924Board.org

[Legitimate Salvage]

First off, to the Mods, if this post isn't appropriate, pls delete.

Beginning about 3-4 months ago, I started having intermittent issues with my left hip and worse issues with the left knee. No recent injury, just general discomfort that flares into a sharp pain in the interior of my knee on occasion. I did ask my doc about it at my last checkup about a month ago. The answer was what I expected... "You're not getting any younger..." and he supposed it could be anything from arthritis, bursitis, to possible MCL injury. He moved my knee around in several directions and basically ruled out MCL. I was having a "good knee day" so he only suggested ibuprofen for the pain and some knee exercises, but encouraged me to come back if the pain becomes more consistent or begins interfering with ADL's.

You rightfully ask, "what does this have to do with 924's?" Well, getting out of my 924 can be a real task. Last time I drove it (the knee was being particularly surly) and I sat in the car for about 15 min (after a drive) because I knew getting out was going to be an ordeal. Fortunately, my son came home from work about that time and lent me a hand. Clutch operation isn't a real problem, but it's uncomfortable. NGL, it's starting to affect my enjoyment of the car... it's been nearly 4 weeks since I drove it last.

So what's an ol guy to do? I'm leaning strongly towards selling it and getting something else (maybe a Mercedes R107).

I'm quite frustrated at the moment.
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1979 924 NA - AKA the Mid-life Crisis
2012 Audi A3 - The Daily
1991 MB 300D
1984 MB 300D
1966 Mustang I6

[924RACR]

Ugh, yeah - can sympathize, none of us are getting younger... and I started having quite some aggravations with a knee this year...

What to do? What your doc ordered!! Exercises but also STRETCHING.

If you don't use it, you'll lose it! One of my biggest frustrations is seeing older people hardly able to move around. You MUST stay active, and keep using your body even if it's a bit uncomfortable, or you'll end up just like them and stuck hobbling along behind a walker just to get 25 feet into the store.

Not to the point of serious pain, of course - but a little pain must be endured and shows you're doing something useful. And use ibuprofen as needed, just don't let it become routine.

One thing it seems like the docs really don't get across well is not only the value of stretching, but how much/how often it must be done: multiple times through the day! Once a day won't accomplish anything. Make it at least 3-4 times a day, and take your time. That's why all those tree-hugging nut jobs that do yoga or tai chi are so well - they get out there and do it, carefully and slowly but thoroughly.

But you have to make a regular, concerted effort for routine exercise. That means both cardio and strength training, more critical than ever as we age. Use it or lose it. If laying in a bed or sitting on a sofa for 90% of the rest of your life, tethered to an oxygen bottle, sounds like a fun time, then don't worry about it. Me, I hate that idea and force myself to fight every sign of any loss of function or constriction.

For the record, I'm 50 this year... but I still drive very physically demanding racecars, travel a lot (for work), run long distance (6-8 miles at a time) etc... activity, exercise, diet, and meds and vitamins are all part of the plan. It takes a lot more directed, focused effort than it did when I was 25 and started racing... but it means I can still beat those kids on track, and keep up with them off-track. And I have no plans to quit.

The problem won't go away just by selling the car; it'll only get worse until you deal with it, or your bed-ridden.

That's my rant in return for your rant.

PS: the specific pains you mention are familiar... inside of knee, outside of knee - gotta stretch in all the directions, till you find an angle that lights up those strained muscles and ligaments. You may have to ease very carefully into it with some existing strain, but you have to get all those bits working again.
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Vaughan Scott
Webmeister
'79 924 #77 SCCA H Prod racecar
'82 931 Plat. Silver
#25 Hidari Firefly P2 sports prototype

[Fifty50Plus]

I second what Vaughan said but have further advice. I'm 78 and started racing when I was 30. I was a runner for about 30 years but stopped at 68 cuz my knees bothered me. I still walk the dogs daily and do stretching exercised most days.
About 3 years ago, I noticed that I was having problems lifting my right leg over the roll cage to get into my racecar. My doc took some X-rays and said I have osteo-arthritis. Siix months later he said it was a bit worse. I went to a sports med doctor who did an MFI and more (better) Xrays. He said that my hip joint was worn out. He said that he could give me exercises to do or shots or a replacement. The first two options only delay the final result so I opted for the replacement. It was a piece of cake. I was back racing 3 months after the replacement and move and walk just fine.
Now one of my knees is starting to bother me and I'll be visiting my sports med doc when it causes a problem in the cockpit. While knees take a bit more time than hips, I'll go for the replacement again rather than delaying the inevitable.
If you have the option, do what you can medically to allow you to keep doing what you enjoy rather than giving it up.
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1979 924 NA race car H-Prod SCCA
1982 924 NA race car - Sold
1981 924 Turbo sold
1982 924 Turbo sold
1972 911 E race car - traded for Cayenne Diesel
1975 914 1.8 Building for H-Prod SCCA

[morghen]

I’m still fairly young lets say and i dont have old age related health issues, tho i had knee pain and treated with suplements and plasma injections.
You can roll and crawl in and out of a 924, use your hands to help support.
As for the clutch..i guess i should start looking at that DSG gearbox conversion kit idea.
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Supercharger and EFI kits
https://www.the924.com

[Raize]

Would a quick release steering wheel help with this perhaps to give you more space? It's quite hard to get into a 924 because you have to step past the wheel with one leg. On most cars you can just kinda sit on the seat sideways then swing your legs under the wheel, but the 924 wheel is just way too low.

There are also spacer blocks that go under the seats if that would help to raise them. You can even stack them.

But I would agree with the others - if you have access to medical care through insurance, take advantage of that.

Also: Imagine having heart failure at 31.

[safe]

There is only one cure, training, building stronger muscles around the knee.
Pain in the knee will "spread" to the hip and back, and the other way around too, because you move funny.
Actual training, not walking or running. Stretching to get full movement of the joints is also very important.

Loosing weight helps too if one are on the porky side...
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/Magnus, Stockholm Sweden
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Porsche 924 -79 NA, EFI and Turbo.
Porsche 931 -79
Porsche 911 -77, 3.2 Targa
Porsche 911 -69, 3.6, Coupe

[scm924s]

I've just clocked 86, about the same as the mileage on my 924. I find these days pushing the seat fully back when entering or leaving the car makes life easier. I do wish I'd thought to keep one of the 924S with the power steering makes parking and low speed manoeuvering much easier Don't give up guys
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1984 n/a Ruby Red Metallic
1988 924S Guards red- sold
1986 924S Guards Red - sold
1984 n/a Black - sold
1980 n/a Le Mans#1 - sold
1980 n/a Le Mans#2- sold
1977 Martini - sold

[chuck21401]

You might consider seeing an orthopedist. Seems like imaging would be helpful to see what's really going on. I'm no expert...other than my wife has been dealing with knee pain for years and just had knee replacement surgery.
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1981 Porsche 931 w/S1 engine & euro g31 transaxle. Water-cooled intercooler

[PearlsDog]

Sir, I am 40 years old and I literally log roll out of the thing myself and practically end up on my hands and knees half the time but I just roll with it, get it!!

No joke, but seriously I put my hand on the bottom rail after I pop the door open and roll out of the thing. My fiancé is 33 and I'm more active than she is and it's kind of embarrassing but the thing is lowered and I love it so I just make it out like it's way more of an inconvenience than it actually can be so I kind of clown when I'm getting out but it's soo much easier to clown and get out by rolling out than to actually get out that I prefer to clown my way out of it.
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1982 924 2.0 n/a auto Light Blue Metallic, Black Interior

[Fifty50Plus]

Update for me. I had my second (left) hip replaced at the end of December after another visit with my orthopedic surgeon in November. He did Xrays on that and my right knee. He said they were both bone on bone and asked when my next race was. I said April so he scheduled me for the hip then and said I could get through the season with a shot in my right knee.
My second hip is fine and my only problem with my knees (right one is bugging me also) is going up and down stairs. Looking forward to the season in three weeks!
_________________
1979 924 NA race car H-Prod SCCA
1982 924 NA race car - Sold
1981 924 Turbo sold
1982 924 Turbo sold
1972 911 E race car - traded for Cayenne Diesel
1975 914 1.8 Building for H-Prod SCCA