The general advice is to not do anything that makes the knees
hurt. Going to doctors may be difficult due to insurance issues, but
it is a good time to start reading about this.

Can you try changing your exercise routine to see if you can find some
exercises that are easier on the knees. Examples are swimming and
walking. Since you are a heavy person, walking may be still a strain
on the knees, but swimming may be a good start if you can find a
swimming pool where you feel comfortable. Some people here started off
with "water aerobics".

I had similar knee pains myself, for years. They became somewhat
better with weight loss, but did not go away. They did go away when I
(at normal weight) switch to a low carb diet and stopped eating
grains, beans etc. Perhaps it is coincidental, but I consider that
unlikely.

In the worst case, you can lose weight without aerobic exercise, it is
completely doable. Do not give up dieting if you cannot find exercises
that are acceptable for your knees.

Annie, I used to have really serious knee problems 4 or 5 years ago,
and was given a similar diagnosis and recommendations to you.  The
exercises I was given -- more stretching than anything else -- were
tedious, and I didn't stay with them too long.  But I did start taking
glucosamine chondroitin (and I still do).  It takes a couple of months
to make a difference, but I do think it helps.  I began doing water
aerobics, and that gave me a way to exercise and also, I think, helped
my knees.  After a while I got involved in weight lifting, and I think
that probably helped more than anything else.  While some people say
that leg extensions are contraindicated for knee problems, I believe
they helped me.  I also think squatting below parallel helps, but you
will get massive debate on that :-).  I don't know exactly what in all
this helped, but my knees are vastly improved.  I can even run, which
I'd never have thought possible.

Is it the elliptical trainer that's causing you knee pain, or aren't
you sure?  I'd recommend backing off on any exercise that hurts until
you are pain free, and then easing back into it or trying an
alternative.  Stretching before you exercise might help.

If you feel that the pain is accompanied by inflammation, I'd suggest
ibuprofen rather than aspirin; it's a better anti-inflammatory.  And
ice can help as well.

Losing weight will likely help yours knees, of course.  But I
experienced virtually all of the improvement in mine before I ever
began dieting.  (I didn't run when I was at my heaviest, though, and I
don't know that my knees would have tolerated that.  I began running --
VERY gradually -- at about 220 lbs.)

I hope you can resolve this.  It was a scary time for me, too, and I
count my blessings that the problems have gone away, at least for now.
(By the way, I'm female and 56 -- turning 57 in a couple of months.)

Chris
262/130s/130s

I think the glucosamine is a good idea. What rehab exercises are recommended
by your doctor? I would recommend step-ups
(http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/Quadriceps/DBStepUp.html) starting with
no weight and about a 6" step. If you are doing leg extension
(http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/Quadriceps/LVLegExtension.html) you
should do only the last 15-20 degrees of the movement.

IT Band stretches are also recommended but these can be painful and you
would typically have to go to a Physical Therapist. You could try the
stretches on http://www.nismat.org/ptcor/itb_stretch/ at home.

I don't remember your previous post, but if some of your exercise involves
bicycling you might want to stop until the problem improves a bit.
--
Matthew
185/176/160

Annie,

I have the same condition with my left knee.   Medically known as
Chondromalsia, or patella tracking syndrome.

I went thru physical therapy for the exercises as well as the
anti-inflamitory for the internal swelling from the irritation.

The key to my healing was to stop wearing heeled shoes.  For me its a
matter of stance and walking posture when in heels that helped cause the
problem.

Also, I noticed I tend to hyper extend my knee when I walk.  (this is where
I extend my leg all the way out till the joint goes totally straight and
then some).  This caused alot of pain.

I have to concentrate on my posture when I walk (especially if I'm walking
fast).  

Also - at 252lbs, you are putting a great deal of stress on your joints
that is probably contributing to the problem.   Losing weight to a more
appropriate weight for your height and age would be better.  

Exercising on the elliptical will help, as it is less strenuous on the
joints - but just be sure you aren't over doing your stride and
hyperextending your knee.  I've found that if I'm not careful I can do that
on the elliptical.

Also, if you find the daily exercise is getting to be too much on your knee
- you may want to find another form of cardio until you get your weight
down.   For instance - swimming is a great way to get cardio in with no
impact on the knees.   If you alternate out your elliptical traing a few
days a week and swimming or other non impact aerobic/cardio training you
will give your knee more time to rest and recouperate between workouts.

Go easy on the weight lifting on those knee using load baring exercises.
Make sure your form is correct when doing your exercises.  

My physical therapist advised against squats but for leg press - as it is
less load baring on the knees.  Likewise she advized against lunges, but
for stepup

I personally experimented and found the more solid I keep my "core" the
better my posture and form is for keeping good form and not causing injury.
For infromation on this - check out Pilates or Yoga.  

There is so much more I could go into, as I live with this problem and have
researched and experimented a great deal on this stuff.  Feel free to ask
questions.