Dodgy Knee

[Hogshead]

With a month to go I'm getting a little concerned that my knee, which has been a problem in the past, is starting to flare up again. Don't know if I've got a weak ligament or something or it's just something like a twist I aggravate from time to time but it seems to come and go every few months or so.

Now I'm not an athlete (unless you include 80s Dart players as athletes!) so the doctors either can't or won't do anything for me but at times it's really pretty painful to walk on. Not ideal for bimbling around the promised land! I've tried the sleeve type knee brace but doesn't seem to help much.

Don't get me wrong, not asking for medical advice, and I'm sure once I've had a few ciders the pain will dull....until the following morning, anyway, but if anyone does know of anything useful that may help, I'd be grateful to hear it!

[mjsell]

Class A's?

[PapaBentley]

I have had alot of trouble with my knee over the last few years. i would say (unless you have a chance to go to the physio) bend your knees as often as you can whilst watch ing a band so they dont stiffen up. and wear the knee brace all day but take it off at night.

I would say try and go to a physio or finds some excersice to build strength and resistance so i dosnt give way if you want to jump around.

[Ex_ollie]

Rest it, elevate it (sleep with it on you bag or something as this will help any inflammation go down, Ice it when you can (2 mins on 2 mins off for 10 mins) and as mentioned before a compression knee brace throughout the day will really help.

Even if it is ligament/tendon, reducing the inflammation will go a long way to reduce the pain.

[eFestivals]

I've had two ruptured ligaments in my knee for about 30 years. It's never much of a problem, as long as I don't try doing something stupid like running five miles or something. What does make it hurt is being overly-tired, as skin and muscle supports my knee instead of the ligaments, and when I'm tried they can't support it well-enough.

The only accessory I have in case it gets bad is an elastic knee support (that's tube-like and slides up your leg to your knee), as that is then doing some of the supporting.

If you're going to use one of them i suggest you try it for size beforehand, cos if it's too big it won't support very well, and if it's too small you might see your ankles swell up.

You can get them off-the-shelf at places like Boots, at around 10 or 20 quid.

[siblin]

I did 2009 and 2010 with a bad back. If the weather is okay you're fine but a bit of sludge and it can be really hard going.

I'd pay for a couple of private physio sessions ASAP. The first thing they'll do is give you some stretches and exercises to help strengthen up which you want to be doing now.

finally, hate to say it but if you have the physique of a 80s darts player you might want to think about losing a touch of timber, it'll put less pressure on your knee, and make it less effort to walk around the site

[Migraine]

Have you tried going to a local physio to get some advice on some exercises that will strengthen the muscles around the knee hopefully then helping to alleviate some of the pain. I'm seeing a physio at the moment and it's costing me £35 a session which I don't think is too bad.

I used to suffer from bad knees when I was younger I can't remember who showed me an exercise which worked for me but it was really simple. Basically stand on one leg then with the other bend at the knee so you drop your whole body vertically a few inches, rinse and repeat if your balance is shit do it in the bottom step and hold onto the rail for balance that way you don't need to raise your other leg as much or at all.

Edit

On re-reading this my explanation makes little sense, go see a physio it will be well worth it.

Edited May 20, 2015 by Migraine

[The Nal]

Go to a physio! It could be something very simple. Doctors won't do anything for you.

[srb]

Completely banjaxed my ankle (that has a habit of going every so often anyway) on the Weds night in 2013 so that weekend was a real struggle to get about.

Have developed sciatica last while and any anti-inflamms haven't worked so hoping sorts itself out over next 5 weeks from swimming and exercising as it is a complete nightmare at the minute. Something silly like twisting at a certain angle sends a shot of pain through me and I near fall over. Worst thing ever

[**claire**]

I tore my ACL a few weeks before last year's festival whilst out on a run - man that was painful! Just got through it by wearing a stretchy tube bandage thingy, tackling hills nice & slowly (small strides!), lots of rest & regular painkillers.

My back has flared up again in the last fortnight too (an old recurring injury) so trying to get some physio sessions booked in before the end of June, but pilates has definitely contributed to it not being as painful as it once was when I do have an 'episode'.

Christ I sound old.

[eFestivals]

Have developed sciatica

get another mattress!!!

Seriously, if you get a decent (firm) mattress, you'll probably find it lessens a lot or goes completely.

Years ago I spent months going to the hospital for physio for sciatica, spent loads on a back-swing, and tried all sorts of different shite to no effect.

Then I got a new bed.

I've barely felt it in the 25+ years since.

[Brave Sir Robin]

get another mattress!!!

Seriously, if you get a decent (firm) mattress, you'll probably find it lessens a lot or goes completely.

Years ago I spent months going to the hospital for physio for sciatica, spent loads on a back-swing, and tried all sorts of different shite to no effect.

Then I got a new bed.

I've barely felt it in the 25+ years since.

Agree with this, I used to regularly suffer back-knack, then got a decent memory foam mattress, nothing since.

I think what migraine is suggesting above is one-legged squats, also recommended by my physio for the knees. You can even do them while brushing your teeth!

[Hogshead]

Trip to the Physio seems in order. Thanks all.

As for the "timber" siblin, you are undoubtedly right! Glasto 2016 perhaps!

[buddiepaul]

I had a sore knee for a while and tried glucosamine gel on it. It seemed to ease the pain generally and provided a nice cooling feeling as well. I think I got from Holland and Barrett and was only a few quid.

[SERRIDGER]

I dislocated my knee 20 odd years ago , which resulted in tearing everything in and around it, A good support will help and by good i don't mean a £3.99 one from Sports Direct. As Neil says make sure it fits.

Although that will help it will probably still ache/hurt so I would suggest some anti inflamatorys tables and Ibuprofen, the gel variety is very good.

Physio will help, as will developing you thigh muscles to help support the knee

Alternatively get blind drunk and suffer the consequences the following week

Edited May 20, 2015 by SERRIDGER

[DefLeppard]

I tore my Meniscus and had keyhole surgery before last year and it was a bit of a pain in the arse as my knee kept swelling up at the end of the day. I think the weather can play a big part in helping the issue, if it is dry then it will put so much less strain on the knee than walking for hours in the mud. My knee still hasn't fully recovered, annoyingly, so I think this year to combat it I am gonna bring a bag out with me each day to reduce the need to walk backwards and forwards to the tent.

[buddiepaul]

I suppose if you can feel the pain it means you have not drunk enough

[kazbop]

Ibuprofen, 400mg, 3 x day, every day (with food).

I've had crappy knees my whole life and whenever it flares up regular NSAIDS help me. It means you are pain free enough to do any exercises recommended by the physio.

It obviously doesn't help the underlying problem but may get you through the weekend if you're still struggling...

[siblin]

Trip to the Physio seems in order. Thanks all.

As for the "timber" siblin, you are undoubtedly right! Glasto 2016 perhaps!

I lost about a stone and a half in the 2 months previous to Glastonbury last year, so still a bit of time

[Springsteen22]

I have Osgood Schlatters, mostly affects my right knee and is really painful a lot of the time.

I wear a patella stabaliser type knee support which works quite well if I have to walk a lot.

For Glasto I make sure I have comfy shoes and (although difficult after a few shandies) try to make sure I'm walking with good posture.

I keep it as elevated as possible at night in the tent or when I'm sitting around.

I have asthma so can't take anti-inflammatories but I've heard things like ibuprofen or voltarol helps a lot with knee issues. I stick to co-codamols if it gets too sore.

I got mine for approx £15 from Sports Direct and it serves me well, its similar to http://www.sportsdirect.com/mueller-adjustable-knee-support-761894?colcode=76189490

http://www.physioroom.com/catalog/Patella_Stabilisers/3113.html

This site also has some good ones and you can search depending on where the issue lies, might be worthwhile visiting a physio or asking which one would be best for you to take with you. They definately offer some relief during the festival.

I'd also reccomend putting some sort of tubigrip under it as it can rub a little in the heat.

[srb]

get another mattress!!!

Seriously, if you get a decent (firm) mattress, you'll probably find it lessens a lot or goes completely.

Years ago I spent months going to the hospital for physio for sciatica, spent loads on a back-swing, and tried all sorts of different shite to no effect.

Then I got a new bed.

I've barely felt it in the 25+ years since.

Good shout that, will certainly give that a rattle alright. Had it before and went away, not I literally have a pain in my arse

[tommywillo]

ruptured my lateral and collateral ligaments on one leg and anterior ligament on the other over my years of football and boxing,

I,d deffo recommend a physio but if you cant afford then when training or active i use a knee brace, they support all ligaments either side of the knee and will help you specially with you not knowing what part of the knee you have hurt!

Its basically scaffolding for both sides of the knee but as someone has said make sure it fits perfect or it will do you more damage, also rest plenty while keeping the knee moving so,s not to let it stiffen up over the weekend or you will feel it even more so then.

Good luck.

[glasto-worker]

With a month to go I'm getting a little concerned that my knee, which has been a problem in the past, is starting to flare up again. Don't know if I've got a weak ligament or something or it's just something like a twist I aggravate from time to time but it seems to come and go every few months or so.

Now I'm not an athlete (unless you include 80s Dart players as athletes!) so the doctors either can't or won't do anything for me but at times it's really pretty painful to walk on. Not ideal for bimbling around the promised land! I've tried the sleeve type knee brace but doesn't seem to help much.

Don't get me wrong, not asking for medical advice, and I'm sure once I've had a few ciders the pain will dull....until the following morning, anyway, but if anyone does know of anything useful that may help, I'd be grateful to hear it!

last year { the day before Glastonbury } I thought I had twisted my leg - it got worse and I never saw much of last year - then went to latitude and Reading and it got really bad - I then went to my GP - sent to hospital and they discovered it was not a twist it was ' Peripheral artery disease ' - it is ultra painful and I am now waiting for a operation.

I had never heard of Peripheral artery disease before - I should have gone to my GP straight away. if you get no joy just pester them - better to be safe than sorry.

[siblin]

Good shout that, will certainly give that a rattle alright. Had it before and went away, not I literally have a pain in my arse

deffo need a firm mattress, and if you're a side sleeper keep a pillow in between your knees as you sleep - it stops your hip rolling around quite so much.

[Migraine]

Agree with this, I used to regularly suffer back-knack, then got a decent memory foam mattress, nothing since.

I think what migraine is suggesting above is one-legged squats, also recommended by my physio for the knees. You can even do them while brushing your teeth!

Yes that's what I meant. Reading this thread is making me realise what a decrepit bunch we are.