Knee doctor visit, take 2

[jennythereader]

I had my follow-up visit with the knee doctor today. He didn't really have anything new to say. Just keep doing the exercises that the PT taught me, and keep trying to lose weight. He did point out that I need to stop thinking of climbing stairs as good for me. Apparently the damage stairs do to my knees out-weighs the little bit of exercise I get from it.

Comments

[shannon730.livejournal.com]

Stairs are evil. Avoid them at all costs.

Or I'm projecting my knee pain when I climb stairs.

[jennythe-reader.livejournal.com]

Most of the time a flight or two doesn't bother me. On a typical day it takes four or more flights up (or two or more down) to cause me real pain. I don't know why down hurts more than up.

But, I'm going to listen to the doctor and stop doing stairs if there is an elevator available.

[shannon730.livejournal.com]

Hell, I'm done after one flight. Laundry day is murder (washer and dryer are in the basement of the apartment).

Down does hurt more, if you're doing stairs normally. Did PT go over going up and down stairs with you? Up with the good leg first, down with the bad? And down do one step at a time...as in stand on each step completely before doing the next. It sucks and slows you down but it hurts less.

[jennythe-reader.livejournal.com]

I think your knees must be worse than mine. Most of the time I can deal with them OK, although I'm going to remember your trick for my next bad day.

[shannon730.livejournal.com]

Most likely they are. Or my left one at least. I only have part of my left kneecap and that part is jagged and digs into the joint when I move it.

The stairs thing sounds odd but it works. Something about the weight the leg is on, that method (according to PT) keeps the majority of your weight on the stronger leg.

knees

[(Anonymous)]

So, if not stairs for exercise, then what?
Dad

Re: knees

[jennythe-reader.livejournal.com]

The doctor says to just walk, and the PT had me using an exercise bike set to low resistance.