Left knee replacement

Ddubya, Whatever you can do to protect them is what you should do. That includes having the shingles deliverd on the roof so you don't have to carry them up a ladder to just making sure you are working as "smart" as you can. Knee pads are a great choice, just like gloves are if you are tearing off. we all take too many chances and ignore the pain and danger until it is too late. Ask your dad about that now that his knees are bad. whatever is wrong with them, I can assure you it is not a "lack of cortizone" in the knees.

How much is "too much" and what risk is not "worth it" is something we all have to determine. the older you get, the closer the inevitable comes and the more we all wish we had taken better care of ourselves. Too soon old and too late smart is the old saying. take care.

My knees were just worn out. something about working on the roofs since I was about 3 or 4 years old, playing soccer for 25 years and teaching karate for 25 years. I have "No idea" why they went bad! go figure.

OS: What do you(or the doc) think caused the problem? Was it general use of your knee's, all the bending and climbing? Or was it that your down ON your knee's so often?

The reason I ask is because about two years ago I got some AWESOME knee pads that have turned my knee's into wussies. I'm hoping it will save them in the long run, but we know they've still got a bunch of work to do.

My Dad's knees went out this spring, two weeks apart from each other. Cortizone(or something) shots have kept him moving, although still painful.

No knee problems here either. roofing nor MMA have hurt them.......yet.

There was no more cartilage in the knee and it was "loose" in that it would rock back and forth about an inch either direction. It was bone "in" bone and the top bone was carving into the lower one. When I walked, the weight of my body was aiming down the leg and was about 4 inches to the left of where it should have been. Just flat ass worn out and painful as hell. I guess I am not a patient man as it has only been 2 weeks and though I can walk on it without a cane or crutch if I have to, it hurts almost as bad as it did. I start PT tomorrow. I will keep you posted.

A common question I get is about my knees, usually from counter help at roofing supply houses. Often they refer to "knees blown out", like it's expected for old roofers. Yet my knees feel fine. Sometimes when I run, I feel something almost like a small air bubble in my knees, but that's about it. What were your symptons, OS?

Hang in there It will get better.I can't believe I still have my knees after 37 years on the roof. My new job is a lot easier then when I was self employed. My back is what gives me more trouble then anything else.

Today is not too good either! 2 weeks tomorrow.

My leg hurts like cray right now.

OS keep up with the physical therapy, very important, as hard as it may be. My Moms was very sucessful at the age of 86. Good luck. PC

Shoulder surgery for me next month. Hang in there OS.