hello. my name is kendal, i am 23 and have been taking ballet for about 2 years. i just got my first pair of pointe shoes, but that has nothing to do with this topic really. i'm just proud to get them finally. lol.

anyway. i've had pain in my knee the entire 2 years of ballet. i started going to a chiropractor, and now a physical therapist. i'm not sure if it's getting better. if it is, it's very slow. i'm just concerned because it limits what i can do in class. what seems to be the problem is my left arch. it's fallen a bit and i lean in on it. so it pulls on one of my muscles, which in turn rubs against the inside of my knee. it's sore when i walk, and 'snaps' when I stretch my leg a certain way (ex. doing ronde jombs. i'm sorry, I don't know how to spell that. lol)

has anyone else had this problem, and what did you do?

also.... i've seen other topics in here about the same thing... but... i know i started late. my parents couldn't afford dance lessons, and i was focusing on acting when i moved out. but i love dancing and want it to be a part of my life. i want to be able to dance in shows or something... is this still a possibility for me? i mean, i won't stop dancing if you say no... but i was just wondering. i don't know how long it takes one to get good on pointe.

Hi Kendal welcome , lots to try to answer. First off congratulations for going en pointe. The best advice I can give is many long walks on the beach. The sand feels like a massage and the salt water toughens the toes. It takes many years to master pointe work, I danced for 30+ years and still had much to learn.

Now about the knee...

Pain is the body's way of saying something is wrong. Listen and go to your Dr. Have him/her refer you to a specialist. I am not sure that a chiropracter (I love them) would be the person I would go to for my knee. If you have a ballet company where you live you could call and ask for a recomendation. The knees are nothing to fool with, so go and check it out.

Lastly, study hard, enjoy the process. You seem very realistic and grounded with your expectations. Is there a performing group associated with your school that you might have the chance to perform with? Only having 2 years of ballet and starting at 23 limits where you could go with this, but just have a great time and love dance.

So again welcome and let us know how you get on.

<small>[ 07 March 2005, 10:30 PM: Message edited by: Lucy ]</small>

alrighty! hello! well, i'm having a problem right now because 1. i don't have a Dr. 2. my insurance runs out at the end of this month. so... I'm not sure where to go from there.

but anyway, another pain question! i'm playing with the pointe shoes, and my big toes hurt. i cut my nails so they're not in the way, but it's hurting around the nail and the joint. i taped them up around the joints, and I think it's helping somewhat, but what else can i do? I have those little blue squishy things for the shoes (those DEFINITELY help). how much pain is normal? lol.

There is some degree of discomfort involved when beginning pointe, but there shouldn't be a lot of pain. It is important to begin slowly, just at the barre for quite a while. Do too much, too soon and you run the risk of injury.