[Nellie]

Hi everyone

Have been getting a niggle in my left knee. It does not hurt when I walk or when I run but is very sore when I would bend my knee. or for example if I wish to sit crossed legs. The pain seems to come from really deep inside on the inner part of me knee cap (on the fatty bit) I can never really put my finger right on the pain as I cannot seem to locate exactly where it is, I just know this is very sore. Could it be just a pulled muscle or is this a common complaint that runners have?
Hope I have described this ok!!

 

[Steady Edwina]

Does it hurt when you you go up or down stairs? Does your knee have a tendency to click? How old are your running shoes?

If the pain continues might be worthwhile getting someone to look at it.

 

[Dan_R]

I had something similar to this once and it was an inflamation of the muscle insersion in my knee somewhere. Although I could feel it when I ran as well, particularly up hills.

3 weeks rest sorted it out in my case.

 

[Nellie]

I only have the pain when I would try to sit cross legged or when I would bend it to sit ( I know what your thinking - don't sit cross legged!!) but thats the only way I can describe it. It hurts when I pull my leg that way. It does not hurt when I walk or run It is the strangest of things...maybe its just a pulled muscle and some rest might help. It's very hard to rest don't you think?

 

[Nellie]

No none of the above. My running shoes are only 2 months old and I got them in a specialist shop where they did the gait test so I don't think its them.

 

[Steady Edwina]

You could try some knee strengthening exercises as your quads might be a bit weak - straight leg raises, squats, lunges. I know sometimes your knee cap can malltrack in its little groove and the pain can be brought by sitting with your knee bent (as opposed to with your legs straight out in front of you).

Make sure you stretch all the muscles around your knee quads, hamstrings, calves, IT band and hold your stretches for 30 seconds. If you get any swelling ice it and if the pain gets any worse or you notice pain on other occasions see someone (physio/sports therapist) for an assessment. Hopefully it will settle down on its own.

 

[Steady Edwina]

I love your avitar btw

 

[Nellie]

Thanks for the advice, I probably don't stretch enough as you say and I definately do no strengthening exercises, so I will give those a go and see how I get on..Thanks again.

 

[Nellie]

Ta Ta.......

 

[Dale the Snail]

Dan

The knee problem you had sounds a little like my problem. Did your knee click ? or feel loose inside the joint ?

I had a cartilage op last year and my knee has never quite recovered. Have to see consultant again in December as it may have torn again.

Hope and pray I don't need another another op and can find a quick fix.
Will probably hear "You must stop running", yet again. Getting sick of people telling me.
.

 

[Dan_R]

The knee problem you had sounds a little like my problem. Did your knee click ? or feel loose inside the joint?

No, I didn't have those symptoms. Mine felt like there was a 'tugging' of a muscle in my knee whenever I ran on my toes - not seriously painful but an irritating niggle which took a while to shift.

 

[Real Runners]

Nellie - is the pain on the outside of the knee? Also do you have tight hamsprings or ITB. A lot of knee problems are a result of tracking problems.

I know this sounds crazy but if it is the outer side of the knee try stretching your hip. If the bursa of the hip is tight this will crazy the knee to be out of alignment, it will pull on the ITB which will then effect the tracking of the knee - the knee will then rub against the bursa of the knee and cause a nasty pain. The tighter the ITB, the more the tracking of knee becomes outer aligned.

The bodies a funny old thing - last year I hand 3 injections into my knee and was off running for 6 months, none of which sorted it. I then saw a specialist who showed me a stretch for my left and I was back running 2 weeks later! Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[Steady Edwina]

I think Nellie said her pain was on the inside of her knee but ITBS isn't fun still suffering with some tension in my left hip.

 

[Real Runners]

Hi Steady Edwina

I am sure you have been recommended numerous of stretches but I found this was the best stretch for me regarding tight hip and ITB. I picked up the photo via google - it shows the stretch well -

http://www.fin.ucar.edu/sass/hess/ergo/stretches/images/hip_stretch.jpg

Like I said I had 3 injections in the knee, I was off for 6 months, then I was told to do this stretch 4 times a day and I ws back running within 2 weeks. Keep us posted!

 

[Nellie]

No the pain is at the back of the knee... it does not hurt when I run or walk but when I bend it...funny thing really, I know there must be something out of sorts but I just can't put my finger on it, hubby seems to think it might be torn ligament or maybe pulled muscle???

 

[Real Runners]

Hi Nellie

I would encourage you to see someone about it - maybe a sports physio, it sounds like it Runners Knee, very common and its not your fault! Are you icing the area? Taking any anti inflammation tablets? Massage? Definitely get some advice asap.

It sounds like Runners Knee (9 times out of 10 - pain behind the knee is runners knee) however it could be something on the lines of Baker's Cyst, which is a real pain and requires an op to remove. For the sake of £30, go see a specialist it will put your mind at rest! Good luck Nellie.

 

[Nellie]

Thanks so much for your advice, I will def go and see someone...cheers

P.S I'm not taking anything nor am I icing the area but I will try both, thanks again

 

[Steady Edwina]

Yep real runner I do that stretch regularly but my favourite stretch is a yoga pose called pigeon pose - it also stetches the piriformis as well as the TFL - I mainly suffer with tightening of the piriformis now but it has eased just not completely disappeared.

 

[Nellie]

SE how do you do the pigeon pose?

 

[Steady Edwina]

Its a good one for the bottom.

You crouch down and then you cross you leg in front of you as though you were going to sit cross legged. Then you extend your other leg behind you and lower down your torso. This is the basic version there is the advanced version where you raise your torso and you bend the straight leg up behind you and this is supposed to look like a pigeon giving the pose its name.

It you are still getting pains when crossing your knees you might find this uncomfortable.