Anyone use a knee brace?

[Triumph]

My right knee has always acted up moreso than my left. I had to cut a hiking trip short once because of intense pain and cramping from it. Two days ago, I went ice skating to get a little bit of conditioning before a ski trip. Two days later and my knee still hurts or feels weak when I twist it a certain way or put pressure on it at different points in the bend. I'm a little bit out of practice with the skating, but I've never had my knee ache like this. Pain is mostly in the two tendons in the rear and some in my hamstring.

So what do you wear knee braces for? Do you see any benefit to wearing one? What kind do you have and where did you get it? I'll probably go to the doctor anyway, but I want to hear some other people's opinions.

 

[vi edit]

Braces are typically for people that are recovering or have had serious tendon/ligament damage. When you lose the reinforcing ability of that connective tissue you need a mechanical device to do it for you.

Unless you've actually suffered from a tear or sprain, a brace likely will do you no good.

And no forum can tell you if you have, only an MRI can.

 

[BigJ]

I still wear a knee brace (hinged) on my right knee because I had a pretty good MCL/Meniscus tear and a very slight ACL tear in it. The knee has a lot of give but doesn't require surgery (this happened a few years ago) but I use it just to be safe.

The funny thing is when I injured it, I was already wearing a hinged brace because I had strained my PCL pretty badly. Guess knee braces don't work so well when a 200lb person's back goes through it.

 

[BoomerD]

I have a DonJoy Defiance knee brace. Issued to me after my ACL replacement 3 years ago. Custom fit to my leg, and cost about $1400.
Do I wear it? Yes, but not as often as I should. Anytime I know in advance I'm going to be doing a lot of walking, or strenous work, I put it on, and when my knee bothers me, I put it on as well.
I also still have one of the small neoprene braces with aluminum hinges in the sides. My ortho told me it was a worthless P.O.S., and that I should throw it away, but I find it comes in handy for little stuff like mucking about in the yard.
Otherwise, he's right, it IS a POS and really doesn't do much.
The knee continues to disintegrate, so I'll probably be getting the full knee replacement within a couple of years...
NOTHING about that process appeals to me, but, everyone I know who's had it done, say it's the best thing they've ever done, and wish they'd done it sooner.

 

[Triumph]

Ach, I don't want to think about a full knee replacement or anything like that! I will try some light stretching and some more exercise and see if it goes away, if not I'm off to the doctor.

 

[BoomerD]

On the days when my knee is really killing me, I find these help quite a bit:
https://www.thermacare.com/kneewraps.jsp
Also, if I'm at home, I alternate between heat-packs and cold-packs, (15-20 minutes each) for a while. That helps eliminate much of the soreness and inflammation.