I recently am on a health kick and rediscovered how much I love running but my knees are going bad I think?

[Anonymous]

What can I do to save my knees and still run at least 4 or 5 days a week? I currently am doing about 6 days a week running (I try for 7).

What is killing my knees I think is that my job requires me to work anywhere from 7 to 13 hours a day and I'm standing on concrete 90% of that time and then I get off work and run a few miles on streets.

I have inserts for my shoes, a knee brace lol, icy hot to numb pain and all that. It wasn't cutting it though : (

So now at work I take pain killers sometimes (not the kind that get you high). Before I run I either take a few shots of 100 proof liquor or vicodine (I have a prescription) and more of the pain killer I mentioned before. I don't ever drink and take pain killers the same day though because I know how dumb that is so spare me the lecture on it. I also don't do all this every day only 1-3 days a week when my knees really hurt.

I know long term I'm finished unless I change something though. What should I do? I don't think I can live at a desk job so that isn't an option unless I blow a knee out and have no choice :( I need some kind of health solution?

[just_tired]

Well it could be that you have bad knees like I do and I can't jog anymore, but there are still few things you can try.

First of all, stop running right now! You can start running again when your knees are healed and painless again. If you keep running, you're going to permanently damage them.

When you start running again, try and get away from pavement. The shock from running on hard surfaces is bad for knees. If possible run in woods, parks or just in nature anywhere. Buying new sneakers is another thing you can do and possibly going to a doctor or a foot specialist.

Also start working your legs in a gym. Quads give support to your knees.

Also get a habit of giving your knees hot and cold treatment. It's good for the joints.

Hope this helps!

[NotJustAnotherGuy]

Quads are the muscles that are responsible for holding your knee in properly. Running is a lot of hamstring work, which is the imposing muscle, which pulls on the knee more. So you would need to supplement your running with quad building exercises like cycling or weighted squats. That would greatly help your knees. I'm a long time distance runner and this is what I've learned the hard way (developed runner's knee, then eventually recovered through a training regime called "smolov squats" >:] )

[southerndancer]

Stop running. My whole family has terrible knees and joints in general. A lot of my family LOVES running including myself and simply ignored the pain or drank when it got bad or took benadryl and Advil. They have all had knee replacement surgery and after only maybe 5 min of running I can barely walk. So I would MAJORLY suggest finding something else you love.

[rachiee]

You need to seriously give your legs a break. You don't need to run 6/7 days a week. I highly suggest you run 3/4 times a week and do something else in between to work on your quads like cycling or even swimming. You aren't necessarily finished long term as long as you take the precautions right now.

[jesoer]

An advice my friend got was when he ran he should run quick and short. But I'm not sure it's solid advice. Try contacting an doctor or so. You could also try to wear one of those knee-socks?

[madmisskelly]

When was the last time you replaced your running shoes?

[Asker]

Probably over a year. Honestly I don't run in new shoes because I don't want to get new shoes all sweaty and smelly but maybe I'll try it.

[madmisskelly]

The thing is, it could be the fact that you need new shoes. It is worth it to go have your shoes looked at by people who can fit you for new running shoes. Some athletic stores do it. They watch you run and fit you for shoes depending on your gait and how you run.

[CoffeeCoffeeCoffee]

i seriously hope your not running on the pavement =\

[Asker]

Asphalt is the correct term I believe. I know I could do tread mills at a gym but I like running in the open plus if it's hot in summer I burn off all the food I eat faster. Fake bikes or real bikes take many more hours a day to get the same work out as running.

[CoffeeCoffeeCoffee]

No have you tried running on grass instead? less impactful on the knees ya know?

[LuvBiddy]

If you stand all day on the job, try swimming. You really don't need to give your legs more agony.