Knees hurt?

[kauaian]

My fit test should be coming up here in a few months and I was just about where I wanted to be on my run time.

All of a sudden my knees hurt? It started in my left knee on the outter side of my leg somewhat under my knee cap and it is now in both knees same spot. I have never had knee problems before but stopped as soon as I felt pain. I almost always run on an indoor track which is rubber coated. I was experiencing shin splints for a few months but took care of them with a new pair of shoes with more arch support. I have never had shin splints before either? Never had any swelling in either knee just aches now.

So I called my doctor and of course the soonest I could be seen was 4 days later. By this time no pain at all but figured I go and see what he has to say. Doctor stated since there was no swelling and no pain already to just go easy and ease back into it.

2 days later I attempt to run at a very slow pace and was fine until about a 1/2 a mile. Same pain just all of a sudden in my left knee and now it aches even more. I havent ran for a week now and both my kness just ache, notthing unbearable. Heading to the doctor again but wanted to see if anyone has had or knows anyone who had this type of knee injury? Is it just commone runners knee or may I have torn something? Any words of wisdom?

[kpddet35]

My fit test should be coming up here in a few months and I was just about where I wanted to be on my run time.

All of a sudden my knees hurt? It started in my left knee on the outter side of my leg somewhat under my knee cap and it is now in both knees same spot. I have never had knee problems before but stopped as soon as I felt pain. I almost always run on an indoor track which is rubber coated. I was experiencing shin splints for a few months but took care of them with a new pair of shoes with more arch support. I have never had shin splints before either? Never had any swelling in either knee just aches now.

So I called my doctor and of course the soonest I could be seen was 4 days later. By this time no pain at all but figured I go and see what he has to say. Doctor stated since there was no swelling and no pain already to just go easy and ease back into it.

2 days later I attempt to run at a very slow pace and was fine until about a 1/2 a mile. Same pain just all of a sudden in my left knee and now it aches even more. I havent ran for a week now and both my kness just ache, notthing unbearable. Heading to the doctor again but wanted to see if anyone has had or knows anyone who had this type of knee injury? Is it just commone runners knee or may I have torn something? Any words of wisdom?

I started having pain in my knee about one year ago. The pain started in my left knee and the pain was at the bottom edge of my knee cap. Not sure if this is close to where your pain is. Anyway I went to an orthopedic and he said I have patellar tendonitis (sp?). Basically I'm getting old. This is something treated with stretching and rest. I would highly recommend going to an orthopedic instead of a regular doctor. I hope this helped some.

[cpwclarke]

You might also try a knee brace to provide some extra support.

[Sandles2Sidearm]

before you run out and get scoped....


Check the tread on your shoes...when did you last get new shoes...for me a big indicator of needing new shoes, outer knee pain.

Also, have you rolled on foam yet? You have some very large, very strong muscles, ligaments, and tendons that run between your hips and knees. Go to your gym, look for high density foam, lie on your side placing the foam underneath you. And roll it out...it loosens you up and some of the pain you have may be deferred from everything getting tight.

Your tightness can be caused by a number of factors, only a few of which have to do with running.

Good luck.

[kauaian]

KPDDET35:

Yup exact same spot! Outter lower edge of my knee cap. Would you mind sending me some stretches via pm? I have been swiming to keep up my cardio but its killing me not being able to run.

Sandles2Sidearm:

Shoes are about a month old. I will go and ask tomorrow morning when I go to the gym about the foam. So you put the foam under your hip area and roll it down towards my knee, laying down on my side on top of the foam?

Thank you for all of your quick responses!

[IrishGrunt]

Great suggestions from everyone. I'd follow all of them. Things to consider:

Go to a podiatrist and get recommendations for the right kind of shoes and support. If you are wearing shoes with high arch support for the first time, you are stressing your body in new ways and it may take a while to adjust.

Strengthen your quads. Strong quads will help hold the knee in proper alignment all the time, both while running and at rest. That can help take stress off the joint. Any work to strengthen should be accompanied by flexibility work as well.

I take glucosamine and chondroitin supplements myself to help keep the tissue in my knees strog before I have problems. Some say it helps.

[FBI-Chombo]

Ah the knees. I had the same problem with mine. I don't think I've run since 9th grade PE class--and that was because I HAD to. When I started training for my PFT, I too had to start with the dreaded runs. I got my knee pain about 2 weeks into my workouts. Mind you, I could only run about 1/4 mile without stopping. But, the knee pain came anyway. What worked for me was the following: Must have great shoes, I'm a fan of the Nike Pegasus. I have two pair and I alternate them for each day. Go to a track store and run on the treadmill and step on their squishy pads. Some of them even have video cameras that will record your feet as you run. They will then be able to recommend a proper shoe for your arch (or lack of). Get some good socks too, I like the ones that absorb the sweat. Next, ice. After I my runs my knees would hurt badly. I went straight ice on the knees. 15 mins on, then off. Maybe twice per knee. Then, the Glucosamine, I don't know if it actually worked for me or was a mental thing, everyone I spoke to and everything I read says it works, so I took it. Not sure, I did it anyway. Lastly, I pushed through it. For me, and I'm not suggesting you do it, but I just kept running. The pain sometimes lessened, and sometimes got worse. Either way, I knew I had to run so I did it. I too went to my Dr. and asked him about it, he said I wouldn't cause any damage so I kept on. My Dr. basically said, the pain you're feeling is mainly because you're not 18 anymore. I sucked it up and did it. Oh, the glucosamine, take it at night before you go to bed. After a couple months, the pain went away. Now I can run 2, 3, or 5 miles without any pain at all.

[Kegan30317]

KPDDET35:


Sandles2Sidearm:

Shoes are about a month old.

Make sure they are the right shoes for your foot strike. For example if you have a neutral foot strike or your foot pronates, it requires two different types of shoes. Go to a good running store (not Sports Authority or something like that). They can fit you correctly.

I've had knee problems as well. I find a couple of Bromelian tablets before I run does wonders. Then take one tab if your knee bothers you on an off day. Bromelian is a natural anti-inflamatory and you can get it in most drug stores near the supplements.

For knee pain

[FXF4]

I too have had my share of problems. Good suggestions from everyone who posted. I would do some alternating low impact cardio workouts like running in the pool, eliptical or biking to give your knees a break.

good luck.

[Sandles2Sidearm]

http://www.strengthcoach.com/public/1303.cfm

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/...1556-0,00.html

These are decent pages with video demos, if you google "foam rolling" you will get more.

I will second the proper fitting shoes....Do you pronate, mild, medium, are you a big guy? Do you run on trail or concrete?

There are many stores to choose from, but get one that fits properly one that specializes in running vice foot locker...

I am not a runner, never will be, but running is a must for work so I do it....that said, I used to have lots of pain, I am a big guy, but a running fool of a colleague recommended a few of the aforementioned things and I have mitigated most of preventable pain, now if I could get someone to run for me...that would be great.

[lauderdalehawk4]

I have the same problem but mine starts with pain just above my kneecap. If someone could pm me or post the stretches that are supposed to help.

I am also going to have to look into getting a new pair of shoes, any suggestions on running shoes? I have wide feet and have tried to go with New Balance because of it but would be open to other brands as long as they are reliable.

[kauaian]

Well, turns out I have tendonitis "runners knee". Doctor told me to just take it easy and gave me an anti-flammatory. He also hooked me up with a sports medicine doctor.

We'll see............