General Cycling Discussion - My knee and leg pain exposed...

I went to the doctor today, because last week my knee, and leg started to hurt, which in turn affected my cycling, I couldn't pedal with a sore leg/knee, he told me I have osteoarthritis, I don't think know how serious this is, I have some anti - inflamitorry pills, ( VIOXX) so hopefully the pain will go away. I took one of the pills, and went cycling, and it is like night and day. earlier tis week, I lowered my seat, because I thought this may be what had caused the pain to begin with, should I raise it back tho the original height, or leave it as it is?

If you were comfortable before put it back to the old height. Too big of a change in position is not a good thing. Make small changes a little at a time.

Good luck on the diagnosis. I have a friend with rheumotoid arthritis and he says that cycling actually makes him feel better.

Put the saddle back where it was; lowering it will just make your knees hurt more.

I have arthritis in my knees, hands, shoulders, and spine (bone spurs). I've been taking Vioxx (25mg twice a day) for a year or so, but my rheumatologist recently switched me to Mobic. Apparently you can develop tolerance to anti-inflammatories and they become less effective.

Keeping the joints mobile and active is critical. Ride more! Riding every day helps my knees and back the most; the pain gets worse with forced inactivity.

The bad news is that there's no cure for arthritis. The good news is that you can manage and control it, and by staying active you'll not only minimize the discomfort but also keep yourself healthier in general.

RichC

1) Keep the saddle up, unless you were really stretching for the pedals or rocking your pelvis while pedaling.
2) Keep cycling!
3) Use low gears, and stand up on steep climbs.
4) Take glucosamine and condroitin -- can't hurt.

Very true- when you lower the saddle, you actually put MORE stress on the front of the knees. Slightly raising the saddle if you have knee pain will alleviate that pain, unless there is another underlying problem.

Good luck to you. I know what it's like to have knee pain, albeit temporary for me, thank goodness!

Koffee

Put your seat back where it was. Also make sure you are warming up properly prior to each ride.

Originally posted by John E
1) Keep the saddle up, unless you were really stretching for the pedals or rocking your pelvis while pedaling.
2) Keep cycling!
3) Use low gears, and stand up on steep climbs.
4) Take glucosamine and condroitin -- can't hurt.

I agree with 1 and 2, of course. I agree that 4 probably can't hurt, although it did me no noticeable good.

I disagree with 3. Low gears, yes, you should spin as much as possible when climbing, in stead of mashing big gears, to save your knees. But standing -- in other words, bending your knee, and then pushing down on it with all your weight and muscle force? Not usually a good idea. Let the saddle keep some of the weight off your knees while you climb.

RichC (not a doctor, just a very experienced patient)

When you run out of low gears on a hill, it is often safer for your knees to stand, than just to force them more from a seated position. Riders with dodgy knees should really have a stupid-low gear for the steepest hill.

There is promising data on glucosamine and its potential for actually preventing further progression of OA

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/434338

check it out.

In addition to the glucosamine mentioned above, try MSM. I take both of them and it helps alot.

Originally posted by MichaelW
When you run out of low gears on a hill, it is often safer for your knees to stand, than just to force them more from a seated position. Riders with dodgy knees should really have a stupid-low gear for the steepest hill.

OK, sure, since I always have/always will have such a gear, I tend to forget that sometimes people don't. It may be better to stand if you run out of gears, but if you have knee problems it may be better still to get off and walk.

Knees do wear out. Why accelerate the process?

RichC

What exactly is this condition you are talking about?
I am not experiencing any pain however both my knees make a gringing noise when bent under wieght, however if I put my seat high enough, my knees do not bend so much. Have you come across such knees before??