UKC

My knee started hurting a little last week and after a run yesterday I can barely walk... any ideas?

I've got a long-term injury in that knee from a skiing fall years ago, normally causing a sharp pain behind/on the inside side of my knee cap, I assume tendon/ligament damage though I've never really had it looked at. Never bothers me running, more when hiking with a heavy pack.

Last week after a flat road/easy trail run, below the knee cap started aching, mainly when I straightened my leg, didn't seem related to the old injury. Took a couple of days off and it went away.

Went for a long run yesterday, it was fine until the last 5km or so, when it started hurting pretty badly on the flat and downhill. Under the kneecap as before, and also around the back of my knee. Kind of an ache that feels 'weak', like it might just collapse. Not a sharp pain at all. I pushed through the run as the only way home was downhill, and it hurt just as much to walk as to run. Used deepheat on it last night and thought it would be ok.

Today can barely walk downhill, even down the stairs. Flat hurts a bit. Uphill is fine. Any ideas what I may have done? I'm sure rest will fix it, I'd just like a better understanding of the cause and what's actually hurting, to try and avoid it recurring.

In reply to maria85:

crazy suggestion but a doctor/physio might offer better advice than a web forum. A running specific physio could be worth a try

In reply to Radioactiveman:
Yes I'm well aware that they would, and if I was seriously worried about it, or it becomes a lasting/recurring problem, I will go see one.

As I said, I expect (and hope!) it will recover with a bit of rest, I'm more just curious to see if it might be a common problem with runners or anyone can just tell me what it is that is probably hurting. My knowledge of physiology is very lacking, and I'm sure there are many on here that know much more than me.

In reply to maria85: One fairly common cause is ITBS which is pretty easy to fix just by stretching properly after you run.

In reply to maria85: Any web diagnosis will be informed speculation at best as there are many potential causes. Your knees are important and if you develop an injury and are active it can often seem to heal but come back to bite you later on. Don't take a chance, seek out a specialist physio or Doc at a Sports Injuries clinic. You may find that they can help nip something in the bud that could cause you real problems later. From my own experience its worth the time, effort and even money if you want to stay active for a long time.

In reply to maria85: The knee can be referred pain... it can be anything.. a lot goes on there.

Never just rest an injury.. when you start doing the same exercise again, it will come back, so you need to address the issue, whether footwear, stretching, strengthening etc.. but ideally see a osteopath/physio... I wouldn't see a GP... unless you know they are active and involved in sports.

In reply to maria85: skiing fall! Could be anything from minor acl tear to miniscus tear. The only way to tell is to go see your Gp do some Physio and if your no better in six weeks get referred to a orthopedic surgeon. The next step will be MRI, depending on those results you could have some kind of procedure.

In reply to maria85: See a decent physio - like Iain, I've found most GPs useless unless they are seriously into sport themselves.

In reply to maria85: Stretching exercises daily, not just before and after run/walk. Lean against wall with one knee straight and other bent. Push straight knee back. bend one knee and stretch other leg straight in front of you. Stand on one leg and hold other leg bent up behind you.

Superfeet or other orthodontic insoles are good to stop feet pronating.

When walking use 2 poles going downhill.

Thanks for the replies all.

Dancing on Rock - fairly sure it's not ITBS, it doesn't hurt in the right place. Thanks though.

cas smerdon - Thanks for the stretching advice, will give it a go. Already using poles regularly (including on the run that this started on), ditto Superfeet. I am massively 'knock-kneed' though so I have a feeling that that, and muscle imbalance, is a strong cause of this.

Iain and all who have suggested seeing a specialist - I'm seriously considering this, not just from this incident but also from the previous skiing injury. It's going to be at least 2 weeks til I can make it though due to moving countries in that time, not ideal but that's how it is. Will keep gently exercising (walking if not running) and stretching before then and see what happens.

In reply to maria85:

Hi, a big vote for an osteopath for mystery knee issues from me ... Mine puffed up after a short easy run in January, and following visits to 3 physios since then + trying their recommended cortisone injection to reduce swelling which failed and following rehab programmes, it's got worse and worse .. Last week I had a first treatment from an osteopath with time for just 5 mins hands on stuff, it's nearly better. I'm impressed!

In reply to maria85:

+1 for seeing a decent sports injury physio.

I'm going through a similar thing myself at the moment and it's very frustrating.

Maybe your knee cap is slightly out of line with your femur. This can be caused by a muscle imbalance (i.e. weaker gluts than quads).

Try doing a single leg squat and if you're wobbling about you're gluts are to weak and outer quads are taking the load. This pulls the knee cap over to the side causing the pain.

Hope you recover soon

http://www.sports-injury-info.com/patella-femoral-syndrome.html