None of this really answers my question.For about a month, I decided to take up running. I think it was Johanna's idea for me to do this. She only went once, but I continued. Actually, up until two weeks ago I continued. The Sunday before last, I tried but felt this horrible pain in my knee and had to limp home. The pain hasn't really gone away, but riding my bike actually feels better than walking. So, I've kept doing that, but I mostly avoid walking these days. I just returned from a ride at Penwood. Riding a singlespeed there is rather tough on the knees, thus my aggrieved knee is particularly angry. In fact, towards the end I tried to ride up one more hill and the knee just wouldn't let me, luckily it was on my way back, and for those familiar with Penwood, it was right near Lake Louise, so I just went on the paved path back to the parking lot. From what I understand, you're not actually even suppose to ride on the Metacomet there, so maybe it was my knee just telling to follow the rules.
Anyway, my question is and the purpose of this little blog post: should I go to the doctor? Two weeks of knee pain does seem like a lot. Anyone else have any experience with this?
I had cronic knee problems growing up playing sports n' all. Usually if you go to the dr. they will make you sit on a bench and extend your leg in front of you so that it is parallel with the floor. While your knee is doing this work they feel around for certain things. I'm not sure where your knee hurts, but the first recommendation is ICE. Place your leg so that it is slightly elevated so that the blood does not rush to your toes. Ice on and off for 20 min twice a day at least. Second, REST. Yes, 2 weeks is a long time, so you may have pulled or stretched a ligament. It doesn't sound like you tore anything. Try not to put much strain on it. If it's still messed up after 4 weeks you should check it out with the dr. Good Luck.
ReplyDelete2 weeks!?!? I guess I could a nintendo wii or something to distract me. Or, I think there's some world of warcraft game.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, thanks for the advice. It sounds like you're probably right per the picture there. The pain is above the knee cap, so it sounds like a tendon-type thing. I don't have an ice maker, though. Maybe I'll just stick my leg out the window.
Doesn't sound like the patella, which is another name for the kneecap. I have Patellanitis or more commonly known as Volleyball knee. Thus I always where a neoprene brace. For me, it's the knee cap that hurts.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you may have some other form tendonitis. Ice and ibuprofens.
I'm quite certainly that it's not the patella, because the pain is above it. I bash those guys all the time, I've become pretty good at identifying problems there.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny. I've hit my left knee very hard like five times this year and it's got all sorts of new scars, but it's my right knee that's giving me grief.
knees....mine hurt a bit on a ride yesterday in berkeley
ReplyDeleteyou see dan mckinley?
ReplyDeleteI started running as well right about when darkness began to set in before I was getting out of work. For the first few weeks I was getting some wicked knee pain as well. Mine was in a different place but could be the same causes. A) Your knees just aren't used to the abuse of the cruel sport you've recently adopted. How often do you run? Ive found that spacing in a couple extra off days helped it subside over time. B) How are your shoes? Might want to take a look at your stride to see if you overpronate, supinate, etc. May need a different type of shoe. I was running in the absolute wrong type of shoe. Since I switched the knee pain has gone away. In reality any one of these factors might have done the trick but they are good starting points. The advice of the first comment are the place to go after you've earned yourself some pain. Running it seems will always be painful.
ReplyDeletesee mckizzle? me? is here out here?!
ReplyDeleteYeah. His girlfriend, Lex, moved out there. He's visiting, though may have returned.
ReplyDeleteIck. I've had lots of knee issues since high school. And just asking around, it's really amazing how many people have bad knees. Every situation is different, but the fact there's pain means something is wrong. I have a knee sorta lock up on me probably about once a year, and usually goes away after a day of rest. Someday, I'll really get it checked out, since I know something is wrong, but I don't have constant pain right now.
ReplyDeleteMy advice: if the pain is constant for another week, go see a doctor. You shouldn't have to just live with pain.
My biggest problem for much of this year has been plantar fasciitis...pain in my heels. It's probably due to poor shoe choices, and I sure hope it has nothing to do with my biking. Again, I've been meaning to find a podiatrist to check it out, but haven't.
Hey Rich: as for the plantar fasciitis before you check out the doctor you should try a pair of superfeet. Not to pitch but i had the same issue as im on my feet all day every day and they made a huge difference, for a bit more than a copay they are worth a shot. You should also make sure to frequently stretch your calves really well as this is where the problem stems from, tight calve muscles pulling on the tendons that run under your feet, or so ive read.
ReplyDeleteWearing shoes with superfeet when I was not running also helped my knees recover as they correct any inefficiencies in your gait and take a lot of stress off your ankles and knees.
I'm one of the bike fitters @ Pedal Power. There is a difference between discomfort and pain. Discomfort is you bodies' way of telling you something is wrong. Pain means that something bad is/has happened/ing. If you've had 2 weeks of pain, go to the doc. If it's not going away, chances are you've done some sort of damage. Pain is your body telling you to stop. Get it checked out by a professional. If you continue, you could do a lot more damage to something than you realize.
ReplyDeleteAs for not riding for a while, we see tons of athletes that refuse to take recovery days (or weeks when injured) and then wonder why they hurt, or why their fitness plateaus.
So yeah, don't mess around on that knee. Get it checked!
Pretty helpful info, lots of thanks for this article.
ReplyDelete