Do you have clonky knees too?

[wilkies5]

:confused: Do I need to worry about my noisy knees?

I lost 2 stone three years ago, then decided to go jogging regularly to keep fit. Since then my knees really do feel 'unstable'. So I stopped running. Awh!

Seeing Doc today, but just wondered if other users just lived with noisy knees (make crunching sound going up stairs, for example!).

Did they get worse with age? Did you need surgery?

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

[shazrobo]

i have noisy knees too, after tests and x-rays, i was diagnosed with arthritis, and i'm only in my 30's

[noonesperfect]

My knees have been unstable for years, but only when I kneel down. They sort of go out of joint (one or the other, used to only be the left one).
I went to the docs when it first started but he couldn't see what the problem was. (then again he had me laid on the couch and was pulling my leg this way and that - not surprising he couldn't tell!).

AFAIK running is bad news to knees.

[angel81uk]

Knees are funny things, in general noisy knees are quite normal. But if you also suffer pain or a feeling of instability then it's worth seeing a doctor. Most of them send you off for an x-ray, if that doesn't show anything up and the problem remains you may be referred for a course of physio. If things still don't clear up then ask for a scan as it may be a soft tissue problem (ligaments, cartilage etc) which wouldn't show upon an x-ray. They're usually pretty good at picking up ligament problems and might do an scan for confirmation, but cartilage problems can be more difficult to diagnose.

Alignment problems are quite common too and are easily fixed with things like custom made insoles. I can't give you any medical advice, but I will say listen to your body as only you know how your knees feel. If something feels wrong and the problem doesn't go away then go back to your doctor as many times as necessary until they've carried out as many investigations as they will!

I managed to tear the cartilage in my knee, I had a fall and went straight to the doctors when the pain didn't subside. They sent me for x-rays and I got the all clear but the problem didn't go away. My knee started locking and would occasionally give way so every time it happened I'd end up back at the doctors. They referred me for physio, I saw many different consultants, had what felt like hundreds of x-rays and spent a lot of time on crutches but no one could find anything wrong with me. It took me twelve years of going to a doctor or A&E every time there was a problem for them to send me for a scan. As soon as the scan was done they could see a tear in the cartilage and gave me surgery to fix the problem. I'm sure that's a pretty extreme case, but as I say if something doesn't feel right then you might need to be persistent to get things sorted.

[Skint_Catt]

MY OH has the start of arthritis in his knees - he's 37. He can't kneel or sit with his legs out straight otherwise they get stiff and painful - he's found even pressing the car pedals sometimes aggrevates them or getting out of the car and twisting.

My knee clicks going upstairs, but its never caused me pain so I don't worry (most of my joints click at some point in the day!)

[judgejaq]

I managed to tear the cartilage in my knee, I had a fall and went straight to the doctors when the pain didn't subside. They sent me for x-rays and I got the all clear but the problem didn't go away. My knee started locking and would occasionally give way so every time it happened I'd end up back at the doctors. They referred me for physio, I saw many different consultants, had what felt like hundreds of x-rays and spent a lot of time on crutches but no one could find anything wrong with me. It took me twelve years of going to a doctor or A&E every time there was a problem for them to send me for a scan. As soon as the scan was done they could see a tear in the cartilage and gave me surgery to fix the problem. I'm sure that's a pretty extreme case, but as I say if something doesn't feel right then you might need to be persistent to get things sorted.

I had exactly the same thing and it took me ages to convince the doctor there was a problem that wasn't going to go away (thankfully less than 12 years). Unfortunately for me, while they were able to repair the cartilage tear, the fall had also damaged the cartilage behind my knee cap, so I've got a large area where there is no cartilage there at all, and as yet, short of a new knee, there's no solution for that.

I found that MBT trainers - not cheap but they've been worth every penny for me - really helped, as they help strengthen the muscles at the front of the leg and they reduce the amount of stress on the joints. They take a little getting used to but they're fantastic. Tones your bum as well!

[flugellover]

Hey there...clicky knees in themselves don't mean that there is a problem, but if there is associated pain or that feeling of instability you describle then you would be worth getting checked out by or Dr or Physio. Knees do take the brunt of our activity, and if you have been overweight that will put extra pressure on the knee joint, as would the running, as other posters have correctly suggested.
What is also worth considering is your feet - often knee and hip problems arise from having 'flat' feet or the like. A podiatrist might be able to help you with this. The way the foot falls as you move can lead to pressure on the inside or outside of the knee (knock knee's or bandy legged IFYWIM!) which can lead to clicking and an unstable feeling.
Hope this helps :)