KNEE'S

[protect us]

After 11yrs in job and loads of green docket ( when we had green docket !! ) yes i know happier times !!! my knees seem to hurt and this varies as they are fine some days but now the door to door weight , rush to get finished,sky mags , etc etc is making them worse ! i would like to know how others are affected and how do you cope ? im guessing if i carry on i will need a knee op soon !?? is this what normally happens or nothing to worry about when out of job the knees heal !! ? i am looking everyday for a new career / or just a job !! now as i have had enough of RM - i LOVED my job it was never easy but more do able when i started and not so heavy going - there is no further propects if you want them and every day now we are spoken to and treated like dirt - when your sick you get bullied back ,when you work hard and realiable they love it , minuate your off ill your useless and on a warning ?? i wish people knew what went on behind the scenes it is now a VERY hard job and with later starts and saturday late finish it really is not looking nice ! even the wages are no longer nice with what you have to do ! VERY SAD TIMES ahead . Most of the posties i have met from all over the business are decent ,honest and hard workers that dont deserve this , but im afraid there is no way back now ! so before - and if im lucky to find a better job !!! any KNEE advice is fully APPRECIATED ! THANKS were fight and dance till we cant no more !!

[pokos27]

get to the gp and get a sick note, and take some time off, dont put your health under jeopardy.
and see a physio as well.

[mazza111]

agree, and if you're wanting to leave consider IHR as a way and then look for other work. Choice of leaving with something or nothing. Payout not gr8, but nuff to see u thru to getting another job :)

[Dorset Plodder]

Sorry to hear you're suffering Protect Us. Apart from advice given if you're intending to work on somethings that may help:

1) Paracetamol & Ibuprofen = painkillers and anti-inflammatorys = carry some just in case.
2) Decent footwear = not issue - proper walking shoes/boots or marathon type trainers (expensive).
3) Insoles for footwear = Can cost as much as £20 sports version available for trainers.
4) Decent socks = not 5 for £3 type - walking or running costing £10+
5) Knee Supports = Sports type neoprene or stretch elastic with velcro.
6) Walk on the grass = Keep of hard surfaces if you can.
7) Check Bags Weight = Carry as little as possible use LWT.
8) DO NOT RUN = Under pain of death!

Most options will cost you cash but if you're intending to work on you've got to look after those knees. Good Luck

[protect us]

Sorry to hear you're suffering Protect Us. Apart from advice given if you're intending to work on somethings that may help:

1) Paracetamol & Ibuprofen = painkillers and anti-inflammatorys = carry some just in case.
2) Decent footwear = not issue - proper walking shoes/boots or marathon type trainers (expensive).
3) Insoles for footwear = Can cost as much as £20 sports version available for trainers.
4) Decent socks = not 5 for £3 type - walking or running costing £10+
5) Knee Supports = Sports type neoprene or stretch elastic with velcro.
6) Walk on the grass = Keep of hard surfaces if you can.
7) Check Bags Weight = Carry as little as possible use LWT.
8) DO NOT RUN = Under pain of death!

Most options will cost you cash but if you're intending to work on you've got to look after those knees. Good Luck

MANY THANKS DP ! very appreciated , i shall take all that on bpard and hopefully it should minimise damage !! hopefully iv not done too much damage yet - whats your thoughts on this ? i know many get refferals to atos ! - managers couldnt care less they just get in some young blood and it repeats itself !! i really hope my knees are fine ! i shall work through for now and hope another job arrives soon and before any long term damage is done ! surely knees need excercise but working 6 days a week is proberbly pushing them a little - although i guess joggers must suffer too ??

[DGP1]

Sorry to hear you're suffering Protect Us. Apart from advice given if you're intending to work on somethings that may help:

1) Paracetamol & Ibuprofen = painkillers and anti-inflammatorys = carry some just in case.
2) Decent footwear = not issue - proper walking shoes/boots or marathon type trainers (expensive).
3) Insoles for footwear = Can cost as much as £20 sports version available for trainers.
4) Decent socks = not 5 for £3 type - walking or running costing £10+
5) Knee Supports = Sports type neoprene or stretch elastic with velcro.
6) Walk on the grass = Keep of hard surfaces if you can.
7) Check Bags Weight = Carry as little as possible use LWT.
8) DO NOT RUN = Under pain of death!

Most options will cost you cash but if you're intending to work on you've got to look after those knees. Good Luck

You also need to stretch out before you start delivery, it does help
http://www.thewalkingsite.com/knee_exercises.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; I personally find the calf ones help the most.

[feduppostie]

my knees seem to hurt and this varies as they are fine some days but now the door to door weight , rush to get finished,sky mags , etc etc is making them worse !

break your bags down and don't rush! have you been through P&L?

rushing and carrying overweight bags are going to put a strain on your body especially your knees for gods sake forget about making any time and look after yourself!

[Dorset Plodder]

Good advice DGP I never feel the need for a warm up prior to work but have always used one before exercise in the past. That was before the work rate increased and knackered me out, would love to run in the evenings but can't motivate myself.
Plus the Saturday timings now make participating in any team games a non-starter. Thinking back I used to make it 13.00 for a 14.00 kick off, plus going away at a push, no chance now. Cheers RM.

[southcoast_postie]

Hi all
I have been signed off till next monday for a knee problem, I went to the doc, who drained my knee and gave me a cortisone injection... this has only come on since the new P & L , which starts 45 mins later and we finish at least 1-2 hours later than on the bike!.... I am going back tomorrow to see the doc as my whole body aches, can't hardly lift my leg and forget doing shoelaces up! We are due to start our new walks next week and I will be using an HCT, albeit on a fairly flat terrain. I am almost 60, been here at this particular depot for 2 years, and for 22 months never had a day off till the new methods came in.....I am not work shy but this is really getting me down.... I must add our manager is a reasonable guy and has a smooth operation compared to elsewhere I have worked!

[Pinky 1]

Why not send a pm to Stormproof ? I've always thought of her as OUR resident knee specialist

[chunk]

Hope you get some relief a steroid injection should tied you over perhaps for a few months
if your lucky!
but the demands of the job will mean you will prob need another at some point.
docs usually give a maximum of 3 injections(because side effects etc and reduced benefit )
they then insist you have an op.

my insights are not from medical school! but from mine and workmates experience
between us have had tennis elbow, prepatella bursitis ie fluid on knee ( similar to yours)
carpal tunnel etc.

[flaminmoses]

weight and longer walks gave me a knee problem.
physio said my kneecap had moved slightly and was causing muscles on one side of the leg to overcompensate the now lazy ones on the other side.
caused some weird pains.

been off for a few weeks now doing quite a few leg excercises every day gave to me by a physio.

should be back soon but my issue is some walks have clearly not been thought out properly regarding weight steps and terrain.

one particular walk still hasnt been looked at even though 3 of us have got bad knees from one particular section.

management dont want the hassle of having to change a walk and still let posties do the round even though others complains its too tiring.

[Dorset Plodder]

Surely there's some procedure were you can get this section, or duty, checked out? Possibly under H & S, is this a Risk Assessment type situation? I would have thought if you'd got a few Posties complaining about it there would be a "Reasonable" argument to put forward.

[mazza111]

Would certainly be interesting to know how many posties have been IHR due to knee problems. Mine was actually a genetic thing I didn't know about, the angle of my femur of all things putting pressure on the knee cap, would have gone eventually but the job just made it go faster :(

[flaminmoses]

Surely there's some procedure were you can get this section, or duty, checked out? Possibly under H & S, is this a Risk Assessment type situation? I would have thought if you'd got a few Posties complaining about it there would be a "Reasonable" argument to put forward.

i will stress the importance of this when i have my "fact finding" tes unbelievably i was suspended even though i had an ongoing issue which the dom ect knew about.

Would certainly be interesting to know how many posties have been IHR due to knee problems. Mine was actually a genetic thing I didn't know about, the angle of my femur of all things putting pressure on the knee cap, would have gone eventually but the job just made it go faster :(

my physio said its mines down to carrying weight (probably on one side) but that kneecap scenario feels quite familiar.
mines moved slightly and should be strapped to move it more to the right....a normal knee suports isnt any good.