Anyone else swim with bad knees ( osteoarthritis)

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.

What's wrong with elliptical machines? I thought they were alright, lower impact than running at least.

David I have had several surgeries to. It is tough. My knees hurt more during the swim and by the end of the day they don't. So I just keep doing what I am doing. Hoping to strengthen the muscles around the knees. They never ever swell which is weird. Carrie thanks for all the info. WHAT is really weird is my knees dont hurt in breaststroke. More the pushoffs from = the wall. I had bad knees at your age as well. Now I am 41 and they are about the same. Though I had to give up my beloved downhill skiing a few years ago. It was complete and utter agony. George glad to hear your new knees work. Yeah. I gather they are doing some awesome things with replacements now. They get better and better. Katie Wow, If you were replying to me, it's been 30 years since I've been called David. And that was because my mother was yelling at me!!! LOL

Fortress can you tell me more about what you are talking about or post a link so I can read up on it. That would be wonderful. Take a look at http://www.treatingpain.com/. In the bottom left corner, there is a listing for "regenerative injection therapy." There are two types: prolotherapy and plasma regeneration aka platelet rich plasma. There is a youtube video describing the latter. I have sought desperately for a shoulder cure since I began masters swimming and finally settled on prolo combined with ART. Unfortunately, prolo is not covered by most insurance plans. (However, my huband and I have succeeded in suing our insurance company and getting coverage with letters of necessity from our doctors.) My understanding is that plasma regeneration is faster and more effective and IS covered by insurance. I'm getting my first treatment in a few weeks. The topic of prolotherapy was also discussed in an Aug. 7 article in the NYT personal health section. It's not for everyone. But if you have a chronic, non-surgical condition, it seems like an option. It does take a long time to work. You are, after all, attempting to regenerate tissue to eliminate pain. I'm sorry for everyone's knee plights!

I tried synvesc and did not find it worked. I am going to check the link you provided. Thanks Katie Very resourceful of you! Is synvesc mostly for lubrication of the joints as opposed to regeneration? I hope you can find something that works. Sux being in pain!!!

I know I've said this before, but why no prolotherapy or PRP for knees? It doesn't appear that there's anyone who does prolo within a hundred miles of me. :( As for the elliptical, it bothers my knee. I was told not to do it since it hurts.

It doesn't appear that there's anyone who does prolo within a hundred miles of me. :( As for the elliptical, it bothers my knee. I was told not to do it since it hurts. That stinks. :( I think they're not as many really good prolo/pain docs because it's simply not as lucrative as surgery. Wish I could send my doc to you!! Or, maybe it's worth the round trip drive? You only get the injections every 4-5 weeks. And you can space them out even further than that. Katie: The needle doesn't really bother me, except when it goes right in the tendon. But it's not really a painful procedure. After the injections, you feel temporarily better, then you're just sore for a few days. I do see other athletes trying this. My doc has plenty of soccer and football clients, as well as regular folks who want to avoid the big cut. Redskins apparently love prolo.

Ha ha ha Wolfie :lmao:is that better. Fortress can you tell me more about what you are talking about or post a link so I can read up on it. That would be wonderful. Stussy I am so sorry to hear about your problems. I to was told I grew so fast that my knees did not keep up . Then I raced downhill skiing and played lots of basketball. SO ouch. I am not in much pain as you are . I feel bad for you. Though my knees hurt during practice they are good later. Though I have hard time with getting off of the floor or out of the pool. I must look ridiculous. I am glad that swimming is helping you . Weird how *** stroke does not bother me. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Ripple sorry about the car accident. I have a bike and it hurts when I ride it but boy can you feel it working the muscles. Unfortunatley the bike gets put away soon. The snow will be here before I know it. Katie

I know I've said this before, but why no prolotherapy or PRP for knees? Reasonably high success rate. Other athletes doing it. I wore away the tendons in my shoulder in youth and have been pursuing this option with some success. It is supposed to work even better for knees. One reason I'm persevering on the shoulders is to prevent early onset arthritis. Conventional PT cannot fix the problem. Seek other non-surgical treatments!

I tried synvesc and did not find it worked. I am going to check the link you provided. Thanks Katie