Hi - I've been experiencing knee pain over the past 3 weeks. I've mostly stayed off of it for that time. It seems to be correlated directly with impact as after just a few running steps, I experience pain for several hours - minor, but still pain that I don't want to get worse. After cycling, I don't experience the same pain.
The area is on the right front side of my left knee just below the kneecap.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Could be patellar tendinitis
Hmm, that's what seems likely that it is. My knee isn't actively hurting me - any idea when it's fine to get back out and try running again?
Thanks for your input.
Sure it's not just basic Patellofemoral pain (runner's knee)? Have you been increasing mileage recently? Changed shoes? Do you remember when it set in? Was it during a run, after a specific movement, or just something you started feeling?
It was about 3 or 4 weeks ago - I had been running pretty consistently for 3-3.5 miles, and upped to it about 5 one day. It started hurting afterwards and it's been hurting on and off since that.
The pain isn't too bad...but gets worse when I do any kind of high impact activities, and also when I wake up...which may just be due to tightness.
I've tried running twice...the first time was about two weeks afterwards, and I hadn't been feeling any pain. I went for about 100 yards and every step I could feel the pain.
Outside of "vitamin-I" (ibuprofen), ice, and rest - I'm not sure what I can do to get it better...and when I can get started back up again.
Thanks to everyone for your advice.
is the pain on the lateral side of your leg? (the outside)
could be it band.
the pain is on the inside front (right front of my left knee), right below my kneecap.
To clarify as well - the pain seems to be very much impact related, and not so much just due to bending (which I guess is the reason that biking isn't that painful).
"Pain don't hurt."
Sounds similar to runner's knee, except the "below the kneecap" part. Runner's knee normally behind the kneecap. And two weeks off should have cured that (in my experience, at least). I hate to recommend a doctor, because their advice is always "stop running," but maybe you did something more concrete to your knee? Maybe MRI time? That might be a little premature, but not sure what else to recommend. Acupuncture?
Thanks all - that is helpful. I'm fine seeing a doctor - but I would prefer to get started on some strengthening exercises now. Do you guys have any recommendations on good exercises?
Did you ever see a doctor or figure out what was wrong? I have the same symptoms. I was running 2-2.5 miles a day and increased it to 4. I had some pain the following day and then ran 2 miles the next day. Now it is a week later and I have pain on impact on the inside of the knee just below the knee cap. No pain during rotation but the pain extends all the way to my ankle when I try to push off and run, barely any pain while walking though. I have been using aspirin and icing it.
So yeah, I have the exact same thing. It started a year ago when I started to increase the training, both distance and speed. Pain in the knee when running, then extremely sore below the knee cap for days afterwards. At its worst point, I couldn’t walk down stairs. I rested for 6 months – no improvement at all. I went to see a sports injury consultant, he diagnosed pattela tendonopathy and prescribed squats on a downwards sloping board. He confirmed this injury does not heal itself with rest alone – physio is needed. Did the physio for a few months – little improvement. A year later, my knees were still as bad as ever. This last month however, faced with having to miss the GNR, I have found a trick which has enabled me to start running again. I do 15 or so of the aforementioned squats, then some stretching and massaging of the sore tendons in my knee, then a small amount of cycling as a warm up. This seems to help a lot. I can now run in a moderate amount of pain which I can tolerate. After then run, I go for another short cycle to warm down. I find this helps the tendons the following day. Without the warm down, I am in severe pain the following day. So it’s a total bummer that I have to live with the problem, but at least I have found a way to manage the pain and get running again for the time being. I might go and see the sports injury doctor again and see what he makes of it all. I will report back. Hope my experience helps someone else out there with this same dam problem.
Hi all just wondering what the outcome was after all these years? I have similar symptoms running for 10mins then sharp pain under my kneecap. Went to the doctor who found no issues. So weighing up a visit with the physio. Reading the above it seems the best course of action