Hey All:
Haven't been around much for the last many months, mostly because I haven't been running. Good to see some familiar names and I hope everyone is doing better than I am.
I ran the Columbus Half last fall--aiming for about 1:38 but crashed badly at about 8 miles. Two weeks before the race I put in an 11-miler then mowed the lawn that afternoon, and aggravated a persistent knee problem. It didn't bother me as I ran the half. Over the winter I ran a little less, usually only a few miles a couple of times a week, and played hockey Friday mornings. Often after hockey the knee would be swollen. I planned to run the Ohio Health half this past spring but just couldn't get the miles in. Very early summer I landed awkwardly on a curb as I was running and aggravated the knee again. Turns out my "runner's knee" is discernible on MRI:
There is a 7 x 10 mm area of grade 4 chondromalacia involving the anterior aspect of the lateral femoral trochlear cartilage and there is patchy grade 2-3 chondromalacia of the lateral patellar facet cartilage.
Patellofemoral dysplasia with a hypoplastic trochlear groove and abnormal increased transverse distance between the central aspect of the trochlear groove and the tibial tubercle of 2.3 cm.
Moderate proximal patellar tendinopathy.
The tendinitis is what finally motivated me to go in--it's newer than the chondromalacia and despite a month off, and now returning gradually, neither seems to be improving.
I've been given a range of exercises to work on and, of course, I'm doing a lousy job doing them regularly. If they don't improve things, my doctor is recommending cortisone, followed by a synthetic lubricant in the knee. Does anyone have experience with a grade 4 chondromalacia? Come back with just exercise alone? Had the cortisone or synthetic lubricant?
I'd like to be able to run ~20 miles/week max and play hockey. Nothing more. Preferably stay fit and active for another 20+ years. I'm 54 now.
Thanks for any advice.
AndyB