# Knee pain **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 9, 2010, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knee-pain/549701 "2010-08-09T13:03:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knee-pain/549701/1 "2010-08-09T13:03:59Z")
Disclaimer: I’m not asking for medical advice. I’ll be getting surgery next month, when Medicare kicks in. I’m having a great deal of pain from cartilage problems in both knees. On a scale of 1-10, the pain in the worse knee varies between a 6 and 9.5, usually around 7 or 8. The times when I’m having the most pain are when I start to walk after having been seated for a long time (like when I get up after being on the computer for a while). It’s not nearly as bad when I get up from lying down. I’d think that walking would be the most painful, but it’s not. Why is walking after sitting the worst? ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knee-pain/549701/2 "2010-08-09T20:20:48Z")
WAG here but maybe because of the positioning of the knee - having the knee bent might put more pressure on places inside that are tender. I’ve done PT for my knees and one therapist told me that when driving, I should have the car seat back as much as possible to allow the knee to be as extended as possible. What sort of knee surgery are you having, by the way? As a knee-pain patient (where the doc doesn’t think arthroscopy will do much, and a full-on knee replacement seems like overkill at the moment), I’m very interested in others’ situations. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knee-pain/549701/3 "2010-08-09T20:32:48Z")
I’ve also noticed that when I’m watching TV with my legs propped up on a coffee table, the left knee starts to get painful . . . but not as bad as walking after sitting. This might have to do with gravity pushing down on the knee. I’m not seeing a specialist until my Medicare kicks in on 9/1, since MRIs are really expensive. My right knee will probably be fixed by arthroscopic surgery, but I won’t be surprise if I need a full replacement for the left. And I’ll have to alternate knee surgeries with cataract surgeries as well. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knee-pain/549701/4 "2010-08-09T22:26:41Z")
Ooooh, sounds like you got some fun coming… not!!! My left knee is quite painful if I’m lying flat on my back - I think it’s got something to do with it getting completely extended or perhaps even hyperextended. I’ve gotten in the habit of subconsciously bending my right leg and tucking that ankle under the left knee, which provides just enough support. Doubtless this doesn’t do a lot of good for the _right_ knee, mind you… ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knee-pain/549701/5 "2010-08-09T23:21:59Z")
Since asking about a specific medical problem is more likely to garner opinions, although some/many of them may contain factual statements, I’m moving this to IMHO from GQ. Remember, opinions are like…er, uh…something. **samclem** Moderator, GQ