My right knee started giving me trouble this past summer, irritating pain once in awhile. In late September I moved 'funny' and the pain shot through me like a bullet. After resting it, it never fully started feeling much better. Went to an Orthopedist who exrayed and diagnosed arthritis. Showed me the bone on bone structure. The rest of the knee, including the meniscus, looked fine.

I did have a cortisone shot that helped a little for a few weeks. Taking ibuprofen, helps enough for me to function only. Everyday activities are no longer easy.

I go back to see him in the middle of the month. I am at the point that I think the only answer is a knee replacement. As much as I dread the thought of surgery, the pain interfers with my life. I am 67.

Good luck, hope your appointment goes well.

Oh boo. I'm sorry to hear it cyn and maddielee. I'm nowhere near the point of everyday activities being an issue, just the working out is a problem. I know knee replacement is no walk in the park, but sounds like it's worth it, if it has come to that, maddie.

I think lunges are harder to do as you get older, and if they hurt, definitely don't do them. My knees are still pretty good at 53, but they are not what they used to be! I stick to leg presses and things like wall sits and modified squats. I don't even do leg extension machines anymore. I do a lot of Spin classes so that keeps my leg muscles strong as well.

My sister is 10 years older but has had both her knees replaced in the past 2 years or so. By the time she was my age, her knees were already pretty bad. There is a hereditary component to arthritis, and she has our father's tendency while I have our mother's.

Exercise and physical therapy if needed are probably the best things you can do to keep the joint strong and stable.

Gaciencechick, arthritis does run in our family, so I have suspected I may be dealing with it to some degree. I don't do lunges anymore - everything I do at the gym is modified. It's boot camp style with several personal trainers so I get lots of professional assistance with the modifications. Thanks!

Bluebell, maybe this will be encouraging. In my early to mid 40s, I had the same crunching and slight knee pain. The crunching was most obvious going up or down stairs. (I remember it because it was kind of a joke given we had just bought a two story ski condominium and the crunching was loud enough that people in the living room could tell it was me coming up the stairs). Random pain doing certain moves, but not too bad. This continued for a couple of years and I don't know what happened, but now almost 20 years later, only an occasional crunch and I skied this morning with no knee pain.

That's great to hear. And if something is uncomfortable, just let them know, and they can modify it.

maddielee, you can ask about those shots where they inject the fluid stuff in your knees. Lasts about 6 months. Might get you a few more years before needing replacement. Synvisic or something similar is the name.

http://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/treatments/medication/drug-types/other/hyaluronic-acid-injections.php

I had both knees replaced when I hit 62 - I had put it off as long as possible but finally the time came when my physical limitations were becoming a real mobility hazard. It was a tough 3 months but I had a great outcome.

However before that I also had the crunching knees syndrome. I had a medial meniscectomy in one knee at age 23 when I tore my meniscus water skiing. At the time my surgeon told me that I would develop arthritis later in life. I thought he meant when I was 70 - but I started arthritic symptoms in my 40's, probably due to a familiar tendency.

The crunching in my right knee worsened accompanied by occasional searing pain. At about age 50 I had an arthroscopy and the surgeon cleaned out my knee, flushing out tiny bits of cartilage and bone. He told me that a TKR was in my future but I experienced immediate improvement after the arthroscopy - which is typical in about 50% of the cases.

I also had hyaluronic injections. The first set really helped. However I repeated them about 7 years later without any improvement. Again that's a typical outcome.

Two things my surgeon stressed is that it's very important to avoid excessive weight and for women to maintain strong leg muscles - especially quads - since they support the knee.

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/PDFs/Rehab_Knee_6.pdf

I hope your knee feels better soon. Maire

A PT can provide exercises to help make legs as strong and supportive as possible (hips, core, etc.) no surprise that as we age, how well all the bits and pieces work together is more critical. Synvisc and cortisone are possible options. Also, if you have any cartilage left in the knee, they can take some and grow it to replenish your knee. http://www.brighamandwomens.org/online/everythingpossible/DaraTorres.aspx

But you have to have some cartilage for them to work with. Don't wait (I had none to work with by the time I went in to check out the possibility of this procedure). Good luck.

Bluebell, btw, my pain comes and goes. It was bad after one of my students kicked me right on my kneecap (time to retire-can't react as quickly to get out of the way anymore-ha). My doc prescribed Voltaren gel. It is a wonder drug! I used it every day for about a week. It eliminated the pain and I guess the inflammation. I took it with me on my last trip abroad just in case and used it a couple of times. Haven't needed it for months, but it was terrific when I did. There is now a generic as well.