UKC

Hello all, I would appreciate your opinions on what you think is wrong with my knee if poss, or if any of you have had similar experiences?

Basically about a year ago I started doing lots and lots of running/hiking (around 40/50 miles running and a mountain per week), probably too much too quick! But on my last run I suddenly got a very very sharp pain just above my knee (VMO area). Over the following days my knee started to "pop" and "crack" very loudly, with pain when using the leg in any kind of squatting action, or anything that would load the knee in any way.

Since then I have had an xray, mri scan, been to the physio, and just about to go to the surgeon. The physio orignally thought it was quad damage as thats where the sharp pain occured, and there was a tendony mass in that area that wasnt in my other knee. However The Mri has shown no damage to the knee at all apart from an irregular signal at the back of the knee (but no tears or rips)

The majority of the pain has gone, but not enough to do any exercise, and certainly not enough to carry a backpack and hike. The cracking and popping is still with me and seems to come from the front and back of the knee.

So at the moment im getting a bit frustrated as I cant do any of the activities that I love!

Do my symptoms sound like patello femoral pain syndrome? Do any of you guys have any experience with this, as after a year i would have thought it would be better by now!? any comments greatly appreciated!

In reply to TicTacBigToe: patellofemoral pain can be pain anywhere between the patella and femur but 9 times out of 10 its on the lateral side. Pain is increased when pressure between the 2 bones is imcreased, usually going up and down stairs or kneeling. It can be easily confussed with ITB syndrome, quadricep tendonitis and patellatendonitis.
Cracking could be a whole load of things the professionals that you are seeing should be able to shed more light on that.

Patellofemoral pain is strongly linked to prolonged pronation and weak hip muscles.

In reply to TicTacBigToe: Whatever this is, I have it too. Has not stopped me from doing anything...yet...but I am careful and take care to shock my knees as little as possible.

R

In reply to TicTacBigToe: I'd get sorted patellofemoral pain is a big indicator of artheritis.

In reply to TicTacBigToe: that's a little worrying,I'm only 26!

In reply to TicTacBigToe: any other words of wisdom any one?

In reply to TicTacBigToe:

Runners knee is usually more medial than lateral and is usually worse after sitting at a desk (so called theatre syndrome). In many it is completely sortable, but what you need is not UKC advice, but a diagnosis from a doctor or sports physio (the latter is recommended if you can afford this option) followed by suitable treatment.

If it is runners knee (PFPS) then stretching the hip muscles can be very useful. See http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/flexibilityandstretching/qt/hip-flexor.h... and http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/flexibilityandstretching/qt/hip-flexor.h...

In reply to Andy Ayres: Thats completely inaccurate. Patello femoral syndrome is where the illio tibial band is too tight and pulls on the tendons of the knee cap, pulling it slightly out of alignment, usually to the lateral side. Stretching the ITB and strengthening the muscles of the inner knee, using lunges, squats and single leg squats but focusing on form rather than reps is the usual treatment.

Exercises to strengthen the hips are useful too, such as side planks, single bridging, are good.

And in case anyone is wondering, I'm a physio, with personal experience as well.

Ryan

In reply to TicTacBigToe: thanks very much all for the advice : )

In reply to ryan_d:

Please explain how I am completely inaccurate?

A tight IT band, as you have descibed will cause abnormal patella traking leading to an increase in pressure between the posterior lateral surface of the patella and the anterior lateral surface of the tochlear goove on the femur. It is the increase in pressure between the patella and the femur that causes pain with in the patellofemoral joint.

Other factors (but not all of them) that can cause patellofemoral pain include patalla alta (high patella in relation to trochlear groove), increased Q-angle, femoral torsion and abnormal foot pronation (though the how and why is poorly understood).

Due to pressure between the 2 bodies being highest when the knee if flexed pain can be increased by going up and down stairs, walking and running and kneeling.

In reply to Andy Ayres: The inaccuracy was in relation to it being an indicator of arthritis. What you have said above is accurate.

Ryan