I haven't gone for a real run in nearly 2 months. And haven't run at all in 6 weeks. I felt as though I was dragging a painful leaden leg around with me.
After learning (no surprise) that I have arthritis in both knees, and getting steroid injections in both, I am, 5 days later, pain free. My quads have withered in just these few weeks (and my left quad is not firing at all) and I am told I need to work to build up my leg muscles but that I can run. That it will be good for me to run.
But now I'm terrified! The intense pain behind my knee and the relentless ache of the entire leg is not something I want to experience any time soon (although as the orthopod told me I will definitely need a new knee eventually, I expect I will have recurrences).
But I am shooting for a quickie run on Friday. Maybe some gentle jeffing to ease back in. I am sure my fitness levels are pathetic too as I have only managed to walk one mile most days, with a handful of longer walks on good days.
1. Anyone here running on steroid pacified knees? Should I be this nervous? Am I being unrealistic to try and get back to 10k again?
2. I'm getting lubricant injections as well this summer. And then moving home to the UK. Anyone know if those injections are available through the NHS?
And today...work...and more exercises for my legs.
Written by
WeavingWonk
Graduate10
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Hi I can’t help you really I’m afraid but was wondering how you got diagnosed ? I have lumps on my fingers and neck pain all the time which they told me was “tension “ which I don’t believe, I hope you’re able to get back to where you want to be 😊
I self-referred myself to a physio, as I was getting sick of the pain, and in the past when my knee caused problems, rest and ice would resolve it in a week or so. This time it was just going on and on. The physio did a full eval and recommended I see an orthopedist, so I did.
I also see a physiatrist for muscle issues. I'm in the US though so the specialties (and access to them) work differently from the UK.
I have no idea what finger lumps would be unless it's actually the joints being swollen, and then it could be rheumatoid arthritis? Could you have your GP run a blood test looking for the RA factor in your blood? Or at least send you to, for example, a physio for an eval?
It is artritis? If so you should get serious meds instead of lubricant injections and steroïds. I am 40 and have artritis since I was 32 (could hardly walk from the pain in my feet and had to learn to write with my other hand cus my fingers were swollen and inflamed. First half a year on cortisones, then on pills of which the number increased over the years. I was fine until about 1,5 to 2 years ago. I was allowed to switch over on monthly IV's last year and ever since have not had any flare ups or pain.
Just saying this because it is important to get proper treatment. Artritis can be dangerous if not treated well. G'luck!
Yes, it's arthritis. As I also have it in my spine, shoulder, ankle, and toes, it's not surprising! But it's plain old osteo-arthritis, not RA, which is what it sounds as though you may be referring to - two very different conditions. I just have deteriorating joints - partially age, and for my left knee, trauma related from an accident. The steroid injections are pretty standard for the stage my knee arthritis is at, and the doctor is recommending the lubricant injections because I want to remain active. Continuing to exercise will slow down the deterioration of the joints, potentially pushing off full joint replacement for many years.
Very sorry, apparently there was indeed a language mistake. Here in Belgium they call RA in general arthritis. Osteo-arthritis I think is called 'artrose' here. My mom has very bad 'artrose' so I know there is not much that can be done about it. She has a thumb joint replacement and 2 new hips because of it and suffers daily from the pains. Very different from RA indeed. Hope the lubricant injections will help! My mom has had some too. They help for a while, I'm sure you'll find them in the UK too. G'luck!
IV: intraveneus or how do you call it? Liquid medication which goes through a tube into a vein. I also have to take 6 pills weekly, but have these monthly biologicals through IV which are the main thing that is keeping my RA at bay at the moment. It is very expensive though (costs monthly almost 900 euro) and you have to qualify for certain things in order for the health insurance to pay it back.
Hello from a fellow cranky knee sufferer 👋 As you'll know, once you have knee issues, you'll always have knee issues, but that doesn't mean you can't exercise. It's just knowing your own body and your limits. I crashed out of a ski race 20 odd years ago and had a full right knee ACL reconstruction 5yrs later after realising I couldn't go on with a loose knee, as it had become (collapsing regularly on the dancefloor was a speciality of mine, used to freak my friends out!).
It was a pretty major op, the rehab was not pretty and I am still weaker on that side, something I work on regularly with strength and balance work. I have also had 2 meniscus tear repairs in the last 10yrs. Something my knee man says is 'regular maintenance'. I wish I didn't need it!! I started C25K last Sept and completed it, moved on to 7k/8k/10k and a bit more and was loving it before having to pull up in Jan with a new complaint, shin splints 😩 Great. Ironically, my knee had not given me much hassle at all and in fact, felt stronger than ever. I felt fitter and toned, the knee was behaving then bam 💥 shins not happy. I've been out since resting the shins, seen a physio, got more exercises and am taking it easy with daily walks, increasing distance when I feel able and planning to get back to running (gently) when I can.
I did have a 'Hylan' injection in my knee in the summer. Something my knee man said would be better for me than steroid and we'd give it a go. Think this is more lubrication than steroid and gentler on the knee. My knee felt great and after a week no running or long walks (as advised) I ventured out carefully for walks but then started my running journey in Sept. If your ortho guy said ok to run, I'd say go for it. I've read that running can actually strengthen knees rather than cause issues and I'm all for that. See how you get on with a gentle walk/jog on a soft surface, grass etc. You'll have to be brave and try it and not take too much notice of any niggles you feel, mostly these are in your head (so I am told!). Good luck.
Thanks! Wow...that's a lot of knee trouble! I was knocked off my bicycle by a car when I was 16. Knee swelled up like a football and I was put in a cast. Hasn't been the same since, but they are both pretty deteriorated.
The funny thing is that they had been feeling SO much better since starting running. They have felt like they have gravel in them for years. But the weight bearing exercise helped lubricate them and that has mostly gone away.
I kept running though the start of this problem and the knee just got really inflamed, and the muscles stopped firing. I did some gentle quad and hamstring strengthening yesterday. I can feel it this morning! I just have to do the exercises every day. I am going to run tomorrow. Granted, it'll probably be mostly walking with a tiny bit of running. But I will heed your advice and ease in gently
yes unfortunately, my knee issue has been the bane of my life but actually is now 'ok'. It's just the associated weaknesses I have to deal with. For your situ, it would be good to work regularly on glute, core and leg strength using bodyweight exercises and progress to handweights too (weighted lunges are good) I find magnesium spray really good too for aching muscles, might help your knees when they are grumbling! Good luck with your running journey.
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Gremlins ruining my running
I hate the gremlins. 
Trouble with those gremlins 
Threw Down the Gauntlet to the Gremlins
Ssh, gremlins, I can do this
