pinto
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Oh interesting -- yeah, I guess this wouldn't work on something like that.
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My Body is Falling Apart-Whine Alert!
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So I saw an orthopedist last week and it appears I tore the medial meniscus in my right knee during the fitness class a few weeks ago. I swear...so that poor knee has two torn menisci and a healed but not repaired tibial plateau fracture. Headed to Sun Valley tomorrow (since we have no snow here in Utah) so I will really test things out since Sun Valley is not known for its easy cruisers. Have an MRI scheduled next week to get a definitive answer. Treatment is cortisone injection if I choose to treat any pain. I do not have pain at the moment. If it is bothersome enough doing my normal activities, surgery is of course an option.
I bought some Bracelayer tights but am skeptical. I feel like all they're going to do is make my knees and mid thighs sweat. The waist band also feels like a tourniquet. I am not a fan of tight waist bands as I feel like a stuffed sausage, so we'll see how I like them.
I bought some Bracelayer tights but am skeptical. I feel like all they're going to do is make my knees and mid thighs sweat. The waist band also feels like a tourniquet. I am not a fan of tight waist bands as I feel like a stuffed sausage, so we'll see how I like them.
I ordered a Power Dot unit by Therabody. This unit is a TENS but also and EMS. I will be taking it to my next PT session to talk about the EMS application of it and see if that's a possibility for me to build my glutes which is the main priority for my back/hip issues.
Has anyone used EMS before? There are a couple guys on SkiTalk who have and said its like TENS but kind of violently so and it actually builds muscle when your body is not allowing you to do so.
Sheena
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
For sure! Only weekdays I have this year are Fridays, and when school is out. But Sundays I may have to venture away from the family and let them explore while I make my way down.
So, the Bracelayer tights were a bust. It was very cold while skiing yesterday, and I was sweating where the neoprene "support" is. I felt no real difference with them vs. today when I wore a pair of Smartwool tights. The good news is the torn meniscus did not bother me. In fact, my left knee bothered me more than my right--I have chondromalacia under both patella and my left knee was screaming at me when I walked up stairs. I'm used to that pain and it tends to improve as I ski more through the season. Still, I'm seriously falling apart...
So, I skied today in some very challenging conditions (I call it knee injury snow--unsmart!) My knee held up really well and I am so relieved. I put a custom Sidas liner in my boots because I felt like the ZipFits were pushing my knees forward and since I have the option to try the foamed liners, I did. I had no quad burn and the boot flex was more agreeable. Still no MRI results. Should have those on Monday.
Well go me! I have a meniscus tear of the medial meniscus on the posterior portion, it is a horizontal tear which I guess is often attributed to getting old. I have a baker's cyst in the back of my knee, likely caused by the tear, which is what I would describe as similar to bursitis, which is why my calf felt like it was cramping. I have osteocytes (little pieces of bone) but they are very small so probably not a huge issue. I also have chondrosis under the patella (not new news) which does cause pain but I ignore it. I called the PT office I've been going to and changed my shoulder appointment for tomorrow to a knee eval AND a shoulder workout. It sounds like the meniscus might be best dealt with via surgery, and if so, I'm hoping to put if off until spring. PRP might also be an option. The good news is any arthritis is fairly minimal. This is good news for someone who really doesn't want to face a joint replacement.
I think I have a high pain tolerance and just push through stuff. My mom has rheumatoid arthritis and has since she was 28, and I sometimes wonder if I'm just mirroring how she pushed through so much. Then it suddenly catches up with me.
With that, I have been right to be particular about forward lean in boots and ramp angle and delta of boots and bindings. Too steep or forward really puts a lot of pressure on my knees and they get cranky about it. If your quads are screaming at you on your first run, take a serious look at forward lean and ramp/binding delta! This is a sign that you are in too aggressive of a setup for your anatomy and it will likely come back to bite you as you get older. I spent a very long time in boots that were too aggressive (all the junior race boots.) Also, spend time on your hamstrings and glutes to balance out the quads, which will dominate as they are the stronger muscles in the thigh.
I think I have a high pain tolerance and just push through stuff. My mom has rheumatoid arthritis and has since she was 28, and I sometimes wonder if I'm just mirroring how she pushed through so much. Then it suddenly catches up with me.
With that, I have been right to be particular about forward lean in boots and ramp angle and delta of boots and bindings. Too steep or forward really puts a lot of pressure on my knees and they get cranky about it. If your quads are screaming at you on your first run, take a serious look at forward lean and ramp/binding delta! This is a sign that you are in too aggressive of a setup for your anatomy and it will likely come back to bite you as you get older. I spent a very long time in boots that were too aggressive (all the junior race boots.) Also, spend time on your hamstrings and glutes to balance out the quads, which will dominate as they are the stronger muscles in the thigh.
Aerlind
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
For what it's worth, I've seen some pretty amazing results with PRP in horses with various limb injuries. I know it's not a direct comparison, but I also feel like it's an extreme example because the technology and "patient compliance" is sooo far behind/different than in humans....."stall rest" is only so helpful because you can't tell the horse to sit and not move!
Yes! I have a pretty experienced background with show horses and treatments! My gelding responded to off-label use of an Australian drug, pentosan polysulfate. We also did shockwave on him as he had arthritis and DSLD in his hind fetlock. Apparently, PRP is not covered by insurance. Because of course it's not! Lucky for me, I have a friend who is a PA for an orthopedic surgeon who I am bouncing stuff off of. Steroid injections are not my first choice at all. I see the surgeon on Wednesday to talk options.
scandium
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I am a bigger fan of CW-X than bracelayer, although they do still have a waistband. I have also heard good things about PRP if that's an option for you.
I have two pair of CW-X and yes, they are better but they are SO tight! I met with the surgeon's PA who said if the meniscus isn't bothering me much, to keep doing PT. It is an operable tear that could be done arthroscopically if it does become painful enough that I want to pursue surgery. The level of arthritis under both patellas is pretty awful, though, so my overall goal is to get the hips stronger. The baker's cyst is as big as the back of my knee! Anyway, I've had PRP mentioned as well, but with so many separate issues happening in my knees, I'm kind of lost on treatment options. I'm going to tape my knees to help align the patellas while I ski, because skiing makes them ache more than anything else.
I still haven't skied anywhere near a full day, which would be the real test. Our sad season continues at the lower elevation resorts in Utah.
scandium
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
At least you aren't missing out! And yes, my CW-X leave deep lines but gosh they seem to help.
tinymoose
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I don't really have a lot to add, but just wanted to express my sympathies and I understand your frustration. I'm mid-40s and the last few years have just been an onslaught of joint and female related issues that have impacted my ability to ski and forced me to give up gymnastics (I also have patellofemoral arthritis and the questionable meniscus tear). So while I'm not dealing with the exact same issues you are, I very much understand the sentiment and frustration.
I know you do--seems we share the same knee maladies and I've thought about you as I've been diving into all of this. I have known about the chondromalacia for at least 18 years now, I surely didn't realize it had progressed to bone on bone. Bonus is yesterday while skiing, I caught an edge and tweaked my left knee. Go me! Thankfully this morning it seems OK. Have you been doing PT also? It sure is helping my shoulder.
How is the knee feeling? I was told by the surgeon that if my torn meniscus is not bothering me, to do PT and only opt for surgery if it starts impeding my activities and daily life comfort.
tinymoose
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
They're the same old same old from the OA. Nothing really new or groundbreaking. I don't really have any expectations that they'll ever feel good or normal again, or that I'll be able to return to my former level of athleticism and activities. I almost wish I had main compartment OA tbh, b/c it kinda feels like nobody really knows what to with patellofemoral OA. It just is what it is/my new normal.
Does taping help? Or wrapping the knee? Cycling is really good for patellofemoral OA. Maybe that's why mine hasn't been super bothersome since I moved to Utah and started biking regularly 12 years ago, who knows. I mountain bike, BTW. The repetitive motion of road cycling bothers my knees after awhile. (I have no explanation for this. I'm weird I guess!) The on and off pedaling of mountain biking does not. It's more fun anyway. I've had achy knees since I was in my teens. I think I'm just so used to it, that I have learned to ignore it. Probably not the best way to deal with it. Wearing a compression knee sleeve while skiing helps with the ache under the patella, however, it also causes my foot to fall asleep,
so I need to find something else. I'll try KT tape next. I haven't been doing PT long enough to determine how helpful it will be. I thought I was doing a good thing by getting back to fitness classes. I still am, but boy do I have to modify a lot of the movements now! So yeah, I totally get the sadness about the former level of athleticism. I'm coming to terms with the fact that I'll never ski at the level I have aspired to. Determination only goes so far.If anyone else wants to join in on my pity party and share their frustrations, feel free to! Shared experiences can be affirming.
MissySki
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I’m curious… does ANYTHING work to help with this stuff you all have going on? PRP, stem cell injections… TKR?? I know a knee replacement is the last thing most people want to do unless they really need to. But I guess I am curious because there are so many people with knee replacements and hip replacements etc. who are incredibly high level skiers afterwards too. And I know I have seen some talk about stem cells on Ski Talk and being able to avoid knee replacements longer. So, are these things options you guys might try to prolong high level athletic pursuits?
My trainer is mid-50s, grew up in Austria and had a very bad biking accident when she was younger where they had to remove a lot of the cartilage in one knee when cleaning it out. Certainly NOT what one would expect nowadays, and she was told she would have bad arthritis when she got older, which she did develop obviously. However, she says she has been able to keep full use and mobility from keeping her legs incredibly strong around her knees. She did switch to snowboarding from skiing as she feels it is easier on her knees, and she doesn’t run but she mountain bikes and is a very big fan of the crazy stair steppers at the gym and hikes a lot. She does everything in the gym that she asks of me…squats, leg press, wall sits, etc etc. It’s pretty mind boggling when I think about it. She is thinking about trying PRP or stem cells at some point down the road, but hasn’t felt it necessary just yet.
My trainer is mid-50s, grew up in Austria and had a very bad biking accident when she was younger where they had to remove a lot of the cartilage in one knee when cleaning it out. Certainly NOT what one would expect nowadays, and she was told she would have bad arthritis when she got older, which she did develop obviously. However, she says she has been able to keep full use and mobility from keeping her legs incredibly strong around her knees. She did switch to snowboarding from skiing as she feels it is easier on her knees, and she doesn’t run but she mountain bikes and is a very big fan of the crazy stair steppers at the gym and hikes a lot. She does everything in the gym that she asks of me…squats, leg press, wall sits, etc etc. It’s pretty mind boggling when I think about it. She is thinking about trying PRP or stem cells at some point down the road, but hasn’t felt it necessary just yet.
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I hear you on modifications... my squats are pathetic but it is what it is. I've found i can do single leg RDLs and step ups and such without issue but squats and lunges that are even close to full range of motion are out of the question. My knees grind and it's just instantly not worth it. For the longest time i imagined I'd find some magic form correction where they'd feel good again and it's just not happening. But i can hike and even run a bit if I'm so inspired and feel really good most of the time. Which after this many knee surgeries feels like all I can ask for.
