Knee question for the worst collective knees in the world

[Rhawn]

I've been riding about 5 months now, and my right knee has progressively given me more and more trouble/pain as I get bigger air and land harder. I twisted it only once in my life, about 14 years ago. I'm 34.

After last weekend's riding its giving me a good amount of trouble. I get pain when I flex it, or have to stand up from a low position. The pain seems to be mostly behind the lower portion of my kneecap. Im also getting muscle spasms and what in the area right around my knee.

To my question, I cant get in to see a knee doctor for a couple weeks. Should I stop riding? I can deal with the pain, I just dont want any severe damage. I really, really dont want to sit it out.

If I can keep riding, what can/should I do to protect or minimize damage?

I know, suck it up sissy!

[Wakeboarder700]

you could ride it and forget it, but you could be tearing something more or making something worse...

So my opinion is too ride some but dont do as much riding as you normally would

[david-d]

I have a similar problem... my knees are absolutely horrible and all I think about is them getting worse and worse... Have you tried wearing a knee brace? I wear one sometimes and it gives alot more support, especially on the jumps and landings.

[jumalian]

you're 34 years old. you should know better than to take risks to injure your knee further. you've lived 33 years w/o wakeboarding, you can live another 2 weeks until you see your doctor.

[Dragonlady8]

Rhawn, Do you feel any "crunching" or have a "creaking sensation" ( medical term is crepitus ) when you perform squats, walking up/down stairs or just plain active? Sometimes it goes away after you warm up too.

Some MDs may call that early arthritis others may say you have "Plica" under your knee cap.
Muscle spams are probable due to muscle fatigue.
There's a lot more indepth/ detail involved in the explainations.

I'd say you should just get in to see a Sports Med Doc just for your peace of mind. there are some warm up actvities/exercies that may help in decreasing the pain and strengthening your leg muscles
Knee braces are usually not the answer.

[firefighter_186]

Crepitus is actually the sound of two bone fragments rubbing together, much like in a broken chicken leg. If you have that yeah definitely lay off the wakeboarding. And we can give you all the advice in the world, but in typical man fashion you will ignore it and continue to ride (that’s what I would do). I am however going to offer a suggestion that may or may not help. Try working solely on your switch stance riding, this will put all the extra forces on the opposite leg, so when you go to the DR at least they are even.

[Rhawn]

My knee is very noisy, especially under strain. Popping and clicking. Not so much a grinding though.

What kind of warm ups/stretching?

I looked up Plica, sounds alot like the issue I have.

[gene3x]

My routine warmup is 3 beers and 3 Aleive or 4 ibuprofin. Seriously, every once in awhile I will toss half a Hydrocodone down the hatch. I am abusive to my body and am 37 years old. I have had surgery recently for a ruptured disk and broken an ankle from wakeboarding but never a knee injury. You guys are scaring me with all of this knee injury talk.

[Rhawn]

I stated taking Ibu regularly and its helped alot. I rode 3 sets today, most I can stand anyway. Landed w2ws for the first time. Knee is in good shape, as in no worse.

Got sloppy after too many beers and whiskey shots.