Strange KNEE PAIN that will not go away

have you tried ibuprofen? strengthening exercises?

Get this book a must have. Cured every running injury I've ever had.

https://www.amazon.com/Anybodys-Sports-Medicine-Book-Complete/dp/1580081444

I had similar symptoms, and took October, November and December completely off -- no running, no cross-training -- and had ZERO improvement. This was after marathon training through the pain for five months.

In January, I joined a gym and worked the Nautilus leg machines a few times a week, and got on the elliptical trainers for 40 minutes while at the gym.

After only a few weeks, I was able to gradually introduce running and have built up to about 45 miles a week. I have recently added VO2max and threshold workouts. And still do the Nautilus machines a couple times a week, but plan to mostly switch to lunges, squats, leg lifts, etc.

The knee discomfort is still there, but it's manageable. It doesn't wake me at night anymore, and I can sit for prolonged periods (like at a restaurant), without the throbbing pain I had previously. Walking down stairs is still uncomfortable, but much improved.

I am assuming it is "runners knee," and addressing strength imbalances is helping the patella to track properly with less irritation.

I am 58, so even older than you. Marathon pace last fall was 7:08/mile, so definitely not a speedster, but still running reasonably well, and getting back to those paces as the fitness is returning.

Best wishes.

Sounds like what I've been going through. I've had it for 6 months now, no matter if I take the mileage up or down, or go some weeks where I don't run at all, it's there.

It gets mildly better if I strengthen it, but hasn't gone away. I'm starting to think it may be early arthritis. I'm avoiding going to the doctor about it because I don't want the bad news.

I had the same pain, and cured it by placing some material under the ball of my right big toe. This reduced the amount of my pronation inwards, which took the stress off my knee. Try using the front of an old insole so that the material only goes under the ball of your right big toe, and the tips of all your toes, (but not the balls of your other toes).

What does the MRI report say?

Same pain. Ran through it for 6 months. Got an MRI. Stress reaction in my femoral medial condyle. I’ve taken 5 weeks off and if anything it’s less improved. Hoping for the best for all of us.

Allen1959: What Nautilus leg machine exercises? Quad extensions?

Presses over extensions,and if you are trying to rehab don't go heavy. Don't let your ego trump your brain.

It sounds like you need to go to a doctor, talk to them about supartz or similar injections that help lube the joint and ease early onset of arthritis.

First, you have to make sure it is not an actual injury. That means you may need an x-ray, MRI, or similar thing done. Check to see whether it could be cartilage or arthritis.

If it is runner's knee, then you should absolutely not use ibuprofen and you should not ice it, as you shouldn't really be running on it that much to cause such a need. What you should be doing is scheduling deep tissue massage for the surrounding areas. Tendons give you trouble when they are not elastic or when scar muscle tissue tightens the connecting areas. The best thing you can do is push that stuff loose to give it its elasticity back. And in these cases I don't recommend ice because it just tightens the muscles again. And I don't recommend ibuprofen because then you are just running through pain an exacerbating a gait/overuse injury.

Foam rollers or sticks do not come close to an actual deep tissue massage from a professional massage therapist. Definitely go to a real massage therapist and ask them to focus on things connecting to your knee.

Here is about the possible reasons on knee pain https://aropainfree.com/conditions/knee-pain

Stumpy the Pirate wrote:

Allen1959: What Nautilus leg machine exercises? Quad extensions?

Adductor/abductor machine, leg extension machine, leg curl machine. For the leg extensions, I used both legs to lift the weight, then single leg to lower it.

Later, I added the leg press, but that seemed to strain my lower back. Probably user error.

Initially, I used the elliptical machine exclusively for my aerobic conditioning. Then, as my knees improved, I gradually reintroduced running.

After essentially taking three months off, I started a protocol of elliptical sessions plus leg machines, three times per week. In the second week, I began adding runs. Weekly running mileage buildup was:

6.0, 8.0, 21.0, 23.8,

28.6, 30.6, 30.2, 41.2,

11.9, 43.0, 50.1, 53.1

So, another three months (Jan, Feb, Mar) to return to 50 mpw, at which point I added workouts.

By autumn I was able to race well at 5K (age-graded PR) and 15K.

This was at age 58/59. The healing process is probably faster for a younger person.

Stumpy the Pirate wrote:

I've had what I thought is runner's knee for about 2 months. It is constant pain on the lower inner right knee. I feel it when I walk down steps. I took an ENTIRE month off and it is the same (which I've never done). I'm icing and stretching and rolling and there is no improvement. I can run with it but I am afraid I am causing more damage. I'm a 44 year old master runner.

Go see a physical therapist

My first guess is that your vastus medialus muscle is overused and tight pulling on the patella.

I press my fingers down the inside of my thigh until I find the painful knots in the muscle. Press in for about 30 seconds. Repeat this 3 or 4 times a day and see if the pain goes away.

This muscle is the easiest to get overworked while running on trails as it has to do extra stabilizing work when you are constantly turning. Of course any muscle can get overused during any type of running.

Stumpy the Pirate wrote:

I've had what I thought is runner's knee for about 2 months. It is constant pain on the lower inner right knee. I feel it when I walk down steps. I took an ENTIRE month off and it is the same (which I've never done). I'm icing and stretching and rolling and there is no improvement. I can run with it but I am afraid I am causing more damage. I'm a 44 year old master runner.

Have you had an x-ray and MRI? It might be arthritis pain. I had pain in a similar area and the only thing my MRI showed was arthritis in that area. I never had knee pain until after a bad fall where I hit that knee hard, which my doctor thinks may have caused the arthritis to flare up and cause pain. Anti-inflammatories , time off, strengthening, massage, and stretching didn’t help so he suggested Hymovis injections. This is a viscosupplement so it’s basically injection of synovial-like fluid into the joint. This isn’t anything like a cortisone injection and doesn’t cause any damage to the joint. There are a few different viscosupplements, Euflexxa is another common one - some are just a single injection, some are one a week for 2 weeks or 3 weeks. Hymovis is 2 injections total each one week apart. You can Google one of those meds or “viscosupplement” to get more information. My knee pain went away after the injections and I was able to run the next day. I am about the same age as you and have been pain free since the injections 5 months ago. It might be worth having a doctor look at it and get some x-rays and MRIs to see what might be causing the pain.

99% of knee issues are because of weaker hamstrings and glutes. Work on strengthening those areas.

You have a bucket handle tear to a meniscus.

Occasionally it will float and lodge itself in the joint ,

You will feel the tightness and pain then.

On occasion , and in a non inflamed state, it will work itself out and you will feel relief.

If you do work that involves bending your knee beyond 80 degrees regularly it will be bound to catch.

Otherwise go get it trimmed back by a sports med orthodo in his/her own ASC.

Surgeries in hospitals result in infections....

F.Matt wrote:

99% of knee issues are because of weaker hamstrings and glutes. Work on strengthening those areas.

Most injuries are caused by overuse.

I feel you!

A little background of myself, I used to live a highly active lifestyle. Typically, weekdays I will be on my spin bikes, and when I'm not, I usually run or hike.

Last year, however, I had to stop working out altogether. I injured my knee during HIIT workouts. I recovered but my knee hasn't been the same.Let's just say I was wounded physically and mentally. I was slowly getting into depression due to the sedentary lifestyle. I wasn't myself.

Until I came across the power knee pads - it is a life changer. It works so well. I can run again! I am so very thankful.

Even bought a pair for my mother who suffers from knee pains. And for my aunt suffers who from arthritis - she said it helps her go about her daily activities.

Just spreading the word so others can benefit too :)

fyi, if you want to take a look at the knee pads I'm using, you can get it here-

www.fortified-knees.com