Viewing 18 posts - 1 through 18 (of 18 total)
  • Massive Knee Pain
  • Bludgeon
    Free Member

    Hi,

    I've not had a proper ride for 6 weeks. Every time I ride, I get a massive burning pain on the outside of my right knee after about 30 minutes. It's so bad that I can't pedal with it. In fact just having the right leg rotating as the left leg pedals is agony. I tried a bike machine yesterday (no clips, so foot/knee free to move about) and I could feel my knee after about 10 minutes so I stopped. No problems walking, running, doing squats, playing footie, circuit training, etc… Interweb suggests that it could be Iliotibial Band Syndrome ITBS or inflammation of the Medial Collateral Ligaments Ligaments

    Cause is likely to be due to "toe in" caused by being mis-aligned in my SPDs. I changed cleats aged ago without problems, but I think that the damage was caused when I rode a bike with an older set of pedals fitted. Or it could have been damaged when I had a bit in the Peaks, although there was no pain on the day or the following days.

    I've arranged to see a physio but that's 7 weeks away and I will go mad if I don't ride soon. I'm taking Ibuprofen and applying ice-packs twice per day.

    Has anyone else suffered anything similar and do you have any advice?

    Many thanks.

    Rorschach
    Free Member

    Brufen is rubbish…dichlorphenac (sic).

    stumpy01
    Full Member

    Sounds just like ITBS.

    There's loads on the internet about it – I get it when i run so much so that I have given up running. Always comes on after 20-22 mins with me & stops me dead.

    Basically, most treatment is ice as you are doing and stretch. You probably have tight upper leg muscles including hip flexors and all the muscles around your butt. Look for ITB stretches.
    I have also been told it can be aggravated by a mis-match of muscle strength so the physio might give you some strengthening exercises to do.

    Why 7 weeks to see a physio? Is it an NHS referral? If so, then I wouldn't bother. I went to an NHS physio in the first instance and she didn't have a clue what it was or what to do. It was too specialised. Get yourself into a decent sports physio – a local running/cycling club should be able to recommend one although it can get pricey.

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    coatesy
    Free Member

    Had a sports masseur friend work on a tight IT band of mine, and it made hell of a difference over a period of time, but be warned, if you think you're in pain now just wait till they start stretching it for you.

    stumpy01
    Full Member

    oooh, coatsey has just reminded me – cheap version of a sports masseur is a foam roller.

    Get one from an online physio supplies (15cm dia is ideal) and lie on it on the bad side. Roll your leg up & down it (move your whole body up & down, while lying on your side with the roller underneath you) and that is supposed to break down any tightness.
    It gives you that kind of pleasurable pain feeling. Or is that just me?!

    surfer
    Free Member

    Typical ITBS as above.

    Stretch, stretch then more stretching.
    Recovery varies from a a week or two to 11 months (me!)

    stumpy01
    Full Member

    surfer – or recovery time = on-going.

    Including the NHS physio i think I have seen 5 different physios, all with their different take on a cure. Some have appeared to work better than others, but none have worked completely, even when I have sticked religiously to their advice.

    The last attempt at solving it involved a consultant who works with Olympic athletes so presumably she knows what she's doing, ultrasound, MRI scan, gait analysis & orthotics, regular physio with exercises & stretches.
    At this point, it was no better and I got made redundant so my private health care stopped! The consultant told me to go back and she would start looking at cortisone injections etc…..hmmmm.

    surfer
    Free Member

    Stumpy

    I was competing at a reasonable level (running) in my late 30's and actually looking forward to turning 40 (from a competitive running perspective) to become competitive regionally.
    I finished a 15 mile Sunday run with no issues at all. The next morning I went for an early morning 4 mile jog and couldn't run longer than 10 minutes. Not 9 minutes, not 11 but 10.
    It was the most bizarre injury I have ever experienced. The pain was excruciating if I tried to run further but disappeared almost the moment I stopped running.
    I saw a physio who diagnosed it quickly and was confident i would be running again within a few weeks!
    I never ran for 11 months and with depressing hindsight it probably ended my (mediocre) running career (although I ran reasonably well at the British 10k champs when I did turn 40 a few years ago, this was a flash in the pan)
    I eventually had a Cortisone and it made no difference. I had an MRI scan which showed no abnormalities and when I had pretty much given up any hope of running again it cleared up almost overnight. I was doing the occasional jog to just stay active and the symptoms disapeared one day so I ran further with no recurrence.
    Mine is a depressing story as I know many running friends who have had similar experiences but recovery has been typical, 2 weeks, a month etc and back to running.
    Also some friends who only experienced the symptoms after circa 1hr of running! which would be manageable.
    My advice would be to stretch as much as possible as although it is difficult to attribute any of my recovery with it, I sense on reflection it had a big impact.
    Dont give up hope if you can manage other activities it at least keeps you sane. I did some road cycling and being quite fit managed a couple of local time trial wins!!!

    Good luck.

    spacecadett
    Free Member

    Earlier in the year I had a problem with my right knee with similar symptoms to yours. It turned out to be Patella Femoral Syndrome – I saw 2 different physios but after a bit of head scratching from the professionals, about 8 weeks and lots & lots of stretching I was back on my bike and I have not had a problem since.

    The cause of the syndrome in the first place was down to a lack of stretching after excersice which let to a tight muscles/ligaments/tendons here, there and everywhere.

    My best advice would be to see a sports physio as soon as possible – if you can afford it don't wait for an NHS physio.

    stumpy01
    Full Member

    surfer – yours sounds v. similar to mine.

    I used to run for school/borough and club and was never going to break any records, but was pretty quick.
    It kinda went off the boil when I was at uni although I was still doing regular 5 mile + runs.
    Then I started riding bikes and the running got more infrequent.
    Years ago a mate of mine entered the London marathon & suggested I got into training to do some 10km & 1/2 marathons with him. This is when the problems started – I built up the mileage gradually, and as soon as I got to 22 mins – whack. Pain down my left knee, but as you describe it goes almost as soon as I stop running. It's always between 20 & 22 mins, although I did manage 25 mins once & on a treadmill with a decent gradient I have managed 30mins+.

    I also suspect it is my flexibility – or lack thereof! My whole body seems to lack any type of flexiness & my left side is the worst – which is where I get the problem. I suspect that a daily stretching routine would help loads, but never seem to get round to it.
    I used to go to yoga when a member of a gym and this helped my general fitness. I keep meaning to speak to one of the instructors about sorting me out a tailored stretching session that I can do daily to try & get somewhere with it!

    It is annoying, as there are many people who as you say get symptoms and manage to sort it with some rest, ice & gentle stretching!
    Cheers for your words of encouragement!

    Bludgeon
    Free Member

    Thanks for all the replies.

    Yes, it's NHS. Out of work at the mo so a Physio is not an option.

    Foam roller sounds like a good idea. Used one on a sore thigh in the past.

    I'll try the stretches. Seems like that is key.

    swisstony
    Free Member

    I had the same problema few years back, went to the doctor had a course of physio but nothing helped.

    I thought it was to do with my shoe alignment but after several tweeks that didn't help either then i tried lowering my seat a bit and i never got it again. It was just that my seat was just a bit too high and i was overstretching my knee, silly but true!

    Harry_the_Spider
    Full Member

    Mine was like that when I had ITBS. Lots and lots of stretches (6 minutes every hour!) sorted it.

    You'll be reet.

    Inbred456
    Free Member

    I would stick with Ibuprofen. You want some pain relief but you also want to know when you are overdoing it. I've been prescribed diclofenac before and it is very powerful, but had many side effects.

    Bludgeon
    Free Member

    Good point about the seat height. I have felt cramped on my bike so I did raise the seat height to improve pedalling performance but now it hurts no matter how high the seat is.

    When I'm not pedalling I have no pain at all, so not always taking Ibuprofen.

    I have some stretching exercises to do. As I'm unemployed, I sure I can beat Harry's 6 minutes per hour target!

    Thanks.

    zaskar
    Free Member

    See your GP?

    Dimmadan
    Free Member

    Had a sports masseur friend work on a tight IT band of mine, and it made hell of a difference over a period of time, but be warned, if you think you're in pain now just wait till they start stretching it for you.

    Currently having mine done (had first session monday) and nearly fainted from the pain. I was told I have the tightest legs he has ever felt.

    Increase your protein intake and drink lots of water. Hot baths also help nightly.

    I was told to get a foam roller to lay on an roll the tightness out of my quads. Only £25 for a decent one.

    But do go and see a specialist.

    Konastoner
    Free Member

    Bludgen,

    I had ITBS for about 2 months last year (Posted on here too) and tried everything including physio, ultrasound etc. A solution was reccomended by a runner – the Pat Strap. It was cheap so I ordered 2 from the states for about $12 delivered. A bit sceptical, I tried them and managed White Levels without too much discomfort, I wore them 1 above and 1 below the knee cap as instructed for a further 2 months and found that I was pretty much pain free without the straps after that period.

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