tendonitis of the knees

Anyone else suffer from this?
I have been experiencing bad knee pain ever since I started running outside (all the time, not just when working out) for the past 3 weeks to the point where I cant even walk. The pain is horrible and I feel like I'm 85 years old the way I hobble around all the time! I went to the doctor the other day and he thinks its tendonitis and said it could take months to heal I feel so defeated. I'm the heaviest I've ever been in my life (including when I was pregnant) and its almost bathing suit season. I had made a goal for myself back in March to have lost at least 5lbs. by Memorial Day. Well, next weekend is Memorial Day and I've GAINED weight. And now with my knees, I cant even work out to keep myself in shape.

Right now I'm icing my knees on and off throughout the day, taking Troumeal (an anti inflamatory) and advil when needed, and I'm not working out at all to rest my knees. Does anyone know of anything else I should be doing AND if I can do any form of excersize that will be easy on the knees but help to tone and slim down?

Re: tendonitis of the knees

Ugh, I got tendonitis of the ankle a few years ago and also could barely walk - I had to go for x-rays because the pain was so bad, the doctor was sure I'd fractured somethign at first. It was awful, I remember it well. So sorry you're dealing with that!

It sounds like you're doing everything right for the time being. I know how frustrating it is not to be able to work out, but it's so important not to injure yourself further, so keep following the doctor's orders.

As far as exercise, it's not easy to find cardio that doesn't use the knees, but you can use your arms for kickboxing/punching type stuff - it's not really comparable to a full body cardio workout, but it'll get your heartrate up a bit, and you can use hand weights or strap-on wrist weights for added resistance. You can also use free weights to work your arms, shoulders and back, and probably find some comfortable positions to do some ab work too, without using your legs. That way when you're able to do cardio again, you'll already be a step ahead because you'll have some nicely toned muscles under there! And when you're able to use your knee again in limited capacity, you can swim (low impact/easy on the joints).

Re: tendonitis of the knees

Jess - thanks for the excersize ideas! I'm going to try the hand weights and free weights and see how I do with that. I'm hoping the doctor will give me a better anti inflammatory to take as well.