How do you get a good cardio workout when you have two bad knees?

I have no cartilege (degenerative joint disease) in both knees I am 35 yrs old and used to exercise daily. Pain keeps me from exercising now and it also makes arthritis worse if you DONT exercise. Any suggestions? Knee replacement is NOT an option for me at this point in my life. They are only good for 10 years (is my understanding) I can't afford the gym and can't access an indoor pool. PLEASE HELP.

the good news is that total knee replacements are lasting as long as 15-16 years, now. the metal alloys and composite materials are getting better, so is pain management, and rehab. Also, there are all kinds of new procedures such as resurfacing of joints and re-growth of cartilage coming down the pike.

to answer your question, now.

Upper body workouts are great. your arms are very close to your heart and so you actually can get an even better workout cardiovascularly. as an aside, for example, patients who are just post op cardiac surgery are restricted from upper body workouts as it is too stressful on the heart.

so, the puching bag idea is pretty good, so is a speed bag. but, if finaces are an issue the standard military workout-- minus the run --is great. that would be push-ups, sit ups/crunches, and pull-ups. the only thing you might need is a bar for pull-ups. you can get a cheap one at a second hand sports store like 'play it again sports' or even just buy or find a pipe and install it between a doorway with some collars and screws...or you could find a tree with a branch low enough to suuport your weight, or a T-clothes line. wheni was in college i hung onto the molding over the doorframes.
dont forget stretching and or yoga (if you can tolerate yoga)

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You already answered your own question. Find access to a pool! You could talk your doctor into giving you cortisone injection, but I wouldn't be up for that.

It will be difficult in the circumstances you described. You need access to a gym so you can get the elliptical or a pool. CHeck out GOld's or 24-Hour Fitness... you can get them for like $20 a month.

a rowing machine.. a punching bag..as long as you can keep moving and break a sweat.. i personally think a punching bag would be best.. not too much leg movement.. unless you want to move alot, and you can break a hard sweat..

I know how it feels, I blow out both of my archilles about 5 years ago and I thought my life was over.The hardest thing to realize was I wasn't going to hit the gym right away; it would take time.

Unfortunately, for people like us, not being able to hit the gym right away is difficult to deal with. But think of it like this, when you were training for an event, how did you train? You probably started with conditioning your body, then strengthing your body, then focusing on your sport skills--and this would occur over a whole season---not all at once.

So, first, try rebuilding, slowly do some exercises to increase your range of motion (strecthes, resistance band stretches)--this will strenghten the liagments. Once you feel comfortable, add small amounts of weight resistance. You need to rebuild the muscles around your joint that you haven't use for awhile. After you rebuild and work up the muscles around the joint, then I would look for some light cardio, nothing pounding, like the elliptical. But you said you can't get to the gym, so how about jogging in place on one of those small trampolines that physical therapist use; you can get these at the store for about $30-40 bucks.

Good luck--Be patience