knock knees

Yep, I have knock knees. Was told by a physio a few weeks back, and advised to give up on running.

I haven't

Still early days for me re. info gathering, but orthotics will probably help. I'm awaiting an apointment with a podiatrist but from what I understand the orthotics will assist in re-aligning the knee position to reduce the extra stress they are taking from being knock knees.

How do your knees affect you?

Hi Sarah, I suffer from my hamstring flicking across my femur every time I bend my knee. All this time I thought it was tight hamstrings or ITB. It causes a lot of pain, because of this I end up hobbling. It feels as though my leg is bowing inwards constantly.

Also due to this, I believe, It caused a back problem, which through physio, thankfully is now sorted.

Although my consultant didn't say give up running, he did say 'marathon running isn't very good for knees, you know!' I can't run at tho mo anyway, way to painful.

I am having an MRI tomorrow and I then have to go back to see the consultant later next week to find out what state my knee is in and what he is going to do. He did say he probable couldn't sort out the hamstring flicking, which is causing me a lot of concern, hence whether orthics would help. If the consultant can't do anything about it the my next port of call is a podiatrist for gait anaylasis and orthics. I have a physio appointment next week, but have already been down the physio root and still haven't managed to sort it.

How is it affecting you?

Hello RP

That hamstring flicking sounds awful! Never had anything like that, thank God!

I find that I have quite a lot of pain in my knees by the end of the day - just walking seems to make them worse  I've had x-rays that show degenerative changes in the joints - they scrunch horribly when I flex them, and I am no longer capable of doing lunges. So every cloud...  

Apparently, the iffy biomechanics places extra strain on the joint and anything weight-bearing is apparently going to make them worse...

How was the MRI? Suppose you'll have to wait a while for the results...

Hi Sarah, I had the MRI , I spent the whole time trying to stay awake

I won't have to wait too long for the results as I have gone private, thankfully, as I am still waiting for my first intial appointment throught the NHS.

I have never been fond of doing lunges or squats due to the dodgy hamstring flicky thing as my knee colapses if I go too low.

Your knees sound ...intersting

I wore my asics to work today to see if the pain was less by the end of the day. The knees/leg don't seem to be quite so painful tonight. I will wear the m again tomorrow, just to see if it was a one off.

I have just had a look at your profile, I hate cooking but  I am interested in nutrition. As a side line I qualified as a PT(I work 2 evenings a week in a gym) and nutrition and weight management is one of my babies... so to speak. I do get fed up of customers asking me if I can do them a diet to lose weight, I hate they concept of diets!

How is your course going? 

I wouldn't mind a sideline in doing 'diets' for people - I could make a fortune!!

I love studying nutrition - the idea that the physical condition can be so improved (or damaged as the case may be...) by what we eat is amazing. Well, to me, anyway.

I'd always planned on training as a gym instructor - my local gym does a weight management class and I fancied having a go at that. Don't think my knees would stand up to it though  The gym instructor bit that is...

NHS appointments can take ages, can't they? I waited 6 months for my physio appointment. Wish I could go private! It'll be interested to know what the MRI shows.

I've just been to see one of my university physios - nowt he can do about my knee alignment, but I've been given exercises to do that will help to realign my patella. From my understanding, if the strength in the quads is not evenly distributed (as the fizz seems to think is the case) then the patella can be pulled 'off-track'. If you're knock-kneed anyway, then this just makes things worse. Every little helps, I guess.

I was also told that orthotics will definitely help. Just have to wait for the podiatry appointment now...

Do you over-pronate? I find that if I wear my mizuno my knees feel much better for it. Just goes to show that the orthotics will work

yep, I do over pronate. I also have a pair or of mizunos... I am well know for my collection of trainers, I have more pairs than I do ordinary shoes.

I keep meaning to go private with the PT and the weight management,but I am always too busy and because my gym work is paided even if I have no clients its easier to stay! I know it's lazy!

I can't wait to have a look at the MRI, i hope they let me see it.

I don't know if your in with a chatter forum on here, if not there is a nice forum on the beginners section, here is the link http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/forum/forummessages.asp?dt=4&UTN=85793&last=1&V=6&SP=  they are a fantastic bunch and everyone is welcome, pop in and have a look

I too have a collection of trainers. Most of them, however, are cheap tat that fell apart after a couple of weeks of use. False economy, I tell ya

But I have my mizuno now and I love them dearly

Paid even if no clients, eh? Sounds like a pretty good gig. I don't blame you for not feeling the incentive to move on! Can't imagine having the problem of no clients once I'm in practice... we generally have about 15 minutes per patient

You should be able to see the MRI - especially if you're paying 'em! They might not offer though, so ask to see it. Docs can be a bit prissy - as if no mere mortal can possibly understand the results. Be firm!

How are you going to manage to see patients in 15 mins? 

I am going to ask to see the MRI, im really curious, can't help it.

It's mad, isn't it? 15 minutes is nothing. Appointments over-run, and that's why patients are left sitting in the waiting room  If you're lucky, you might get 20 minutes

My knees are not happy today. I went for a swim and am finding that the kicks are setting them off. So much for non-weight bearing activity  The physio recommended that I ice them, but I forgot to buy a bag of peas. I might try McCain oven chips...

chips might help!..... oh you mean using them as a cold pack, boring.

 Heat works quite nicely, I have a wheat bag that I warm in the microwave.

Crawl instead of breast stroke when you swim. I do a lot of strength exercises in the pool when I do venture in, I use the water as a resistance( one legged squats etc)

I was doing crawl!! I hate breaststroke - I'm in it for the speed  There was a water aerobics class going on whilst I was at the pool - I thought the instructor at the side of the pool looked a bit... shall we say foolish?  I think I might have a go at some exercises in the pool though - might be a bit gentler on my 90 year old knees...

The plan is - use the chips on my knees for a while. When they've defrosted, stick 'em in the oven, then eat with lots of mayonnaise  

I might get one of those wheat bags - one without the horrible lavender smell, bleurgh! The physio told me cold is better than heat though... but I bet heat feels much nicer.

Hi Sarah, hows the knees today?

I have finally got my NHS apppointment through, they phoned me, which was good, as I could explained that I have already had an MRI. I think they got a wee bit upset by this(the NHS have referred me to a private consultant as well, due to the length of the waiting list) I reckon becauase they would have been happy to charge the NHS loads of money!!! any way they are going to request the scan from my private consultant for my appointment with them, which is on the 7th Nov. It good to be wanted!!! lol

Hi Postie, any news on the MRI results yet?

I missed out on a half on Sunday  Didn't think it was a good idea considering standing up was painful in itself. Have decided to swap my 'do a marathon before I'm 30' goal to 'do a triathlon' instead. Have to realistic, after all

Hi Sarah, I still haven't got the MRI results yet! I have been to see my physio last Friday for a re-assessment, as I have been recieving treatment for the back injury caused by my knee. He had a good look and feel of my knee and I told him what the consultant had said, he confirmed that it is a problem with my femur and my hamstring and I do have slight knock knee but in a sense that the knee caps are turning inwards. He had a go at supporting my foot arch as I asked him if orthotics would help, he said I would really benefit as I have  flat feet as well . At least everybody is telling me the same thing, finally!

 I have every intentions of running in the future, I am really hopeful  that I can get a good outcome from all the treatment.

My OH is a triathelete, he loves it and is very good at it( it makes you sick as it comes naturally to him!)