Runners Knee
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K77 CTR

Original Poster:

1,662 posts

211 months

Monday 6th February 2012
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I have just been diagnosed with bilateral runners knee, have only started jogging over the past two weeks and am now virtually unable to walk. Seen by GP today and prescribed Naproxen and physio but also told by GP that I'm unlikely to be able to run in the future.

Anybody got any advice?

996 sps

6,165 posts

245 months

Monday 6th February 2012
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Personally id see a sports physio and get a second opinion, what did he say runners knee is exactly? Why can you never run again?

B3njamin

1,129 posts

216 months

Monday 6th February 2012
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Something there doesn't seem to add up. Were you experiencing chronic knee problems prior to taking up running, mere weeks ago?

K77 CTR

Original Poster:

1,662 posts

211 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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She just said I had runners knee, didn't really explain it. I have pain to medial aspect of my tibia. It's a bruised like pain which only really affects me on weightbearing. I'm hobbling around due to the pain despite analgesia.

Advised that as this has flared up so suddenly from running very short distances that it's unlikely I will be able to run in future without a lot of physio and orthotics.

I have never suffered from knee pain in the past, am only 34, normal weight. My job is pretty active and have been put on alternative duties due to the pain.

BenM77

2,835 posts

193 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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What footwear do you have for running ?

I know a few runners and their advice is that footwear is very important when it comes to joints.

Hope it heals up soon.

Cybertronian

1,554 posts

192 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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I started suffering from knee pain over the last 12 months due to increased running. Went through all the motions of physiotherapy, sports massages, strengthening exercises, being refitted for motion control shoes (I have low arches in my feet) and none of these really did the trick.

I love running and decided to go for broke and tried changing my running style, going from a heel strike to a forefoot strike like how we run on bare feet. Knee pain whilst running disappeared, though is still around when I'm sat in a static position for too long, but I've accepted that this will never go away now but at least I can continue running.

You mentioned that you started running short distances - what were these distances? It could simply be that these were too long and too close together which has caused the flare up.

vescaegg

30,083 posts

196 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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Proper footwear is ABSOLUTELY vital when running.

If you get it right from a proper running shop, you should have no problems. When I get new shoes the shop assistants have me running for ages around the shop and on treadmills to ensure they are correct for me - I pronate quite a bit and have extremely flat feet.

My osteopath also says that with correct footwear, running is actually good for the knees. I have found this to be true - in the past, running has actually relieved pains I have had in the knees.

I always go to Sweatshop for running shoes.

Nutter99

31 posts

203 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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I've been training for a half marathon and the one thing I've learned is that it takes much longer for your muscles and ligaments to adapt than your cardio vascular system.

I've had knee problems on & off & am currently seeing a physio with less than 3 weeks to go with runners knee grumpy

If I were starting again I'd do a number of things:

1) Strengthen my legs and core - squats, lunges, calf raises & plank - I neglected to do this & paid for it
2) Increase the milage slowly. Opinion seems to be no more than 10% per week, but take it easy
3) Get a proper fitting for decent running shoes from a specialist shop
4) Listen to my body more. Listen to discomfort & pain - it's there for a reason
5) Take time to strech after and often during exercise. Do it properly & often

I'm going to "get round" my half marathon but afterwards I'm going to start from the beginning again and work on the above so hopefully I'll be able to sustain my running & be injury free.

See a good sports physio, get yourself mended and start again.

ewenm

28,506 posts

274 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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Go to see a sports-physio. It may be you have a muscle imbalance that can be sorted out by specific exercise/stretching. I had something my doc described as "Runners' Knee" and my physio and I sorted it by working on IT Band stretches like this:



Tiggsy

10,261 posts

281 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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My knees used to hurt so bad after a run I couldnt get upstairs...now run in minamalist shoes pain free (and no need to have someone make me run around a shop while they tell me how my feet dont work the way they should rolleyes )

K77 CTR

Original Poster:

1,662 posts

211 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
quotequote all
This was only week 2 of the couch to 5k podcasts. I was literally running for 1 minute and walking for 1 minute. Maybe I went about it the wrong way by just wearing a normal pair of trainers, but I wasn't going to spend loads of money on a pair of running shoes when I had no idea if I were going to persist with it.

I am awaiting physio, where I am expecting to get a better diagnosis and will take it from there. I cannot afford to be in this position again as it has affected my work, I work for the ambulance service and can not do my job.

Reading up on runners knee, women are at a much higher risk of suffering from it and those that sit with there knees bent for long periods of time (I sit in a car all day every day) so it looks like I was always at a high risk of suffering.

996 sps

6,165 posts

245 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
quotequote all
ewenm said:
Go to see a sports-physio. It may be you have a muscle imbalance that can be sorted out by specific exercise/stretching. I had something my doc described as "Runners' Knee" and my physio and I sorted it by working on IT Band stretches like this:

Exactly, the doc telling you that you have runners knee is a cop out, see a decent physio or sports rehabilitator and get a proper diagnosis.


ukwill

10,129 posts

236 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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My old man used to run 15m 3x week.

He's now 72, and he's got 1 plastic knee and the other continues to play him up.

Considering the myriad of alternatives, I often wonder why people run to keep fit!

The_Doc

6,246 posts

249 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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ukwill said:
My old man used to run 15m 3x week.

He's now 72, and he's got 1 plastic knee and the other continues to play him up.

Considering the myriad of alternatives, I often wonder why people run to keep fit!
It won't be plastic, Cobalt-Chrome on bone-ends and ultra high weight, moderately crosslinked, polyethylene as a spacer.



HTH

ukwill

10,129 posts

236 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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Yeah, that's exactly what I meant to say Doc. eekbiggrin

996 sps

6,165 posts

245 months

Wednesday 8th February 2012
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The_Doc said:
It won't be plastic, Cobalt-Chrome on bone-ends and ultra high weight, moderately crosslinked, polyethylene as a spacer.



HTH
Doc how functional are they? Run with it? Sorry final question how long do they last?

The_Doc

6,246 posts

249 months

Wednesday 8th February 2012
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996 sps said:
Doc how functional are they? Run with it? Sorry final question how long do they last?
Very variable and usually predicted by the pre-op activity level of the patient, the joints above and below (hip and ankle) and the stiffness of the joints before replacement.
People can ski, run and jog on knee replacements, but generally do less than you'd think.
Lifetime of the joint is linked to total number of cycles/steps it performs, so a working man performing manual labour may wear his out in 5 years, whereas a pensioner who ambles to bingo twice a week will usually see 15-20 out of his.

No one answer to any of your questions.

5% of total joint replacements are worse after the operation than before (infection, thrombosis, unexplained pain, chest infection, heart problems, early component failure)



996 sps

6,165 posts

245 months

Wednesday 8th February 2012
quotequote all
The_Doc said:
Very variable and usually predicted by the pre-op activity level of the patient, the joints above and below (hip and ankle) and the stiffness of the joints before replacement.
People can ski, run and jog on knee replacements, but generally do less than you'd think.
Lifetime of the joint is linked to total number of cycles/steps it performs, so a working man performing manual labour may wear his out in 5 years, whereas a pensioner who ambles to bingo twice a week will usually see 15-20 out of his.

No one answer to any of your questions.

5% of total joint replacements are worse after the operation than before (infection, thrombosis, unexplained pain, chest infection, heart problems, early component failure)
Thank you, really interesting that.

K77 CTR

Original Poster:

1,662 posts

211 months

Friday 10th February 2012
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Seen by physio today, must say I wasn't that impressed. Just gave me a leaflet with some exercises on that the GP had already given me. Physio reckons I have strained both my medial collateral ligaments where they insert onto the tibia. They have advised me to do the exercises and then go back in 10 days. I can hardly walk as I'm in agony despite Co-codamol and Diclofenc frown

ewenm

28,506 posts

274 months

Friday 10th February 2012
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K77 CTR said:
Seen by physio today, must say I wasn't that impressed. Just gave me a leaflet with some exercises on that the GP had already given me. Physio reckons I have strained both my medial collateral ligaments where they insert onto the tibia. They have advised me to do the exercises and then go back in 10 days. I can hardly walk as I'm in agony despite Co-codamol and Diclofenc frown
General physio? Sports-specific physio? NHS or Private?

I'd ask your local football/rugby/athletics club for a recommendation of a private sports physio. It shouldn't be too expensive. If you are near Bath I'd always recommend my physio, let me know if you want her details.