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Long history of sports participation and just plain activity-filled life. Not many athletic injuries, however -- it's the standing on it all day on the job that finally did in the right knee for me.
I was young and foolish, though, and after my first surgery at age 19 (which didn't help and only caused future arthritis and bursitis to flare painfully), I healed pretty rapidly and was again very active and of course still on my feet a lot at work. (I was an executive secretary, which meant I sat at a desk a fair bit but was on my feet, up and down the hallways and standing at machinery way more than most folks understand).
Two years later, another surgery for torn cartilege. That helped a LOT, and again I healed quickly and resumed my busy life and activities which included bicycling crosscountry and taming wild broncs.
Ten years later, and my refusal to take it easy on the knee took its toll. I reluctantly agreed to a third surgery on the same knee, but the Voc Rehab doc was careless and terrible, and he did more damage than good! Butchery, I still call it.
14 more years pass, and the knee is GONE. Can't work except on crutches, and that sucks. Spent years with a cane and on crutches. Finally gave in and got a total knee replacement -- by an experienced doc with a good record at Baylor. He flubbed that one, though, and didn't tighten the slack in my knee. The replaced knee went south again within two years, and I'm back to relying on a cane and regretting my poor decisions of my younger years!
All this is just to say, PLEASE take care of your knee, and don't push it! If you don't overdo it when you have a reason to ease up on the exercise, you can heal up real well and then resume. Worst thing to do is ignore the doc's warnings -- and those of your own body.
If I'd been smarter and more patient in my 20's and 30's -- and even my 40's -- I wouldn't be hobbling around as I am now. Not so soon anyway!
Vitamin D can help if you're low on it (sunshine if possible is the best source however, not pills). Chondroitin combos can help some, do wonders for a few patients, not so much for others. Gave me headaches and my knee was too far gone for that anyway.
But do what you can to pamper that knee now, and you'll be glad you did later!
I was reckless when young and took my body's natural healing capabilities for granted. Repeated injuries or overuse/abuse without proper rest and time to heal can lead to permanent pain and disability.
Alternating icing and heat is recommended by many PT techs now (and docs too). Naproxen is usually pretty effective, only contraindicated if you have stomach sensitivity or bleeding. (Like aspirin, the NSAIDs are acidic and can eat a hole through your stomach lining.)
Good luck! Your body will thank you later if you treat it right now! :D
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