Health knowledge made personal
I have the same issues, and have been diagnosed with patellar tendonitis, even though nothing is wrong with that tendon. What I believe is occuring is due to myofascial trigger points, which can be treated through massage. My pain has gotten better with massage on my left side, where I had iliotibial band issues. There were and still are many triggers in my vastus lateralis.
Other issues include Plica Syndrome, if your knee is constantly popping and sometimes locks up when you try to extend it, you should look into that. Plica syndrome is usually treated with surgery if anti-inflammitories don't work.
It sounds like you have patellofemoral syndrome pain (runner's knee). Patellofemoral syndrome pain is a common problem caused by the misalignment of the upper and lower leg resulting in the patella (knee cap) not tracking correctly. 70% of knee pain is cause by patellofemoral syndrome pain. Women are more prone to it because their "Q" angle (the angle of the leg relative to the hip) is greater than in men.
I am a runner and had to stop running because of the pain in my right knee. It hurt when going downstairs, squating, excerising, running and walking any distances. I tried to use many different types of braces and supports that didn't work and was about to give up on ever running again until a chance meeting at a business lunch. I met the Founder and Inventor of a rehabilitative knee orthosis/brace. The orthosis/brace realigns the upper and lower leg so the patello can track correctly, relieves pain and helps to retrain and strenghten the muscles of the knee joint. I tried the orthosis/brace and it really works. To see if the orthosis/brace will help you, sit down and do the following:
I have been using the brace/orthosis since fall and no longer have pain while running, squatting or other physical activities. I am finding I need it less and less over time. I am only wearing the orthosis/brace now during running, excersising and sports. It is light weigh and comfortable to wear under your clothes. If you would like more information on this orthosis/brace and to find out if it will work for you go to the website: www.inthegroovebrace.com. The website for In the Groove knee orthosis/brace has helpful knee tips and information on knee injury. I hope this information helps.
Hi,
I am a sports therapist from the UK and from reading your article i agree with the comment that it is possibly patellofemoral pain. One noticable fact you mentioned was problems with your IT band. Excessive tightness in this area will pull on the outer side of your patella, which is fine if you have adequate strength in the vastus medialis muscle, the inner quad muscle. If this muscle is weak, then it fails to pull the patella back into alignment during knee extension, causing the maltracking. Overtime this distrupt the underservice of the patella eventually leading to painful symptoms.
I suggest along with the look of foot orthoses, some soft tissue massage into the tight muscular areas and strengthening of the Vastus medialis muscle and possibly gluteus medius muscle.
Scott G
Write a comment:
|
Chronic Pain
Posted by Used2BRunner
I am a 23 year old female and have been dealing with chronic knee pain for 2.5 years. I have pain when sitting, walking, and especially on stairs and it is located beneath the knee cap. The pain is burning and itching and during activity it can be piercing.
I initially injured my knee in China and was without proper medical for attention for six months when I returned to the States. Prior to the initial injury, I ran five miles a day. Upon seeing a doctor in the US, I was diagnosed with patellar tendonitis.
Since then, I have rested for periods of up to five months, completed physical therapy four times, tried neurontin for the chronic pain, cortisone shots, and hyalgan shots. Additionally, my MRI came back fine. This week during physical therapy the inside lower part of my right knee bruised and swelled up and my PT suggested it looked like bursitis. I also am experiencing IT band issues. At this point in the treatment, I am discouraged. Does anyone have any input? All of my pain came back when I started PT again last week and I just want to run again!