Chronic knee pain--this might help.

In Reply to: Chronic knee pain posted by Sharon Mendoza on July 18, 2000 at 22:21:14:

I've had chronic knee trouble for twenty years. I discovered a helpful way of easing the pain. I won't gurantee this will work for you. But, it works for me.

Pharmacies carry a knee strap. Unlike a knee brace, which encloses the knee and in my case makes the pain worse, a knee strap has a padded strap which engages the horizontal depression at the bottom of the knee cap. It holds the knee cap in place and prevents the cap from causing further irritation of a damaged knee. I just bought new ones. They were $15.95. They are not cures but might help with the pain.

Also, my surgeon taught me a simple isometric exercise that helps strengthen the musculature that supports the knee cap. You stretch you leg out and rest it on something--a chair, or an ottoman. Then you conract the muscle at the top of your knee. You'll fell it pulling upward towards your body. Contract the muscle and hold it for a count of 5 or 10; release, and rest for a count of 5 or 10. Do this about 5 times at the beginning. Do only one leg at a time.

I think your knee problems are worse than mine. But the knee straps and isometrics have kept me away from surgery for a long time.

Good luck.