My Knee Hurts

[mimbresman]

My left knee hurts. I first noticed this during my SS rides over the weekend. I think I exacerbated it when I lifted and moved 700 kg of cement (several bags of course) on Monday.

The pain started as a single point above my left knee cap. Now it is sore along the outside length of the knee. I probably only have about 80 – 85% flexibility.

Yesterday I wore a knee support band and it seemed to help. Today I decided to see if I could get by without it.

I experienced something like this last year (why I have the knee band) on my right knee. After about a week or two, it got better. I am hoping for the same this time.

[real_ss_budgie]

well mimbs im getting pains in my wrists and hands..i think arthritis is slowly creeping in. i better start with the fish oil regime..yummy!

any other old cobblers out there with crunchy bodies?

[myron]

I think I exacerbated it when I lifted and moved 700 kg of cement .

Mims, I don't mean to sound predacious,but bastardizing your bike with gears really won't solve your trouble.
The problem may very well be saddle adjustment. A slightly misadjusted saddle becomes more evident when using a Simple Speed bike.

[wigger thomas]

I'd rest it and avoid really torquing it for a little while.

I am a fat bucket of clanky bolts right now. Hoping rise from the ashes soon.

[rockyrider]

I'd agree with Myron, that sort of knee pain is often a saddle height issue. I can usually tell when the saddle is an 1/8" low if I get the pain above the knee cap. It might also require a slight for/aft adjustment while you adjust the height.

I only have one bike with adjustable seat height now, and that uses a Speedball post. I set all saddle heights with a tape measure from the centre of the crank bolts as a reference point.

Oh and Budgie, if you think you're crunchy now, it only gets worse when you pass the half century mark. There's days when I sound like a box of peanut brittle under a truck tire...

[real_ss_budgie]

Oh and Budgie, if you think you're crunchy now, it only gets worse when you pass the half century mark. There's days when I sound like a box of peanut brittle under a truck tire...

i cant wait. at the moment i sound like a bag of peanut paste under a maxxis ignitor 29 x 2.1

do i start saving for a full ss bike?

[cMc]

What a drag it is, getting old...

;)

[K-Man]

Congratulations for still being able to walk after moving 700kg of cement. If I pulled a stunt like that, I'd be in the OR getting titanium knees at the moment. Ice it down and rest, and be thankful you're still as strong as a bull.

[myron]

What a drag it is, getting old...

;)

Life's just much too hard today,"
I hear ev'ry mother say
The pursuit of happiness just seems a bore
And if you take more of those, you will get an overdose
No more running to the shelter of a mother's little helper

[cMc]

Life's just much too hard today,"
I hear ev'ry mother say
The pursuit of happiness just seems a bore
And if you take more of those, you will get an overdose
No more running to the shelter of a mother's little helper

Ed Zachary.

[rockyrider]

I used to think like the Who

People try to put us d-down (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
Just because we g-g-get around (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
Things they do look awful c-c-cold (Talkin' 'bout my generation)
Yeah, I hope I die before I get old (Talkin' 'bout my generation)

and then somehow getting old sneaks up on you and that whole dying thing seems less attractive. And then you just keep riding through all the crunchy joints and aching muscles waiting for the day something explodes in your head during a climb and they eventually find you with coyotes or a black bear feeding on your carcass.

Or is that just me?

[mimbresman]

Congratulations for still being able to walk after moving 700kg of cement. If I pulled a stunt like that, I'd be in the OR getting titanium knees at the moment. Ice it down and rest, and be thankful you're still as strong as a bull.


Finishing out my condo by the Caribbean...

Two weeks ago, I moved 1,500 kg of 60 cm x 60 cm porcelin (ceramic) tile. Each box weighed 35 kg. After that one, I was laid up for a couple of days. :o

[mimbresman]

Mims, I don't mean to sound predacious,but bastardizing your bike with gears really won't solve your trouble.
The problem may very well be saddle adjustment. A slightly misadjusted saddle becomes more evident when using a Simple Speed bike.

I am usually pretty good at saddle height. I seem to be sensitive to the slightest variation in height, either way; too high or too low. Also both bikes have cinch bolts so the saddle height is fixed, but I'll double check.

One major difference I done to the bike as far as fit is stem length. The SS has a 110mm and the geared bike has a 135mm. The Merlin SS had a 135mm until I started the conversion to SS. Do you think the shorter stem be a cause?

[Spalls]

Congratulations to the rest of the Old Farts who have responded. The fact that you are even on this Forum says something. You're way ahead of about 99% of your peer group.

I have been fortunate and have never had knee pain associated with just plain old riding. Mine hurt when I do something ugly or totally graceless (very common), like twist my left one twice last weekend on the same tight turn. My knees do not respond well to twisting motion.

[rockyrider]

Congratulations to the rest of the Old Farts who have responded. The fact that you are even on this Forum says something. You're way ahead of about 99% of your peer group.Thanks sonny, 23 skidoo! Pull my finger. :D

[S. cerevisiae]

well mimbs im getting pains in my wrists and hands..i think arthritis is slowly creeping in. i better start with the fish oil regime..yummy!

any other old cobblers out there with crunchy bodies?

Yep.

Osteoarthritis in both knees (the result of 16 yrs of catching for various baseball teams, and wrestling). I take glucosamine/chondroitin from non-bovine sources. Worked for me after about four months. Flexibility and strength returned after the first year.

Good stuff, good times

[myron]

I am usually pretty good at saddle height. I seem to be sensitive to the slightest variation in height, either way; too high or too low. Also both bikes have cinch bolts so the saddle height is fixed, but I'll double check.

One major difference I done to the bike as far as fit is stem length. The SS has a 110mm and the geared bike has a 135mm. The Merlin SS had a 135mm until I started the conversion to SS. Do you think the shorter stem be a cause?
Stem length and saddle adjustment for and aft are critical on any bike. Much less so with multiple gears

[rockyrider]

Because you can adjust the torque you need to apply to the pedals from a seated position with gears on a gearie bike it is much easier to keep it within the "comfort" range. With an SS, you likely need to adjust that max knee pressure more by standing more often when it gets near the comfort limits while doing seated climbs.

[mimbresman]

I still stay seated 95% of the time, but find myself really leaning forward and pulling on the bars to help with my leverage.
I really think also the strain of this heavy lifting has taken its toll.
I iced it last night and I am wearing the knee band again today. It seems to help.

[phlatlander]

Finishing out my condo by the Caribbean...

Two weeks ago, I moved 1,500 kg of 60 cm x 60 cm porcelin (ceramic) tile. Each box weighed 35 kg. After that one, I was laid up for a couple of days. :o

Lift with your BACK! —not your knees. ;)

I have a bad feeling my hay-hauling years will catch up to me soon—if they haven't already. This morning's ride had my back wound up like a toy rubberband plane - I am afraid the whole thing's gonna unwind abruptly and take off a fingertip. I'd better get into the pilates again to gain some flexibility back. Who's got time for that?

[rockyrider]

I still stay seated 95% of the time, but find myself really leaning forward and pulling on the bars to help with my leverage.
I really think also the strain of this heavy lifting has taken its toll.
I iced it last night and I am wearing the knee band again today. It seems to help.Isn't that sort of heavy lifting what you hire a gang of teenagers for? That likely has more of an impact on your knees than stem length. :D

[mimbresman]

Myron,
Took your advice and checked the seat height. It felt low, so I raised it about 1 cm. Not much, but it felt different afterwards. I rode easy in town not pushing it or torquing my knee too much. I'll see how it goes.
MM

[tryandgetme]

so I was working on my jeep last night with the impact driver (the "use with a BFH kind"), and my thumb started hurting really bad. I told my dad, and he says "quit hitting it with the hammer then!". That cured it! And thats why he's so successful in life.

[rockyrider]

"I broke my arm in two places"

"then you oughta stay outta those places"

ba-dump bump!

[mimbresman]

My knee is still slightly stiff. First "off road" ride today in a week, but went on the geared bike. Mostly flat with some small rollers and a stiff head wind going too, then tail wind back. Wanted to go easy.
My left knee had a 4 disturbing episodes; each one a sharp pop on the outside, lateral part of my knee. Each pop hurt. I plan on continuing the icing down/Tylenol/linament treatment. Seems to be working.

[real_ss_budgie]

Yep.

Osteoarthritis in both knees (the result of 16 yrs of catching for various baseball teams, and wrestling). I take glucosamine/chondroitin from non-bovine sources.
ok youre the fourth person to recommend that stuff.

cheers
Snapper Cutlets

[dangerousdave]

My knee is still slightly stiff. First "off road" ride today in a week, but went on the geared bike. Mostly flat with some small rollers and a stiff head wind going too, then tail wind back. Wanted to go easy.
My left knee had a 4 disturbing episodes; each one a sharp pop on the outside, lateral part of my knee. Each pop hurt. I plan on continuing the icing down/Tylenol/linament treatment. Seems to be working.

Your poping is comming from muscle realingment or growth, a previous menicus injury, deterioration of the soft tissues, [age = use or like mine, all of the above and below]or from a tightening or loosening of the ligament or tendon that now is sliding over a depression near your medial collateral area.... the "pop" is the fluid vacum collapsing as the tendon slides over the depression. It can be painful briefly but it will generally not do any damage. You may want to let up on the hard pump SS... I know that it makes my knee sore when I drive the big geared bike hard. You can also change the angle of your foot and seat height...

[mimbresman]

Thanks Dave,
It is feeling better today. I took 650mg dose of acetemenphin (Tylenol-like tablets) last night, then another this morning. It still feels somewhat tight, but I am getting more flexibility back. It feels stronger today. I was stretching the knee and quads my during a test in one of my classes and my students asked what I was doing...:confused:
I will be riding the geared bike more. I plan on riding again today, but probably staying on the flats again. I probably won't try any climbing until the weekend or so. I've adjusted the seat height slightly on both bikes (geared and SS).
MM

[dangerousdave]

Ibuprofen works much better as an anti-imflamitory.
4 knee surgeries, 2 shoulder, one thumb, and L4 and L5 all testify to that!;) Pm me if you'd like any further recommendations....

[rockyrider]

Ibuprofen = Vitamin I, my favourite...

[mimbresman]

I was thinking about ibuprofin when riding today. I've seen Motrin here, I need to pick some up.

Things are feeling even better today, but still not 100%.

[dangerousdave]

Your teachin in NM? and condo-n in Venez.? How cool. Lived in/near Crown Point for some time. NIce riding.

[mimbresman]

Your teachin in NM? and condo-n in Venez.? How cool. Lived in/near Crown Point for some time. NIce riding.

DD,
I worked out at Borrego Pass for 3 years. I also taught a couple of afternoon/night classes at Crownpoint Community College (Dine´ College). There are many potential places to ride in that area. I used to explore all over.

I learned to mtn bike back in the late 80´s when working out at Torreon Day School. It was a great place to learn.

Now teaching at an international school. Got married to Venezolana, therefore the condo...most times I´d rather have a cabin near Thoreau.

MM

[dangerousdave]

Such a small world~! Wow. Borrego pass! we used to joke about who had to go out there on assignments... such a long time ago, diff world, pre-children.. I remember skiing xc from the "teacherage trailers" to school when I wouldn't/couldn't ride!

[mimbresman]

I liked living at Borrego Pass. Quiet!

[mimbresman]

My knee is feeling about 98%. Probably trying riding tomorrow.