my cross season was just ruined by a wicked go of patellar tendinitis/tendinopathy in my right knee and shin--it hurt severly right on the tibial tubercle (the bump where the patellar tendon inserts into the shin), especially when i ran or put weight on it...or poked it. the pain was very accute and limited to just that area when pushed on; the pain spread out more when i ran on it. after 3 weeks of aqua-jogging and total rest, it is finally better.
now, my left knee hurts in the exact same damn spot as the right one did. i have only run about 5 times since my time off from the other knee. i have never, in my 9 years of running and all the knee injuries, had pain in this location in either knee. what the hell?
any suggestions on what the culprit is and how to fix it?
some more info if it helps:
-i've been running in mizuno wave inspires for the better part of two years so i don't think it's a shoe issue. and our coaches make sure we have new ones about every 2 and a half months.
-i run on a mix of surfaces, but avoid concrete like the plague if i can.
-i strike midfoot and have very good mechanics if i may say so..
-i trained all summer and didnt make a sudden increase.