to good doctors, and offered me two explanations, one of which was detailed and technical, and involved descriptions of the knee joint, and which I can't remember. And the other, paraphrased for a simpleton like me, which I do remember, was that part of his leg, on or near the knee, was worn out.
Thank you.
About 30 years ago a doctor told me that running on roads was bad for us as most roads are uneven and could effect the knees and hips, so maybe their is something in it.
There isn't. And every surface apart from a pro running track is uneven. Three decades ago the shoes were different, technology was different, insoles were inferior. I know, because l ran in the eighties. 30 years ago any sportsman didn't last as long as they do today.
You'll never figure out what's causing your knee pain without an expert's opinion. Same with blood pressure. My knee hurt terribly some years ago and the reasons were completely unrelated to my desperate (and useless Google searches). Instead, a sports physio and a wizard osteopath figures it out and put a stop to it.
Blood pressure? As in silent killer? I have always been slim, never a bit overweight, and yet my blood pressure was at a stroke level when the moment came. Again. Let the guys in the know figure it out and advise further. You don't want to impress your GP, you want to be healthy for yourself.
Thank you. On the blood pressure thing, it's very common on the male side of my family to have high blood pressure, but they are long lived and noone has ever had a stroke, to the best of my knowledge. I had an ultrasound ecg last year and was told that my heart function was "perfect". According to my Garmin tracker watch my fitness age is that of an "excellent 20 year old", which I take with a massive dollop of salt, but I do believe that apart from that one indicator - bp - my cardiovascular health is good.
I'm not hoping to impress my GP but I do want to feel I am in control of my own health and reduce my BP through exercise rather than go on medication. At the moment I take no medication of any kind as a matter of routine and if possible I'd like that to continue.
There are so many things that can cause knee pain when we run. I had pain in my left knee only, and assumed it must be because of surgery and cartilage damage in that knee. A couple of years later and I'm equally sure it wasn't! If finances allow, you could book to see a physio privately. They will check for lots of other possible causes. The fact that it appears to be easing is a good sign. Take a look at the knee post on the strength & flex forum - lots of great ideas there for strengthening the muscles supporting your knee. Good luck 🙂
Yes. Its, as the name implies, used on cows with mastitis. It has a strong peppermint content. It was recommended to me by a runner friend. In fact, it's available in the farm section of our local chemists. The anti inflammatory properties are excellent, and it's a natural product.
Since taking up running, the pain and swelling have disappeared. Keeping mobile is good for arthritis. Happy running!
Very interesting - thank you. So far as can see there is no swelling or redness on my right knee which does not seem to be typical of arthritis. I think it's slightly bigger than my left knee, but I think that is natural - as I am right footed, and I think my feet are also slightly different sizes. The knee looks entirely normal to me - the problem seems to be inside it.
I have osteo arthritis in both knees and hips. I’ve been advised by the orthopaedic surgeons that walking is best. It’s certainly worked for me. I’ve found also that running has helped too. I’m not saying I don’t get pain. I do sometimes but the stronger I’ve become the less of a nuisance it is. However I have to be careful not to twist my knee joints as in sitting cross legged.
However you do need confirmation that it’s arthritis so it’s best to see a doctor. But moving as in walking and running improves the blood supply to the cartilages which are worn and that helps to keep them healthy. Good luck. 🏃🏻♀️😊
Thank you. I had pain in my big toe which has disappeared since I started running, so I'm wondering if that was related. Going to see the doc in a few days, so I hope to find out - or at least start the process of finding out.
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Severe arthritis - stop running
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Waterproof running shoes. What do you think?
