I need some suggestions on what to do with a bum knee. The only thing I know how to do other than climb, run, bike, or ski is drink. Man have I been drunk for awhile now.

get on yahoo games and learn how to play chess.

study another language or learn a musical instrument...preferably while drinking

There's always Gunther's Big Day !

And for wasting time, well, there's lots of non-climbing boards out there that are good for procrastination (either by reading interesting stuff or working up righteous fury over the trolls):
http://reddit.com
http://stumbleupon.com
http://4chan.org

Maybe you should visit a VA hospital and do some volunteer work with some Iraq war veterans that have no knees.

What's wrong with your knee...cartilage damage, tendon strain, or something torn?

If minor cartilage damage, get a stand for your bike and spin at low resistance. The only way cartilage gets nourishment is through synovial fluid that is circulated by knee movement. Also, if the kneecap isn't tracking right, exercise and stretch for muscular balance.

Supplements that would help are glucosomine sulfate, microcrystaline calcium, vit D (from sunlight), vit K (from dark greens). CMO is a supplement not many people know about but is more effective than glucosamine sulfate.

If ligaments, also stretch and train for muscular balance. Try arnica lotions http://www.peacefulmountain.com. Arnica lotions can work wonders!

Avoid sources of free radicals in your diet. Free radicals can weaken ligaments in much the same way that a rubber band gets brittle. To combat free radical damage add powerful sources of anti-oxidants such as pomegranate, blueberry, green tea, red tea, acai, etc.

Break the cycle of inflammation. Inflammation releases enzymes that break down tissue at the injury site causing more scar tissue and weakness. Ice is a simple way to control inflammation. Use bromelain instead of NSAIDs. Taken on an empty stomach, bromelain is an anti-inflammatory with no side effects and extra benefits such as antitumor.

Try this drink first thing in the morning on an empty stomach:

1 scoop collagen type I and III (collagen is the building blocks for ligaments) (collagen has to be taken on an empty stomach to be effective)
1 gram vit c powder
1 bromelain capsule, emptied in the drink
sweeten with a little frozen concentrated, pomegranate juice
dash cayenne
12 oz water
Mix gently or it will foam a lot

I've had injuries that will hang on forever and clear up in less than a week after taking this drink.

If something is torn, ask the MP community for a good ortho doc.

I had knee surgery about 2 years ago and took me out of commission- the good doctor insured me it was only for 3-4 weeks. So I notified my regular partner that i would be in shape for slab climbing in three weeks. Most often that doesnt constitute weird twisting of the knee or atleast alot of work arounds for moves....

so in the mean time I drank alot- I primarily stuck with white russians, watch the entire rambo trilogy as well as all the rocky movies- it is important to keep motivated. In between drinking and violent movie watching I rode my bike alot. not fast, not slow, high rpm. I was also taking alot of glucosamine/ chondroitin- you can get this from natural sources such as eating alot of vietnames pho, jello, sucking on chicken wing knuckles.

I was back in shape quickly. To keep my nerves firing I disconnected the brakes on my bike.

please keep in mind that I am not a doctor, nor would I consider myself very smart. I found these things made me laugh while doing them and that is the most important thing to a speedy recovery.

ps- eat more sweet potatoes.

Matt how about kayaking - good adrenaline at Class 4-5 heh-heh and whitewater should be comin down soon...

if that's too much for ya then try fishing or golf, hope you get better!

Actually you can't golf w/ a hurt knee, and I thought kirra knew everything.


Have you considered bong hits and Playstation? I find this keeps me occupied during times of injury.

Get well soon!

PORN! PORN PORN PORN!!!!!!

Thanks for all the great advice. I have been putting off going to to doc for awhile, but will soon. I sometimes hate the inevitable. I have been biking a little, but it to seems to stress it. Being 32 years old is making me realize that I am not going to be able to climb 5.11 off the couch, or meet up with friends in Silverton and drop crazy chutes on my 2nd day of skiing all year. I need to start maintaining my body. Maybe through porn, but sweet potatoes and crazy drinks made out of the stuff my body is made of sounds a lot better. Kirra, I will be doing more boating this spring, and maybe golf????

Take a tour off from work rest the knee then come climb Prodigial Son with me and watch the momo's in la verkin man

matt if your livin in the Canyon area it's got to be depressing hearin folks doin the Rim-2-Rim and the Rim-2-Rim-2-Rim now that it's perfect weather ~

Heck 32 is NOT old... YOUR IN YOUR PRIME MAAN..!!!

Don't listen to Hank & Stitch or you'll endup with carpal-tunnel and 1-more thing to b*itch about

Setting: A photographer's studio

(George is holding out his hands while a man and woman marvel at them. A photographer is fooling around with a camera towards the right wall)

MAN: I've never seen hands like these before..

WOMAN: They're so soft and milky white.

PHOTOGRAPHER: You know who's hands they remind me of? (Pauses for effect) - Ray McKigney.

(The woman nods as the man looks off into space)

MAN: Ugh...Ray.

PHOTOGRAPHER: He was it.

GEORGE: Who was he?

PHOTOGRAPHER: The most exquisite hands you've ever seen...Oh, he had it all.

GEORGE: What happened to him?

(Obviously a touchy subject, the woman coyly walks over to the photographer, and they both occupy themselves. The man is left to tell George the answer to his question)

MAN: (Clears throat) Tragic story, I'm afraid. He could've had any woman in the world...but none could match the beauty of his own hand... and that became his one true love...

(Long pause)

GEORGE: You mean, uh..?

MAN: Yes. He was not... master of his domain.

GEORGE: But how...?

MAN: The muscles... became so strained with... overuse, that eventually the hand locked into a deformed position, and he was left with nothing but a claw. (Holds hand up, displaying a claw-like shape) He traveled the world seeking a cure... acupuncturists... herbalists... swamis... nothing helped. Towards the end, his hands became so frozen the was unable to manipulate utensils, and was dependent upon Cub Scouts to feed him. I hadn't seen another pair of hands like Ray McKigney's... until today. You are his successor. I only hope that you... have a little more self-control.

GEORGE: (Smiling to himself) You don't have to worry about me. (Nodding, gloating) I won a contest.

Smoke pot rather than drink. No carbs & no weight gain if you control the munchies!!

You need to see a Doc! A proper diagnosis will determine if you need surgery or it is something that can wait. I twisted my knee pretty good in Wyoming Jan 9th 08' and had surgery feb 26th.
An MRI determined my ACL was blown out and I had to have an "Allograft" to replace it. Your knee may require a simple procedure with a very short recovery. Then of course you most likely already know this.

Holy $#@k, It kind of looks like a robotic leg Peter. When you did it were still able to weight it, and get around on it. Or were you immidiately laid out? I can still get around pretty well on mine, but if I stress it by say climbing on it, or hiking, it swells up and turns black and blue, and leaves me hurting for awhile, but with rest, ice and vitamin I it gets better until I stress it again. The reason why I havn't gotten an MRI among other reasons is because I can make it bearable, and still put weight on it. It never stays better for long, and I have a feeling what is wrong.

It does sound like you should see someone but you'll need a sports-type doctor, perhaps a knee specialist. Would be good to confirm your thoughts about what's wrong..?

Closest availability to you might be Flagg. I know there are specialists in Phx-Scottsdale but it's farther

I had to use a knee immobilizer and used two crutches for about 1 week. I actually rode a stationary bike for week's after injury to increase my range of motion and had to wait for the swelling to go down before my Ortho Doc would do the surgery 6 week's after the injury.

I also had grade 2 hamstring tear's and 2 meniscus tear's so recovery took a bit more than normal. I'm now into my 8th week since surgery and taking it slow and easy.
Some folk's continue active lifestyles without an ACL, but the knee will never be as stable and is more prone to injury as the ACL is one of the 4 ligament's that support the knee.

Sound's like what you have is a lot less serious but I would eventually have it checked out if thing's don't change. Hopefully you have insurance? Those Damn MRI's cost $1,800.00 and are the only true way to make a determination on the extent of damage to the knee structure's. Ligament's, Cartilage Tendon's and meniscus. Sound's like you are doing pretty well. The only problem is staying off it long enough for it to heal. Everyone on Mt. Project know's it's pretty Damn hard to let an injury heal when you want to get out and climb etc.
Everyone I know involved in extreme sport's are pretty stubborn Folk's.

Best of luck to ya!
Andy T.