Comments on: What I Hope Is Not An Injury Report

By: Jake

Jake — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:13:20 +0000

I agree with everyone else, sounds just like an ITB problem. I had to take two months off last year for the same problem because I kept running on it long after I should’ve stopped.

I did a few months of PT, and the things that helped me the most were:
- ice

- foam rolling (get the good kind – http://www.optp.com/OPTP-AXIS-Roller/Foam-Roller-Therapy.aspx)

- stretching (note that you’ll feel the stretches in your hip, not on your knee)

- core and hip strengthening. pilates-esque workouts tended to help me the most.

Be careful, and good luck!

By: eliz

eliz — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:41:07 +0000

oh no!!!! hope you feel better soon!!!!!!

By: Morrissey

Morrissey — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 05:44:59 +0000

CH- sorry to hear about your knee. I had the same problem on my both knees as well, however the pain goes away after 10-15 minutes (weird eh?)

Recently I’ve been doing a lot leg strengthening exercises (gym machines would do), ice, advil and definitely the foam roller. Moreover, it could be time to get new sneakers?

By: NY Wolve

NY Wolve — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:39:55 +0000

Another potential culprit is Patello Femoral Pain syndrome (PFS). See http://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/pfs.html.

I’ve had it. It comes out of the blue and feels like nothing at first. And then wham, cant run or walk or anything without pain.

It too is curable with RICE, advil and basic physical therapy, but will cost you some training weeks.

Good luck! And I hope it is something easy.

By: Pete

Pete — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 01:49:11 +0000

I had a brief bout of ITBS several years ago that was due to a bad fitting pair of shoes (too big, not designed for running – this occurred way before I was a serious runner). It was agonizingly painful on hills, not as bad on the flats – it has never bothered me again since ditching those shoes. The ITB is a long tendon that stretches down the outside side of your leg to your knee, and as it rubs on the knee it can get inflamed and painful. If the pain is on the side, my guess is that’s what you’re dealing with. RICE, advil and rest are probably in order. I strained a foot tendon a few weeks back, and this course got me back within a week.

By: Robert James Reese

Robert James Reese — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:08:40 +0000

Flo, I think you may be right. That’s scary. The symptoms list on the first link (anaerobic.net) match what’s happening to me exactly (except for the tenderness on the outside of knee when touched.) I’m glad to hear that you bounced back so quickly. Thank you for the links.

By: Flo

Flo — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:47:43 +0000

I think that’s it! I couldn’t locate mine at first, I eventually pinpointed it as where the IT band originates (near gerdy’s tubercle). This started for me 2 weeks ago, I didn’t know what it was so I treated it badly for the first few days (read this: http://www.girl-in-motion.com/update and the days surrounding it).

I ended up taking 3 days off total, but I’m back to running every day already (though unlike in your case, mine only hurt when running). By figuring out what to do and being super vigilant (start stretching at the first shadow of pain, not when it’s full blown hurting) I really lost no time, but it scared the hell out of me, too. This can become chronic, so very important to treat from the get-go. Here are two sites with good info:
http://www.anaerobic.net/runnersguide.aspx
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20050415/1545.html

By: The Laminator

The Laminator — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:28:38 +0000

Dude…that sucks! Feel for you.

You’re going have to do some investigative work to find out what’s wrong. But starting with complete rest for a couple of days might help. I wouldn’t push it if it hurts, especially if it gets to the point that you’re limping. That obviously means something is up.

Hope it’s nothing major. RICE for a couple of days and see what happens.

By: Robert James Reese

Robert James Reese — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:25:36 +0000

That could be it, but I don’t know. I looked at a bunch of anatomy charts trying to figure out the exact name of what was hurting, but I couldn’t make sense of them. It’s the right side (outside) part of the whole knee structure, not the kneecap itself. I’ll stop poking it and try the ice and ibuprofen…

By: Flo

Flo — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:00:34 +0000

Is it on the lateral side of your knee? I just got over my first adventure with ITBS and the pain was so bad, I walked home on 3 runs. The knee “giving out” was definitely something I experienced. If it’s this, roll that sucker from knee to hip the next few days, ice and ibuprofen. There are IT stretches you could try gingerly to start.

Also, if it’s this, don’t poke or prod the area (I did that, too).