Aching Knees and Exercise

United States
November 4, 2015 11:42am CST
I have bad arthritic knees and have been reading here (and elsewhere) that exercise helps. I've been trying to move more and walk to see if it helps with the pain. I haven't been doing it for too long so it's really too early to tell if it helps. My knees are painful during my walks but it seems as the day goes on they don't ache quite as much. I'm hoping this works cause I'd much rather try to alleviate the pain with natural remedies and not have to take any medication or even surgery.
27 people like this
26 responses
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
5 Nov 15
Keeping them moving is good, sitting too long will make them stiffen and be more painful, but don't overdo. Be gentle with yourself.
4 people like this
• United States
6 Nov 15
sometimes I sit too long and you know how easy it is to get lost online LOL
@tuttiharris (1338)
• Chattanooga, Tennessee
4 Nov 15
I was watching a program this morning and they were saying walking, briskly if you can, but not overdo, is the best way to take care of arthritis. I just have a problem bending down. We used to kneel and pray at the altar at church, and I can't do that now without pain. That saddens me.
3 people like this
• United States
4 Nov 15
I definitely can't kneel in church anymore and that saddens me too. At least I'm still able to go to church which is a blessing (literally)
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
6 Nov 15
I take glucosimine chondroitin and I have added tumeric. It has helped me deal with the arthritic knees
2 people like this
• Philippines
6 Nov 15
@bellestarr is it safe to take glucosamine chondroitin even if you don't have pain in the knees yet, like as a way to prevent, delay or minimize them because you have a strong family history of knee arthritis?
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
6 Nov 15
@hereandthere Yes it has no known side effects and was recommended to me by my doctor .I would say start before your pain begins, I wish I had but it did stop the deterioration at least in my case. I even use it with my dogs and the vet thinks it is a good idea.
1 person likes this
• United States
6 Nov 15
My cousin is a physical therapist and just recommended that I start taking glucosamine chondroitin. Wish I had thought about this remedy before my knees got so bad. Certainly can't hurt to start now though
2 people like this
@KnehKnah (3584)
• Philippines
6 Nov 15
I am also suffering from gouty atracks. I used to have it either on my right or left foot. Now, it's both! Wah! But, I don't take anti-pain meds. Just a glass of warm water with 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar (at times also with 1 tbsp of pure honey), 3x a day. That's it! Goodbye pain!
2 people like this
• Philippines
6 Nov 15
@knehknah do you take the warm water with apple cider vinegar and pure honey 3x a day only when you're having gout attacks until the pain is gone?
1 person likes this
• Philippines
6 Nov 15
@KnehKnah thanks for explaining. good to know it works for you.
1 person likes this
@KnehKnah (3584)
• Philippines
6 Nov 15
@hereandthere I used to take it when the pain starts, my dear. But, I've read a sharing about the use of ACV. She said she takes it even without the painful attack so as to avoid it. So, it's what I do too, since then.
1 person likes this
@lilnana1111 (2305)
• United States
5 Nov 15
I know my body feels better when I at least do my stretches, it's just making myself do them.
2 people like this
• United States
6 Nov 15
It's easy for me to fall out of an exercise routine. I guess I need to make it a priority
• United States
5 Nov 15
If you are able to take anti-inflammatory medication (or drink Tequila), this will help after you take a walk. Good luck.
2 people like this
• United States
6 Nov 15
Tequila? sounds promising and much more fun that an anti-inflammatory
1 person likes this
• United States
6 Nov 15
@Marilynda1225 Exactly. The first time I put this into practice I had injured muscles in my back. After one and a half Margaritas, I was feeling no pain. I did not drive myself home. A friend took me. When I told my brother-in-law who had shared the info about Tequila with me, he said I was supposed to do the drinking at home.
1 person likes this
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
7 Nov 15
@ElizabethWallace This has made me smile on a day when I am "under the weather". Thanks
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
6 Nov 15
Yes you have to move. Not all exercises are good for arthritis but walking is the best. At first indeed, it will be painful but as you have already observed, you will feel better when you do it regularly and I suggest you drink enough water at least one or two glasses every hour is the best way to consume water. It helps a lot.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130292)
• India
5 Nov 15
There are a few physio therapy exercises that are done lying down, to strengthen the knees. A search on the Net will get you there.
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
5 Nov 15
I have to confess to various aches appearing over the last year that were never there before
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (460568)
• Switzerland
5 Nov 15
Try to avoid medications and surgery if you can. Search online "easy exercises for knee arthritis", you can find valuable tips.
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Nov 15
It must be painful. My knees are about the only part of me that don't hurt the last few weeks!
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Nov 15
It's terrible when everything starts to hurt. I never thought it would happen to me LOL
1 person likes this
• Chattanooga, Tennessee
4 Nov 15
@Marilynda1225 Yeah, Marilyn, I never thought it would happen to me, either. I have been so active all my life. Always on the move.. Still am, but can sure tell the knees are not happy with me.
2 people like this
• United States
4 Nov 15
@tuttiharris my knees have slowed me down so much. The rest of me is still raring to go LOL
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9041)
• United States
4 Nov 15
I may have mentioned this to you before, but I use a rowing machine and it is really easy on the body. Would that work for you?
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9041)
• United States
6 Nov 15
@Marilynda1225 They are pretty inexpensive and work 90% of the body. I love that I can watch a show for about an hour and there, my work out is done
• United States
6 Nov 15
I never thought of a rowing machine. It might work. It probably would help in strengthening the knee muscles
1 person likes this
4 Nov 15
good luck with the knees. i hope that you are able to walk more & feel better.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326839)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Nov 15
For me, it would be hard to believe that walking would help arthritic knees. I know many people who have had knee (and hip) replacements and mostly they've been very successful.
1 person likes this
• United States
6 Nov 15
I'm not ready for knee replacement yet so I'm looking for alternatives for now
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326839)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Nov 15
@Marilynda1225 Everyone was going ape over the benefits of tumeric a while ago. I took glucosimine for a while. I should really start having it again.
@zulsha (19)
• Malaysia
24 Nov 15
Simple exercises helps stimulate the body like after a hard days work in the office, do turn the neck left & right, move hand upwards and stretching feet widely could somehow makes the mind fresher. Lastly drink a glass of plain water to excrete all the unwanted junks in the body....
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
4 Nov 15
I've had a hip replaced and have to walk to keep it working properly. Pre-surgery, it would have been too painful to do much.
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
4 Nov 15
@Marilynda1225 I'm doing brilliantly thank you. I had it done just before Christmas last year and I wish I'd had it done earlier. Years of pain and now none!
2 people like this
• United States
4 Nov 15
My aunt just had her hip replaced and she's doing great. How are you doing?
1 person likes this
@amnabas (13742)
• Karachi, Pakistan
4 Nov 15
Yes me to have kneeache and i am sick of it.
1 person likes this
@wetnosedogs (1533)
• United States
4 Nov 15
Best wishes for your knees.
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
4 Nov 15
It has to be worth a try.
1 person likes this
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
7 Nov 15
You should probably not push yourself too hard, but gentle exercise is good