Hey there
My knees have been quite sore with the swimming ( probably pushing off the wall and kicking drills seem to bother me) My hubbys Uncle is an ortho and he told me just to swim through it ( as I am not going to do anymore damage). Which I am. I guess losing weight is key. Also strengthening the muscles around the knees.
Obviously they don't hurt enough to stop but they are more sore than before I swam. I kind of thought swimming was supposed to be good for this type of thing.
So I want to hear other peoples stories about arthritis and swimming.
Thanks
Katie
Parents
Former Member
My knee saga: :(
I grew too fast for me knees and I have been told they basically never grew large enough to support me. In jr high I ran track and x-country with 2 knee braces, seeing a specialist a few times a month. He basically told me I would have to live with my knees and the condition they are in.
Got to college. Swam more. Started lifting more. Knees got worse. Had x-rays, various tests and LOTS of work in the training room/PT to make them better. After all these tests and x-rays, the Dr's learned that I had worn away the cartilage behind both of my knees, so the back of my patella was being rubbed against the end of my femur. They said I had a few options: cortisone to help with the pain. But that was temporary and would make it worse in the end. Or, I could live with it. I opted for that. I was then warned I was able to tear my meniscus easily since there was no longer any protection in that area. If I did that, I would be in terrible pain and immediately have surgery and never really swim much more.
So I lived with it...to the point where I would LITERALLY cry going up and down the stairs to my 3rd floor apartment. 1 week of that nightmare, I decided to "retire". I was only 20.
I still swim with pain, I can't really do breaststroke kick like I used to, but the key is that I still swim. I think it helps. On days my knees are bad, I take it easy. Focus on technique, drills and pulling. I can barely run anymore, and biking is tough. Swimming is all I got!!
I'm just now 25. I have a LONG road ahead with my knees.
My knee saga: :(
I grew too fast for me knees and I have been told they basically never grew large enough to support me. In jr high I ran track and x-country with 2 knee braces, seeing a specialist a few times a month. He basically told me I would have to live with my knees and the condition they are in.
Got to college. Swam more. Started lifting more. Knees got worse. Had x-rays, various tests and LOTS of work in the training room/PT to make them better. After all these tests and x-rays, the Dr's learned that I had worn away the cartilage behind both of my knees, so the back of my patella was being rubbed against the end of my femur. They said I had a few options: cortisone to help with the pain. But that was temporary and would make it worse in the end. Or, I could live with it. I opted for that. I was then warned I was able to tear my meniscus easily since there was no longer any protection in that area. If I did that, I would be in terrible pain and immediately have surgery and never really swim much more.
So I lived with it...to the point where I would LITERALLY cry going up and down the stairs to my 3rd floor apartment. 1 week of that nightmare, I decided to "retire". I was only 20.
I still swim with pain, I can't really do breaststroke kick like I used to, but the key is that I still swim. I think it helps. On days my knees are bad, I take it easy. Focus on technique, drills and pulling. I can barely run anymore, and biking is tough. Swimming is all I got!!
I'm just now 25. I have a LONG road ahead with my knees.
