Blogging Marathon Day #8
OK, so I diagnosed with "Low grade chondromalacia"
Doesn't feel low grade. Ever since the marathon, even walking downhill hurts.
While it is good that they did not see anything serious in the X-Ray and MRI, I am still left scratching my head with what to do about it.
The explanation they gave me is that I am simply defective. My knee cap does not track properly so when I run it grinds up the cartilage underneath.
This is the same thing they said back in 2006. So they prescribed PT, orthotics, and stretching.
(See runner's knee post). None of that really worked for me back then.
The thing that doesn't make sense is this:
If I am defective and my knee does not track properly, then why did my knee pain decrease from 2007-2010 as my mileage went up?
IMHO--orthotics are not the answer. Keep searching for the right one...
ReplyDeleteI have a knee problem from Kung Fu and I have been rsearching a lot about it. The kneecap tracking thing -- I heard that strengthening certain surrounding muscles with exercises will help hold the kneecap in place.
ReplyDeleteI am currently undergoing osteopathic manipulation for the knee, with some accupressure and some trigger point work. The doctor (my husband) is also using spray and stretch technique for the knee. It's only been a few treatments and I can't say whether it's going to work or not yet because it's early, and with this treatment the knee has a reaction (I've been told) and will be a little worse before it gets better.
I will be writing about this on my blog, probably, although might be too bummed out if it is a big fail. Right now, though, I have hopes it is going to work.
Here are some possibilities:
ReplyDelete1. You've started to run the way you did pre 2007. Not entirely, of course, but enough to bring the pain back.
2. Your knee changed. Maybe in 2007 the bony bits had worn down to a degree that allowed you to run comfortably, but the wearing-down process continued. Now it's worn down in a way that's painful again.
3. Something happened, perhaps totally unrelated to running, that got the cap "off-track."
4. The adrenaline from racing well + pain killers hid the pain until recently.
Of course, it could be a combo of all these possibilities and others I haven't thought of. This is also assuming the doctors are correct; I get the feeling, however, that "runner's knee" is diagnosed when they don't really know what's going on.
It's also interesting that your knee hurt before and after Bayshore, but not during.
One thing that might have helped get me through my recent bout with ITBS is that I played around with moving differently. Just a little. I would run with my toes pointed out just a bit, then in. I would get all Groucho Marx and bend my knees as far as they would go when I ran, then the opposite, running almost stiff-legged. Stuff like that. Turned out posture was the best way to keep the pain away.
If it's true the cap is just off-track, a tiny
adjustment in how you move might make a world of difference. Get sleuthing, Sherlock.
I like Barefoot_Josh's comments and thoughts. Sounds like a solid approach that can't hurt much . . . okay . . . it may hurt but shouldn't do further damage!
ReplyDeleteAnother thought would be to have the Dr scope your knee . . . see what he sees from the inside . . . and fix what he can.
TripleF
Josh brings up an interesting idea about changing your running form. That is what solved your problem in the past. Maybe your form needs to be changed again. That would definitely be the least invasive most fun solution.
ReplyDeleteI had basically the same diagnosis for my knee pain, and I think it is kind of a catch all that doctors use when they don't really know. This is a personal opinion more than a fact I would care to argue. But, if I were you, I would continue to look into other things, maybe some Active Release Techniques.
ReplyDeleteMy knee issues got better after I focused my attention on my IT band and hip weakness. I am not in anyway saying that your situation is like mine, but the knee pain could easily be originating somewhere else in your leg and manifesting in your knee.
I hope that things begin to change in a positive way for you soon.
Several years ago I hyper-extended my knees mostly being too fat and squatting too deeply to put air in my car tires. Nothing to be proud about to be sure. But the ortho moved my knee around and 10 minutes later recommended surgery. Not affording the co-pay I opted to try a more homeopathic remedy. I got less fat, began running, and felt better. I do believe the knee is still defective because I can "pop" it out doing mundane things. But it remains neutral enough for running and I can only wonder how the surgery would have impacted my eventual running. Just a final note: Funny the ortho did not have any comment for my knees having to carry a fat dude around...no copay for that I guess.
ReplyDelete...oh, that was me with the knees, Chris J. I funked up my choice of login.
ReplyDeleteMy two pesos...
ReplyDeleteIf your knees were giving your some low grade trouble prior to the total breakdown (and I seem to recall some posts referring to training run trouble in between races), then you could have simply tipped your body past it's ability to recover (the "one mile too far" effect). This is a classic over use injury pattern.
Run. Have some pain. Recover 95%. Repeat.
Eventually, you will hit the tipping point where recovering only 95% still leaves you with a significant injury deficit. One run past that point, and you end up with a serious chronic injury seemingly out of nowhere.
I've personally experienced this with my hip earlier this year. The only recovery recommended by the ortho doc was a 4 week break from running (to allow healing) and then a slow ramp in intensity (enough to allow better recovery between runs and to allow any newly formed tissue at the injury site to "toughen").
But I've never had runner's knee, so I don't know if any of this even remotely applies to you.
Thanks everybody! Appreciate your help trying to solve my problem.
ReplyDeletemaybe this will help? i have this book, but haven't actually done any of the exercise yet...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Healthy-Knees-Prevention-Rehabilitation/dp/1930485085
AC: Just completed a review of a new shoe that might be an option for your ailing legs. They are not Tigrams but they are interesting.
ReplyDelete