Knee problems. Help.

[mikegh]

I jacked up both of my knees on the Vision Quest race. To make a long story short, both of my cleats were angled so that my heels were slightly toward the bike a few degrees.

After 8 and a half hours of riding hard that way, the inside of my knee caps are killing me. Mainly when I'm on my down stroke. The pain is medial and behind the both knee caps.

It's throughly depressing, cause I've riden only twice since the race (March 7th). Any suggestions? BTW, I'm scheduled for an MRI next Thursday the 28th.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Cheers,

Mike

 

[Neccros]

Im with ya brother!!! Working on foot problems myself

http://www.bikescor.com/product/knee.htm

 

[Tedroy]

? Ow...

Did you adjust your cleats at least?

 

[One_Track_Mind]

It sounds like patello-femoral syndrome to me.

http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/633/main.html

Your knee cap (patella) has a groove that keeps things aligned. By riding with your cleats tweaked you caused your knee cap to be misaligned which in turn causes irritation as your knee articulates with each pedal stroke. Over the course of the VQ that's a lot of irritation.

Another contributing factor could be muscle imbalance. Since you did the VQ, you are no doubt strong but your leg muscles are probably out of balance, ie your outer quad is stronger than your inner quad, which can pull the knee cap out of alignment.

An MRI sounds over kill to me... no wonder health care is so expensive in the US! Doctors are MRI happy and that shit ain't cheap, nor is it good for you to ingest heavy metals so that they can see inside of you... but I digress. It seems that some self administered physical therapy should do the trick.

Try strengthening your inner quad while working on stretching your outer quad. The Inner Thigh - Adductor Machine also known as "that thing that chicks look really hot on at the gym" will help strengthen your inner quad.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31CRJESVE3L._AA280_.jpg

Yes, you'll look goofy and not at all sexy but it will help.

Here's a good stretch to loosen up your outer quad (abductor).

http://www.abc-of-fitness.com/leg-stretch/abduction-stretch.asp

By the way, being an avid enough cyclist to do the VQ, what were you thinking making last minute changes to your gear / riding position before a monster ride like that!? You should know better than to change anything within 3 weeks of a big ride... tisk tisk...

* Please note that I'm not a doctor, I only play one on TV. This course of action helped me get over a similar injury while training for a tri... Good luck!

 

[mikegh]

Tedroy and One Track Mind,

About two weeks prior, both of my cleats became lose while training in mudding conditions. I did a "field repair" and tightened them without really looking at them when I got home. Needless to say I should have done a more thourgh inspection.

One Track Mind,
I agree, I'm really hesitant on the MRI. However, I looking at other alternatives. Thanks for all your suggestions and insite. Who knows, I might just cancel the MRI and do some PT myself.

 

[tweasol]

I know how you feel. I havent ridden any since late march minus a few shuttles due to annoying knee pain. Even Peter's canyon hurt a few days ago, my test ride. I'm consulting my doctor which Im sure will end in PT. Sucks I know.

 

[funkdoobiest]

I suggest you go for the MRI, sometimes cysts and fluid build up and the doc will give you a cortisol shot into your knee. Tears in ligaments and cartilage is also common and only a MRI can show it

 

[denmother]

Try PT 1st

I suggest always trying PT as the 1st step. Sometimes this will solve the problem and you can save $$$ for when you really need an MRI!!! My ortho always prescribes PT first to see if it solves the problem. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't!!!

 

[dirtvert]

i'm with otm on this one. i would at least get examined by a pt before getting an mri. and i don't think you should just do your own therapy--it's been almost 3 months and you could already be building up scar tissue that will complicate your recovery...good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Jordansrealm]

Go get fit to your bike. Read my blog I just did and hopefully what we did will remove my pain issues. http://www.lostmanifesto.com

 

[OTHRIDER]

I suggest always trying PT as the 1st step. Sometimes this will solve the problem and you can save $$$ for when you really need an MRI!!! My ortho always prescribes PT first to see if it solves the problem. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't!!!

+ 1,000

Your knee symptoms sound exactly like mine. It was treated as patello-femoral syndrome. My inner thigh and hamstring muscles were practically non-existent. Walking downstairs hurt so bad that I started to sleep on the couch.

Within three weeks of starting PT, I was feeling 80% better, but not riding. At five weeks, I began easy rides. I have maintained the stretching and strength building exercises prescribed (only 30 - 40 minutes in front of the TV). My skills still suck but my riding strength has greatly improved - with NO PAIN.

Good luck on the recovery!

 

[Patrick]

I just recovered from the exact same issue, except I hurt mine one week before while training for VQ. I think that I have read everything there is on cycling knee issues. I found that my knees have always hurt when I took time off cycling so there was some confusion as to what was what. I know overuse was the cause. I regret not getting an xray/MRI right away because I never really knew what the issue was and dicked around trying to fix it myself. I went to PT first, as suggested, in reality, they still don't know what is really going on until you get an ortho to look at it. I got a recomendation from this site for Sten Krammer, Krammer Ortho. The guy rides, took xrays right on the spot, put my mind at ease, diagnosed patellar formal disorder, prescribed PT. Since all I do is ride and sit ain an office chair, I had 20% flexibility in my hamstrings. I'm now back on the bike up to 20 miles. I am using a knee brace, the chopat style, psychosematic or not, I feel it helps. PM me for more info if you want. I did get both bikes fit, What pedals do you use?

 

[0gravity]

I suggest you go for the MRI, sometimes cysts and fluid build up and the doc will give you a cortisol shot into your knee. Tears in ligaments and cartilage is also common and only a MRI can show it

Any good ortho can diagnose most knee problems without an MRI, especially torn ligaments and cartilege. MRIs get over-used because they're money-makers.

mikegh: It's not likely you tore any ligaments through a repetitive movement. But you certainly aggravated the knee, perhaps wearing down and/or inflaming your cartilage (meniscus). It might also be tendonitis, inlamation of the tendons. Have you been taking a full dose of ibuprofen? Orthos recommend 2 weeks of a full daily course, plus RICE (rest ice compression elevation). Ice and rest are most important. If pain doesn't go away after all that, then it might be some meniscus tissue that needs cleaning up. What I said above, plus a PT, and if it doens't get better, then visit an ortho.

 

[Lefty Kev]

I once read about this dude who removed one of his own kidneys using a multi-tool and a mirror. He got the offending organ in the sink before passing out from blood loss. Similarly, there was this chick that took out her own tonsils with an old pair of tin snips. I'm not sure of the outcome, although I'm guessing her persistent sore throats troubled her no more.

Anyway, self-surgery might be an option. Just be sure to replace the knee caps right side up 8-[