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Karen Sobiechowski's avatar

Your physical therapist will give you the best advice for your particular needs. Invest in quality footwear, too: it can be a game changer.

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Dan Szczesny's avatar

That's a good point! I need new sneakers!

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james r. viar's avatar

Good footwear a must especially if you hike over rough terrain.

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Susan Hadley's avatar

Painful as they are, I think squats have helped me with my arthritis and actually strengthened my knee over the past year. I joined a CrossFit (for Seniors 🤣) class and I have been enjoying it. They “tailor” things based on your ability to perform. My knees feel pretty good…it my hip now! 🤦🏼‍♀️

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Dan Szczesny's avatar

Glad to hear it's working!

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Mark Farrell's avatar

O M G, do I have knee problems <sigh>.

Left knee was injured when I was hit by a car in the 80s. Right knee had a poorly healed ACL tear in the mid 90s, then had to have 1/2 the meniscus removed a couple years later. The perils of playing soccer. I get yearly low dose Cortisone shots, or in the case of this year it was 3 months early. Both have degenerative osteo-arthritis now. Fun.

Best of luck to you Dan. 😬

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Dan Szczesny's avatar

Oh man, my friend! That's a lot to take in! Are you doing any PT?

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Mark Farrell's avatar

No PT, other than personal stretching here and there, and running up and down stairs.

The future is probably Cortisone shots until those don't work, and then the new hydrogel injections. CBD Salve helps too when needed.

Of course, the final step will be replacement(s), but I try to not think about that too much, I think that's a ways off still. 🤞

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james r. viar's avatar

Mark not to deemphasize the benefits of cortisone but...after a couple years of shots I asked the doc where does the stuff go? Into the surrounding tissues and blood stream he says. That's all I needed to hear, I was I was OK with stopping shots after that info. Everyone's reaction/needs are different, just my own experiences here.

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Liz Gauffreau's avatar

Sounds painful! Luckily, I haven't had any knee problems. (Knock wood!)

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Dan Szczesny's avatar

So far so good!

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Patti's avatar

I ripped my ACL completely in '93, went on to hike all the 4000 footers after the repair. PT strengthened it before the surgery and then rehabbed it afterwords. A good PT is a wonderful thing.

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james r. viar's avatar

Torn cartilage at 26, surgery, played hoop/hiked OK until my mid 50's then one day playing b-ball my knee said, "HA! I don't think so!" Bone on bone for a few years, cortisone helped but it's not a cure. Unloader brace from my doc helped a lot of years. Total knee replacement 3 years ago...what a difference! Post op physical therapy very difficult but manageable after a couple weeks and yes...now arthritis claiming the rest of my joints!!

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