Hello....I have a question: my husband has had pain in his knees for a few years now. He went through one round of physical therapy; but it didn't offer lasting help (but at the time, he also complained about his shoulders hurting him; so his P.T. focused on both problem areas. He recently went to see a 2nd specialist; he said that his knees don't show osteoarthritis, but rather that his kness are "off track"; they don't align properly. He set up more P.T. for him; which has gotten delayed because my hubby developed a bad ingrown toe-nail which he had to have part of it removed 3 days ago). My question is this: can exercise make his knees track properly? The doctor also said that he needs to loose weight. As many of you know, that's not so easily done; not quickly, anyway. My husband is only 45; I am praying he can make his knees better somehow....does anyone have any first hand knowledge of this particular problem? His knees hurt daily; there never is a period when he is pain free. He tells me that some days are worse than others...tonight he turned in early; he said his toe and knee was bothering him. How effective are exercises? Thanks in advance! Debbie

Debbie:
I had a similar problem along with arthritis. but I had to have a lateral release done on both knees to help them track properly. After surgery I went to a sports clinic instead of a physio clinic. I had been in physio several times in the past and they just kept giving me the same exercises over and over again. At 37 I am concerned about maintaining my mobility and flexibility. The sports clinic offered up a programme of exercises that I had never done before and made it fun. Once on the road to recovery the most important thing is to continue to do the exercises daily, even when the knees feel fine.
Hope this helped,
Shelly

Thanks for replying to my message, Shelly. I will suggest to my husband that he check out a sport clinic...the last round of physical therapy didn't help his kness at all. How long did it take you to recover after having the lateral release surgery done? I know that exercises will have to be a permanent part of my husband's life; he has had this knee problem for so long now. The best of luck to you, also, Shelly. Painful joints are terrible; the knuckles in my hands bother me sometimes...but I have other health headaches myself. If its not one thing, its another thing....take care; Debbie