Had to go to the doctor this morning

My2Beauties wrote: OK so for two weeks now my right knee has been hurting very badly, especially in the morning! Once I take an Advil or Tylenol though the pain seems to subside for the most part so I have been letting it bother me on and off for weeks not until the past two mornings the pain was unbearable. So I went to the doctor this morning and I have (hope I spell this right ) Patello Femoral Syndrome! Basically this means that I have irritated my kneecap in some way to cause it to come out of alignment with the bone and it is rubbing and griding against the tissue and muscle underneath causing it to become inflammed. WHich is the reason Advil and Tylenol were helping. So I have to take an anti-inflammatory medication twice a day for 10 days, apply heat to it at least once a day, preferably at night, to get the bloody supply going down there, and I have to do 10 reps on each leg of straightening out my knee and raising my entire leg up and holding it there for a few seconds three times a day. What it boils down to is I don't exercise enough and the muscle above my knee isn't strong enough to hold my knee cap in place, which is what these exercises will help. I can't put pressure on my knee now like giving Hanna a bath and kneeling at the tub is extremely painful and walking up steps (a lot) I am supposed to avoid for the next two weeks until I feel better. He said that if I do something to irritate it to apply ice immediately to that area. But the exercising is key in feeling better in the long run! If I don't do the exercises he said I will have to see an orthopedist and get regular cortisone shots under my knee Not trying to go there! So I have to get motivated and start doing these exercises and follow it up with walking! Just goes to show where laziness gets ya !!! Just thought I would let you guys know...I need some motivation to really start building some muscle tone. I am a small person and he said prone to these sorts of things since nothing is there to protect my muscles!! So much for my lazy days

mammag replied: Sorry you are having pain! Make sure you do what he said so you can get it taken care of.

Do you have any friends that go to the gym and you could workout with? I like the weight training more than aerobics. After you do it a while you'll start to see a change in the way you look and will probably like it as well. You'll also have so much more energy to do stuff.

If you need any advice once you get started, let us know. Another motivator would be to pick up a copy of Oxygen magazine. If the fitness models in there don't motivate you, nothing will.

Good Luck!

Maddie&EthansMom replied: Oh LeaAnn...I"m so sorry to hear that. It sounds awful and painful!! I hope the exercises help and it goes away quickly.

ammommy replied: When I was a teenager and really abusing my knees in sports, I devolped something like this. It hurst like h#$l, but do those exercises. In no time, you will feel so much better. Did he recommend light ankle weights when doing the leg lifts? My orthopedist suggested it and it helped strengthen my muscles much faster. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon!

My2Beauties replied:
Well none of my friends go to the gym unfortunately , but one of my friends is starting to walk regularly down at the Waterfront here, she is trying to lose some weight and I need to tone, so I told her that I am going to walk with her. Basically I have to do these exercises first to strengthen that muscle and then continue with other exercises that bend the knee. I have to stick to exercises that don't bend the knee right now for at least 2-3 weeks he said! URG, I have like 7 step leading up to my house that are pretty steep which sucks and I sleep with my knee bent which puts pressure on it he said. So I am going to go buy a knee brace I guess tonight to help it stay straight in my sleep!

GavinsMommy replied: Aww, you poor thing!!! Everyone is having a rough time lately! I hope everything works out and you get better soon!

~KARA~ replied: Make sure to do everything the Dr told you to for as long as you were told to!
Trust me I hurt my knee really bad when I was 16 and have had problems ever since(12years). I am in pain daily and it SUCKS!!! expecially since Im prego and my weight goes up and down. My knee gives out al least once a day.


Hope it feels better soon!!!

mommy2owen replied: Hope it feels better soon!

gr33n3y3z replied: I hope it feels better for you real soon

MyBlueEyedBabies replied: Knee Pain Sucks!!! (sorry just had to get that out)

One of the big exercizes they had me do when it was tought I had the same problem was to sit on the couch with my legs up and just squeeze my Quads, starting with the inside and going to the outside. It is more difficult then it sounds but I did it for 5 minutes per leg and it helps with pulling the kneecap in the right direction.
If you need ideas for more knee exercizes I could go dig through my paper work in the basement and find some pf the paper work my Physical Therapist gave me.
Also sleeping with a pillow between your knees can help with knee pain...and from the master idot herself if you are icing don't use the blue freezer pack things, you can give yourself frost bite in under 10 minutes And don't wear a brace too long because it can cause swelling from all the heat

My2Beauties replied:
Wow thanks for all the info!!! I didn't know that about a knee brace! I guess I won't wear one at night then, also I will have to get a pillow and put it between my knees at night too! COuld I just put them up on DF? That is sort of like the exercise he told me too plus he told me to ligt my entire lef just a few inches up off the surface I am sitting or laying on and hold it for a few seconds out completely straight and Oy Vey (sp?) it hurts! I'm so out of shape!

iluvmysweetiepies replied: Sorry. I hope your knee heals fast!

A&A'smommy replied: UGH that sucks!!! I love exercising and I promise when/if you start exercising you will feel 100% better andn not just your knee but you will also mentally feel good! I hope you knee gets better soon!! (((HUGS)))