Point me to Knee Help?

[newdawn]

I have pronounced crepitus, and pain in my knees when they are bent for a long time (in the car or at the movies) or whenever I bend down close to the floor and come back up. This is not new to me, it's been a problem for years but I've been able to deal with it by limiting impact exercises (treadmill, step) and tending towards low impact (elliptical, AMT, rower.) It was a minimal problem when I was doing Cybex machines for my weights. Now that I've moved over to the free weights, it's more of a problem.

The squats and deadlifts in Stage 1 hurt my knees. What I'm doing for now is using less weights than I probably could. The lunges and step-ups are not so bad.

Where can I get more info on possible replacement exercises for squats and deadlifts?

thanks,
dawn

[newdawn]

P.S. I found this guide to reporting pain so here's my answers:

1. When did the pain begin? Quite a few years ago, maybe 10. (I am 42 and my dad has always had knee issues as well.)
2. What were you doing at the time? This came on gradually over years. It is in both knees
3. Where, anatomically, is the pain? Just under the knee caps
4. What does the pain feel like? It is not sharp or dull. It's a slightly sharp achiness.
5. Is the pain constant, or intermittent, or only on certain motions? It hurts mostly when I bend down close to the floor and come up. Going down stairs is worse than going up. Knees bent for long periods causes pain (like at the movies or in the car)
6. What motions make your pain worse? squats, deadlifts when I get down close to the floor. Anytime I walk for a long time, jogging
7. What, if anything, makes your pain better?Straightening my legs
8. Does your pain radiate to any other part of your body? No
9. What things could you do before, that you cannot do now because of your injury? Running, long walks
10. What is your main concern regarding the pain and its consequences? I don't want to eventually need knee replacement, lose the ability to work out.
11. Have you ever injured that part of your body before? No, not that I remember
12. Is your pain getting worse over time? And if so, how much worse over what time period? Not in the past 10 years. I've lost 15 lbs which has ameliorated it somewhat. (I'm now at a healthy weight for my height). I have given up walking long distances or jogging for more than a few minutes at a time.

[missjane]

YOu need to post this in the Injuries and Rehab section (where you found the questions).

[newdawn]

Will do, thanks.

[Lisa~]

I will also recommend that you buy Bulletproof Knees by Mike Robertson. I think it will directly address your issues.