i have read through some of the comments and am kind of confused.When i went to the doctor when i was younger, i was told by the doctor, that it wouldn't negatively affect me in any way. In fact he said that people with knock knees tend to run faster than normal people. Now I feel like a complete idiot for believing him.

So I am 13 and I have a medium case of knock-knees and they say this could mean future arthritis. Can I still get surgery?

It might sound bad but I am so happy to see these comments and to know that there are other people suffering from the same problem. I am a 18 year-old Asian female and I realized that I had knock knees at 13 when I read an article in a fashion magazine about what clothes to wear if you have "o-shape" or "x-shape" legs. Ever since then I hated my legs and have had even lower self-confidence.

I never wear skirts or shorts. In fact, I don't even own any. I just wear loose jeans or pants, even in summer. I don't wear dresses either. When I walk, I always try to rub my lower legs with each other (despite the knees) to make my legs appear more straight; I just feel very self-conscious. And I feel disgusted when I see my silhouette on the ground at night. With my busy life now, I tend not to think about it as much, but when I do remember, it just makes me sad and insecure.

I've never had a boyfriend and given my grossly low self-confidence I will probably never get one. I wish I had straight legs.

I'm 15, and i have mild (but noticeable) knock knees. It hits me so hard and takes such a bad toll on my confidence and self esteem. They turn in and my thighs touch because of it, and it makes my hips look a lot wider than they really are. It makes me look very unproportioned. I'm about 5'2 and weigh about 110, but I look a little bottom heavy in jeans/shorts/skirts because of my knees. I'm always conscience of my legs, it's always always always on my mind. I always think people are looking at them.

I've gotten only a few comments, but I know people see and think in their minds how weird it looks.

I don't want to get surgery, no. My parents say they "don't notice" but of course they do. They only say that because they cannot say "Oh my God. You're right. Gross. You must have corrective surgery ASAP!"

What should I do? Advice? Help? Similar stories..? :(

I am a 13 year old boy and I have knock knees and I play football and run a lot and now my knees are starting to hurt. Can i still get a night brace/surgery or something?

I am a 43 year old female and I've been knock-kneed all my life. I too am always looking to see if anyone is staring at my knees when I'm walking. I work in a hospital and wear scrubs but you can still see them. Some of my co-workers have made comments asking me if I have knee pain. I hate it so much and I can't find anything to wear to hide them. ft

Hi I am a 16 year old girl and I'm knock-kneed. I absolutely hate it! What can I do to make them straight?

Hey guys. Surgery is not that bad. For people still growing look up guided growth.

I am 25 years old. i had once fallen down from stairs when i was 14. because of the knee injury, i had surgery on my left leg.It was a minor operation but due to the pain, my whole body weight was carried on my right leg. I was so much scared to put any weight on the operated left leg so even after the operation my body weight was 80-90 percent on my right leg. Slowly i started noticing that my right leg is knock-kneed while the left is straight. It is really very uncomfortable and painful to walk or run. Is there any exercise to correct it. I was very athletic but now i have lost my self confidence and very depressed as i can't walk for more time. I am sure there should be some way to correct it and not only surgery. Please give me suggestions.

i have knock-knees which has really embarrassed me all my life and made me have a very low self esteem. my mum used to tease me a lot which made it really sad for me. i can't wear the clothes i love to put on. i am very conscious of the way i walk and look at people's faces to see if they are looking at my legs. how i wish it can be corrected now without an operation. can anybody advise me on what to do?

I am an attractive 35 year old female and have it all. I am knock kneed and pigeon toed and i was always made fun of. This one particular end of year party there was someone imitating the whole class and guess who was the joke? i have seen and heard it all. i always overheard people laughing or asking me funny questions about the way i walk. my mother took me to a state hospital when i was 10 and the doctor said it is not a matter of life or death. i am healthy and can ride a bike etc. i don't have any pain though. i also just wear long skirts but people still notice. i have never had a problem getting guys and my husband hardly notices. i have learned to live with it. even now still the odd person will comment on how i walk and i have learned to laugh at myself and not take it seriously. a few years ago someone asked me rudely if my one leg is longer than my other because of the way i walk? i am still concious of it but i focus my attention on my other very good points.

Linda E Stanley (#14), thanks for the suggestion, I will try that! I am 36, male, and have had knock knees almost my whole life (ankles about four inches apart when knees are fully locked out). I'm slightly overweight, but my legs and knees are very strong, I've trained pretty heavily in the past. I've never been able to use swim fins very well, though, so that could be a sign that those ligaments and muscles are weak. My hamstrings and calves are also very tight; they need constant stretching to be reasonably flexible.

My son is going to be three soon, and I have noticed he is very knock-kneed. Well it straighten out, or get worse? Anyone have a clue?

Hi! i am 18 yrs old. i think i do have a little knock knees problem. My knees touch a little when i stand straight joining my feet. Is there a chance of getting it corrected without a surgery? Can exercises help me?

I am a 52 year old female. I have had knock-knees all my life. I didn't even realize I had the problem until my mother told me I needed to keep my knees apart when I walk. Before that I thought it was normal to walk with my knees touching. It has never bothered me.

hello. i have been so upset about my knees. i made an appointment with a orthopedic surgeon. he said that surgery wasn't what i needed, but physical therapy. he said that weakness in my thigh muscles are making me depend on other muscles, causing my knees to go in, that spot strengthening them will make my knees go where they should. i would recommend to anyone to make an appointment with a specialist and get diagnosed as to what the real problem is and how to handle it. I am so glad i did.

My name is Brianna, and i've had knock knees since i was a little girl. my mother has it barely but mine is really noticeable and i can't stand my body because of my knees. It seems like wherever i walk guys don't want to even speak to me unless I'm sitting in a chair or on the internet and they don't know me. When I walk one of my knees hops in front of the other one and they're always rubbing together. I want to get surgery so bad but my mama won't let me because she says I look okay but parents have to say that. I get teased about it from my old friends and I try to laugh it off but I can't. I can't wear skinny jeans, bebrmuda shorts, shorts, dresses, or skirts because I can't stand the sight of my legs and how they look. I really want to have knee braces of some treatment to straighten them out. I have *no* self esteem and I feel bloated but i'm not. I wish I could have never had them. Since they make my legs go inward too, my top body looks bigger than my bottom body and it sucks in the little hips i have. God, I just wish I could just make them disappear and get straight legs.

I'm 15 years old and I have broken both my ankles which I think may have contributed to the impending knock knee years to come. Although I have broken my shin areas, as before stated in the article (a cause of knock knees), I began noticing this condition as a child. It has been a real self-esteem hit. I feel uncomfortable standing with others and I usually feel the need to cock one hip so it is not as noticeable. Orthotics in my shoes did not help and arthritis has started in my ankles and knees. I hope when my family can afford something like a surgery, I may have fixed legs! Good luck to all you other fellow knock kneers!!!

i had a friend suggest doing exercise to strenghthen the knees will help. i dont know but im gonna try even if it just helped some that would be nice. i will let you know if it helps!

im 13 yrs old and so fed up with my stupid, ugly knock knees. i've had them all my life, i think. i have been doing dancing(ballet, tap and modern) for 9 years and they get in the way so much. i cant lie on my side with my legs striaght with my feet touching. i have no pain, they just look a bit ugly. im not overweight, in fact i am below average. i hate wearing jeans as they seem to make them look more pronounced. What can I do? all i want is to be able to stand up straight with my feet touching and not having to push on my knees *Help*!

I am a 31 year old young man and artist so being different is my normal. my first experience with being knock kneed was when i was just around 10. my aunt lined me and my cousin side by side and turned us around, she laughed and just said ok. i never thought anything of it again?

i was a skateboarder for years and always enjoyed running climbing trees & gymnastics at school. i was even declared one the best gymnasts in class no trouble with agility. one year at school not too long after my first experience with my aunt, after a long day in gym class i was wearing spandex bike shorts i thought were cool lol. some kid in a group of others came up to me and said whats wrong with your knees, it was an instant complex, but know i'm proud of who i am and still don't have any pain. look at it this way, no pain don't worry.

don't let people treat you second rate just for being different. there is a whole bunch more of us who accept you for you than there are those who you need not waste your time worrying about!

love kit.

I am a 60 year old female. Within the last year i have noticed my right knee is turning in and touching my left knee when standing. My leg between my knee and ankle hurts when i walk or stand for awhile. Is there any exercise or something i can do to fix this? I don`t have insurance and don`t want surgery anyway.

I know I shouldn't let this affect my self-esteem, but I do. I know it's just natural for people to look at something unusual. It doesn't mean they are making a judgment. But I can't help to think I'd be less introverted if I didn't have this. I will sit and let other people leave first, feel like if i'm getting to know someone and they see me walk, it will affect what they think of me. I know that if I feel good about myself it won't be as big a deal. I'm Trying!

Hello. I'm a 20 soon to be 21 year old african american female and i have knock knees pretty bad. My feet are also flat and i feel as though that just makes things worse for me. Back in 2002 my freshman year of high school, i suffered a serious injury to my left knee simply from just walking! I do not know about anyone else but my knees always gave away as a child and it continued as i got older and during my accident that's exactly what happened but i was so used to it happening i just walked it off. Low and behold i ended up *dragging* my leg around because i could put 0 weight onto it and that's when my knee doctor told me it was dislocated. Ever since then i've attended therapy 5 different times over the years. It would seem to fix my issues but only temporary. I wish i could just do therapy everyday but it's expensive. i was told if i receive another dislocation that i must get surgery but i'm so afraid of getting it however i'm desperate. I'm also a little heavy set. I'm 5'1 and weighing 170 some odd pounds and i was also told that's a disadvantage. Hopefully someday soon i can find a permanent solution. I do not however go through self esteem issues with my legs. My thighs are thick so it sorta distracts from the knock kneed look. But i *hate* walking! My feet always hurt and i always fear my knees will give out because they do at any given moment. I've even fallen on stairs due to the giving out.

I hope and pray i find the answer soon because it's not getting better. Thought i would share.

I'm 23 female, will be 24 in a months time and i have had knock knees since high school. they have gradually got worse with age. my left leg seems to be the affected one and is bent. my right leg seems straight but recently i fear that it is also starting to bend inwards.

i have had people stare at me in the street and had university mates also comment on them and making fun of my leg which was really hurtful. even my brother has made nasty comments about my condition which often makes me cry.

I have been with my bf for a year and a half and he has not commented on it once. i think he knows that i walk funny. i'm too scared to tell him i have this condition as with family and anyone else. it really breaks my confidence although i am very beautiful i feel that this stops me from being who i really am and wearing skinny jeans like all other girls do.

i would love to correct this but i am at the age where my career is very important to me and having a surgical procedure makes me feel i would never be able to continue with my career like i am doing so at the moment. I absolutely hate this condition and have wished myself dead. that's how much it has affected me and am too scared to go for surgery.

i wish there was a simpler option. i know there isn't. i am glad to find that there are other people like myself and i just wish we all never had this condition.

thank you all for your comments! reading them helped me a lot! more than you know. my mom is also knock kneed, although she's not really aware of it, which i wish i was now! she said 'i walk slow but not weird' ok my brother said i walk just like her, and when i watch her walk i think 'oh gosh!' but until we can all get operations, we have to accept ourselves.

when i watch someone with a limp walk proudly, i feel good for them, but when i see one who walks like poor me, i feel sorry for them. it's hard but i try to walk proud!

i am 45. my knees are turning more inward, i have torn cartilage and pain but gluocosamine pills really help with that. i would *jump* at the chance to have surgery to correct it. it would be amazing to walk straight. i wouldn't care if i was in pain afterward.

i would recommend occupying your mind as you walk. i think of the song 'hold your head up'. i try to smile while i walk, and a lot of people nowadays have i-pods, cd players or walkmans. keeping your mind off of it helps a lot. i also want to say to my family here, walk proud!

it makes it hard for me to go out the door sometimes like i have to 'slay that dragon' once again. i, too look in peoples eyes to see if they're looking at my knees, but i'm trying not to because what if they are looking? if i see a crowd of people up the road, i get really self conscious that they are going to see me and i wish i was wearing a long dark thick skirt!

i wasn't really aware of it until about 10 years ago when a relative yelled out while i was walking, wearing shorts, "your knock kneed!" since then i have been really aware of it, and it has gotten worse over time.

i have been knock kneed my whole life.

I'm a 19 year old girl from India and I've had knock knees for as long as I can remember but I never found it to be a problem. I mean people do sometimes tell me that I walk weird but I just tell them, "yeah, I know..." and tell them why in case they ask... It doesn't really bother me that I have this problem. I can walk and run and stuff without problems, I don't know what's gonna happen when I'm old though.

I had corrective shoes when I was a kid but they didn't really work. I don't think I've ever concerned myself with how my knock knees affect my social life in anyway because if there are people out there who want to make fun of the way I walk, I wouldn't want know them anyway!

I am 17 and have knock knees. I don't think we noticed it until I was in middle school. My parents thought it was no big deal and so did my doctor, because apparently they were supposed to fix the problem themselves. Well, that never happened.

I don't have walking problems, I guess I just worked out a way to walk. I walk with my feet pointed out so that my knees will be straight. I have had knee pain, but not enough to get it checked out. But now that my sister went to a foot doctor and my mom talked about my issues with the doctor, I'm going to visit. We looked it up and most of the sites told us that if it wasn't fixed I am destined for arthritis and knee replacement at an earlier age.

For some reason this has never been a self-esteem issue, I actually thought it was cool that they did that.

I'm a 16 year old girl and according to this website I have severe knock knees. I started noticing my knock knees a couple of years ago but I think I must have always had them but never really noticed.

My mum has knock knees so I suppose mine are inherited. I'm under-confident anyway and my knees are making me even less confident, especially around guys. Please help, what can I do? Is there an alternative to surgery? Please help!

I am 13 and I think I have it because both of my knees go inwards, my right more than left and ache after walking for long distances. Two of my aunts have it and were not seen to.

I have always been ashamed of it, but am scared of operations so don't want to tell anyone.

I am a 25yr old female with Knocked knees. I have always had this problem, and when I was younger I was constantly falling. I still have balance problems, but I never was made fun of or had a complex about it until I heard a co-worker of mine was making fun of the way I walk behind my back.

I find myself to be very pretty. I never had a problem getting men and my friends never said a thing about it if they even noticed, but this co-worker has messed up my mind. Everywhere I go I'm watching people stare down at my knees. I still wear skinny jeans because a part of me wants not to care, but the other part is eating me alive! I have already had to deal with surgery for scoliosis and am not sure I would want to pursue surgery for my knees, but my knees look gross and I can't help but to watch myself walk towards the mirror in disgust at night.

I'm a 20 year old African American girl and I have knock-knees. I feel like I'm the only one I ever see with this condition which makes me feel super self-conscious. Everyone at the college I go to looks really good. They are thin and able to wear shorts and things like that.

I hate that I have to worry about what I wear because I love clothes and I want to wear what looks best. I also hate that how I can't do whatever I want to do like go on long walks or walk on the treadmill because it hurts. I don't want to get surgery because the concept terrifies me. But I feel like I'm always going to be down because of this condition. I have other issues which make me self-conscious and this is something that I feel I can't change no matter what I do. I'm a happy person, but I'm disheartened by this and I just know its going to get worse. I don't know what to do. I just don't.

I'm so glad there's a board like this! I've been searching forever for some input from other genu valgum sufferers like me. I've been to the doctors so many times for this problem in the past (I'm a 21 year old female), only to have them brush it off and not address the problem or to refer me to a specialist who seemingly also has no idea what they're doing.

I don't know if my condition is worsening or if I'm just becoming more aware of it, but my legs often tire quickly after walking long distances - and I've lived in NYC for a couple of years which was sometimes torture!

My knees are also bent at different angles - one is slightly more severe than the other, making one leg stronger and causing a slight limp/awkward gait. I'm very clumsy and have terrible balance due to this.

Does anyone have a similar problem? Does anyone know of surgical procedures that aren't merely cosmetic? I don't want to be in a wheelchair by the time I'm 40!!

I am a 32 year old african american female and I have knock knees. I have been teased before in my early years and it bothered me. Even if someone mentions it- if they happens to notice- it bothers me. I am tall and I love wearing long skirts. The only skirts I would wear is right below the knee to hid my knees. I don't wear skinny jeans either because I don't like my knees. I always watch what I wear. I am a beautiful woman, but I wish I didn't have this flaw. I inherited it from my mom and aunts. It is crazy because my uncles- their brothers all have slightly bowlegs. I was like how did that happen? I wish our legs can be like that too.

God, this problem takes it's toll on me everyday. i constantly have to think twice on the clothes to wear to hide my knock knees and the stares and secret laughs turns my heart. i really cannot take this type of humiliation anymore.

i'm 24 and went on a ski holiday a few months ago. a few nasty falls n bending my legs in really stupid ways and suffering knee pain since. i saw a specialist today who told me i have bent knees. she said i'd be prone to injury and she's booked me in for podietry, physio and an mri.

i was fine with this, and now i'm actually really upset. i've always had people make fun of the way i walk and always come last in a race and frequently sprain my ankles when i run. i could never work out what i was doing wrong! i guess now its just nice to know!

i'm 21yo i have knocked knees and it does get me down. i've started to stand funny where i'm trying to stand straight so it isn't so noticeable. i'm going on holiday with my boyfriend and i'm anxious to get in a bikini in front of him. i know he loves me but i'm still very self conscious of my knees!!

im 18 and im a male and i wear skinny jeans and have knocked knees and they sometimes look weird and get teased about it by some people but to me i really don't care because im just confident...i look great and im a nice person so if thats all they can say to me to hurt me i let them and i think everyone should think that way!

think of all the positive things about yourself instead of just being knee-knocked.

Hey NOW!! I am a 28 yo woman.. It used to bother me being knocked-Kneed but eventually I got over it.. We are really the ones who notice it and if anyone dare tease you because of it that speaks volumes about them.. To the youngsters out there please don't allow this to diminish your confidence. Love you for who you are and the rest of the world will follow suit! And if they don't SCREW them..and to the young ladies , lemme tell you, I have never had an issue with the fellas because of this.

I am fierce regardless. We all have "flaws" or things about our bodies we don't like those we can reasonably change, change, but this we just need to accept... To all my Knocked-Kneed family out there stand strong and proud...

i am a male 22 years old. i have knocked knees. u know man it sucks when i see myself walking in the front of mirror. i have to think twice or thrice every time when i have to buy a pair of jeans for myself. i really want to get rid off this problem. i cant buy everything. but i felt little warmth after reading this article that i am not the only one there are people like me. life has to go on and so do we so if there is any kind of help please write here or otherwise we have to go on no matter because god dont give us everything we want, life is for compromises we should learn to compromise.

hi, this is shovik from india. i am an asian, 5 years old. both my knees do touch when i stand straight but at the same time my ankles also do touch. i have played extensive football and i've no problem regarding playing, walking, running etc. now, only because of my knees do touch, can it be called a knee-knock or knocking knee? if it is, then can it be medically corrected? waiting for your reply. thanks in advance........

I am 19 years old, and I am a victim of this terrible disease as well. All of my life, I have been made fun of. I am really, really smart, and I am very beautiful. However, that one flaw makes me vulnerable to harsh comments and ugly names. People can't call me dumb or ugly, so they just call me "bad-built up." Yes, that is what they call me. It doesn't matter if I am alone or with a large group of people, this is the name that I hear all of the time. And I know that this is the reason why people don't tend to hang around me as much. I get tired of being talked about and put down. I am really over the harsh comments and ugly names, but it still hurts to know that I am being judged by the way that I walk. I know that the surgery will probably be painful, but I must say that it won't be as painful as the pain that I endure everyday ..........

My daughter is 9 years old. Every since she was about 3 she has sat in what I call a W shape on the floor. It just seemed more comfortable for her. Gradually I noticed that her knees were swayed inward. When she walks its like her legs just swing outwards and its really evident when she runs. She has a really hard time getting into our jeep. To lift her leg high, her joints seem really tight -like they are unstretchable. I notice it a lot and now her friends are noticing it and kids can be mean at times. I want to do something now that she is still growing. I'm not saying that letting her sit in that W shape contributed to her knocked knees but who knows???

I'm 45 and have knock knees and it is SO frustrating. As a woman, what you wear and how you look is a huge part of your identity, so being limited to always trying to camouflage your knees is a constant source of grief. AND, a painful reminder that you don't look "normal" like everyone else does. I actually notice people's knees now wherever I go, always wishing the good ones were mine. I say RUN to the nearest place to get them fixed, as long as the "fix" doesn't end up creating more problems. Also, does anyone know a place in the U.S. that corrects adult knock knees -- Dr. Veklich at Ladisten sounds phenomenal, but the Ukraine is a really long way to travel if you don't have to!

im 13, and i got knock knees and it bothers me a lot. my parents dont think it is a big deal but it makes me feel weird. i just want it fixed, but i dont want the consequences of surgery when i get older. is there an easier way to get it fixed since im still growing?

to Anon8895 The board you are talking about... Is it a normal Kick board?

I'm 14 and I play running back for Varsity football. I'm fast but everyone says I run very weird and it looks really funny. I have a lot of pain in my knees but all my doctor told me was to take advil. But I did notice my knees were inward a lot. I looked it up and found out I have knocked knees and this was the cause of pain and why I run weird. I don't think my parents would allow me to do surgery but I want to fix it so I can run normal and faster for High School football. I really need another option for fixing it.

I am 47 years old with knock knees, and let me tell you that it's hard work to not worry what other people are thinking when they see your legs. I hide my legs as I also am too self-conscious, and am so sick of thinking about what I can wear so that it minimizes the knock kneed look. After having been teased a little and rejected by boys in my earlier years, it took a toll on my self esteem. I have always hated my legs and their appearance regardless of what others think. Living in a very materialistic world makes it even harder too ignore.

I am seriously considering having them corrected by Dr Veklich, and reclaim some of my lost youth back. Has anyone had the correction done and be able to give feedback?

i have knocked knees too ..it is frustrating because i play soccer, and since i run pretty fast, my knees get in the way, and i trip and fall, and most of the time, i hurt myself,

pretty bad. so i'm hoping to get surgery before i'm done in high school, so i don't have to worry about this later on in life.

i am 22, female, african american and i am very knocked kneed, my legs are very close at the top (my thighs) and from the knees down they are apart. i really hate this and i feel embarrassed when i walk especially with someone behind me. i dont wear shorts, capris or skirts. the problem hasnt been painful but sometimes i wonder if it would become an issue later in my life. hopefully i'm not too old to grow out of it because i definitely wont be getting surgery because i'm still a very beautiful person inside and out and i wont let this ruin my self esteem or confidence and neither should any of you guys.. and i am very very knocked kneed its horrible.. keep ya head up and ya confidence too!

i'm 17 and i totally feel the exact same way....not too long ago was when i had to correct my walk because of being pigeon-toed and knockneed.... i mean i learned how to have my feet pointing outward but i still have that appearance where my knees are still pointing inward...and to be quite honest it's so frustrating because it's true.... you do have that insecurity that when you walk that maybe people are staring at your knees...i just want straight legs so that i can feel confident walking in a skirt or even wearing skinny jeans... i know that if you're obese it worsens the appearance but what happens if you try to tone your legs will the appearance become less.... i mean if all it takes is just exercise then ill do it but surgery...from what i read from the think twice comment i'm a little scared....but for all the women and men who feel insecure because of their knock knees try not to let if bum your day or get in the way of ruining your chances of getting with some chick or dude...if you know you're beautiful or handsome inside out and someone just can't see that..maybe you just need to like somebody else...=] thats what i do...but if anyone has any suggestions about this..please reply..thanks=]

Hi Im Elizabeth and Im 15. I have always been so embarrassed by it. Like when I walk down the hall way I have to twist and turn my body to walk and people are like why do you walk so dang weird? I'm too embarrassed to tell them. Just recently we were at tennis practice and two of what I thought were my friends demonstrated how I walked for everyone. I was so embarrassed and mad. Im so not the one to cry because I have been through ALOT and I just broke down. I am really athletic I cheer I play tennis, run track and I do gymnastics and Im going to play volleyball this year and me having knocked-knees really hurts my knees and my back. When I tumble for cheerleading I always have stupid bruises. I was a two time state champion pole vaulter and I set the state record twice as a middle schooler and I still hold it but I recently gave it up because running hurts me soo bad. I love running but I get to the point where I dont even want to. But to top it all off my Dad thinks Im just being needy he thinks I will grow out of it.

I really would like to get surgery or braces or something. Does anyone know what I can tell my dad to convince him?

Hi! I'm 26 years of age and didn't even realize till today that I'm knock-kneed. My legs were always bent inwards at the knee, but I didn't realize it was that bad. After reading the posts above, I could relate to so many of the problems that others have stated. I have injured my ankles a million times and keep bumping into things. Surprisingly, my knees have never hampered my salsa... in fact I've been told that I dance, as well as walk beautifully. But wearing skirts and tights is a total no-no for me, since the shape of the legs becomes quite obvious. Is there any other treatment, besides surgery that can be used at this age? It would be nice if any medic out there could air his opinion. Thanks!

Prerna

my son is 6 years old and has been having knee pain for a couple of years. 2 years ago they did x-rays of his knees and said they looked fine. today his doctor told me he has knock knees. is this what has been causing his pain?

I am 24 years old, and have recently discovered i have knocked knees. I say only recently because my friends noticed at work before i knew there was a problem. I used to wear skinny jeans all the time, but now i hate them because of my legs. my friends tell me its not a big deal. The thing is before i knew there was something abnormal i wore what i wanted and i never got people staring at me and i was confident, it was only when i realised that my legs were different that i became more aware of the problem. so really, i might just go out tomorrow and forget about my legs and get the skinny jeans out again! I personally would love straight legs, but i have a busy life so to be honest i dont think i could deal with the whole healing process.

For the younger girls who think they wont get boyfriends, honestly your legs have nothing to do with it, its your confidence, if you think there is a problem they will and as you get older you wont give a crap about others!!

I have something called multipul epiphiseal dysplasia, which was inherited from my mother. I had an operation for perthes when i was 12 and even so have always suffered from knock knees. In october of last year i had to have a total right hip replacement, during the operation they also had to cut the femur in half and twist it round as the femur bowed and would have pulled the hip back out. Since having the operation i have been unable to walk with out crutches as the operation seems to have affected my right knock knee greatly. I have been told I will need to have this leg straightened in order for me to be able to walk again. I am 33 and a single mother of a 12 year old and am worried about what the operation would entail and how long i would be out of action for. i would be grateful if someone could explain the basics for me please.

Yes Doctor Veklich from the Ukraine does perform that kind of surgery. I came across his website and am really considering having surgery. I am 17 years old and have knock knees. I really hate it! It doesn't really give me any physical pain but it is so embarrassing and really reduces my confidence. I feel so ugly and unattractive because of it. And also, now i'm at the age where most people start dating and I feel that my knock knees are really something which will turn guys off of me. I really would love my legs to be made straight, but is it worth having surgery? I guess you could say it would be purely for cosmetic reasons. Do you know what the chances are of any complications ensuing? At the moment, I am quite an active person but will i still be able to be as active as i am now after the surgery? I'm so confused at the moment, and just don't know whether to have the surgery or not. I want straight legs but at the same time i don't want to be in pain. Please help me! What should i do?

Knock knees (genu valgum) is a more problem than bow legs (genu varum). There are only a few doctors who could help to resolve the problem. I heard Doctor Veklich in Ukraine, Kiev

can perform this kind of surgery.

Well, I have an idea for all of you. I hope it works as good for you as it did for me. I am 42 and had knock knees all my life. I was always made fun of and people said it looked like I walked with a corn cob up my butt. I remember wearing braces and weird "Little House on the Prairie" shoes at night with a board in between my feet that forced my toes outward (yeah, really comfortable). Anyway, even after seeing many doctors, I think I finally found the solution - completely by accident! I was a swimmer in high school, and I have been trying to get back into shape after having my babies. I bought some flippers/fins for swimming, and I would go to the pool and grab one of those boards and put my flippers on. I would glide through the lap lane, forcing my legs up and down as fast and as big as I could (feel the burn!). Then, I would put the board away and do the same thing on my back, pushing as hard as I could (don't forget to put a hand back over your head so you don't hit the end of the pool). It's got to be as hard as you can and it has to be big strokes! What this does, besides a great workout for your thighs, is that it strengthens all those muscles and ligaments around the patella; particularly on the inside, where it is weakest. When I was in physical therapy for my knees, I remember how they showed me that the patella was loose, it moved back and forth, and that is why I was knock kneed and had knee problems. This exercise corrects it! Your knees are soooo strong, and the patella does not move anymore! Takes about 30 days or so, if once or twice a week, 20-30 minutes on each side. Give it a shot! LindaEStanley

I have knock knees, but only my right leg turns outward below the knee. It's not really noticeable when I wear pants, but I'm very self conscious in swimsuits, shorts, or skirts. Often, I find myself placing all my weight on my left foot and standing with my right leg and foot facing outward so that no one can tell...and I know this can't be good for my left leg to do all of the supporting in those instances. I'm 24 years old, so I'm wondering what can really be done now. I've also sprained my right ankle 12 times (literally), and I think this may be because of my knock knees. What can be done as an adult???

I'm 16 and have had knock knees since I was really little. I'm going to go to the doctors about it soon though because it's really taken its toll on my confidence levels. I'd rather deal with the consequences of surgery than stay like this forever.

I'm 17 and have knocked knees. My friends have pointed out a few times that I walk a bit strangely, so it's really discouraging and embarrassing. I feel really self conscious when I walk in public, or when walking up to someone, so this has made me extremely self conscious for years. Sometimes I also experience pain in my knees when climbing stairs.

Corrective surgery terrifies me, but I've read that orthotics usually can't fix knocked knees. Is this true? Is it still worth trying? Will I outgrow this, and if so, what can I do to speed up the process? I want to see a doctor about this, but like the person a few posts above me, my parents don't think it's a big deal.

im 15 and have knocked knees man it sucks can anyone tell me if there is a place i can get treatment? some times my knees pain me i just wanna be normal

I was wondering if there are any support groups for this issue?

I'm 14 an have knocked knees its so embarrassing. I told my mom and asked her to let me see a doctor but she says i walk fine but i know i don't because people in school always notice it.

Hi, I´m 30 years old and I´ve been suffering from knock knees since my late childhood.

I´m embarrassed when people see me walking too, and I think it´s getting worse year by year ...

I work out a lot, everyday, and I still don´t feel pain, but, Am I going to be like this forever?

Hi I am a 42 year old female that has been knock knee all my life. I want the corrective surgery no matter what pain it entails. I'm tired of living with this condition that has made a spectacle of me since childhood. I wore the braces for year and they did not correct my knees. Today I'm embarrassed for people to see me walk. My husband is constantly making sure I don't fall over things. I walk with my head up and never look where I am going because I want to look proud, yet inside I just want people to stop staring. Can someone my age have the corrective surgery?

PLEASE THINK TWICE! I had correcitve surgery when I was fifteen to fix my knock knees. During the surgery they cut completely through both of my femurs and re-alligned my legs. Although my legs are straight I am in pain daily. I am 22 and have very advanced arthritis in both knees. The right leg is worse b/c it got infected inside the cast as it was healing. When they changed the allignment of my legs it messed with my hips, back and ankles. I see a chiropractor every week. There isn't a day that goes by that I think maybe it was a mistake to have the surgery. I cannot play soccer anymore, I can't run because it's too painful. And to put the icing on the cake I was told today that I should expect to have knee replacement surgery by the age of 35. I'm a woman and I would like to have children but I'm not even sure how my knees will handle the extra weight. I know not everyone has these results, but I urge anyone who is considering the surgery to think twice, even three times.

My mother had knock knees when she was younger about my age, 19, and doesn't have them anymore. I have them now and they really bother me(appearance wise) but my mother claims they wont be there forever. Is she right? Even at my age, can I still grow out of them?

I am 16 years old and i have knock knees. Right now i don't feel any pain and I don't have any difficulties, I don't play sports. I want to know if my condition is going to get worse specially that I am in a country where its very hard to get treatment.

That sounds like Compartment Syndrome. It is mostly found in runners but in also those with knock knees. The correction is minor surgery; a small incision is made in the casing surrounding the muscles in the lower legs. To ascertain whether or not you have Compartment Syndrome, a nearly painless pressure test is performed to measure the pressure existent in those muscles.

I am 41 years old an have knock knees - have always been this way. As of late I am having trouble with the muscles in my lower legs when I walk distances. The muscles above my ankle bone, on the outside of the leg, cramp severly. I have purchased a good walking shoe and still the pain persists. Could this be a result of the knock knees? are there any remedies I can use (exercises, implants)?