knee pain. please help

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

hi all,

since trying to put on some cheapo snow chains about 3 weeks ago i have been having knee pain. it occurs when i am walking, then suddenly my knee gives way and the pain is excruciating. it is only painful when my leg is straight or i try to straighten it dead straight. any ideas which part of the knee is damaged so i know which type of support i need.
it doesn't hurt when i cycle tho.
cheers

 

[ttcycle]

I have no idea but if the pain is excrutiating get to the GP and perhaps get some physio?

 

[postman]

As for one who fell over while on his holiday .Then played football with a load of younger lads .And did more damage .

Get to the Docs .I did more damage than i realized now having an op in Feb .

Go have it checked out .So you don't miss out on our next BBQ summer .

 

[KevinG]

+1 for a trip to the doctors required.

I had similiar symptoms following my knee giving out whilst playing cricket, and it turned out to be meniscus cartilage. Do a google and you can see where mine hurts. Needs keyhole to correct but like you, doesn't hurt to cycle as my leg doesn't straighten with any weight on it.

Strangely, my other, supposedly 'good' knee gives me more pain. About 15 miles into my 30 miler on Sunday I get a sharp pain right behind the kneecap, gets worse with climbing hills. Had it the ride before last aswell, though was some time ago owing to Xmas/weather. Lasted until today, is OK now. I wonder if the longer space of time between rides is contributing.

Anyone any ideas on this one?

 

[Ashtrayhead]

+1 for a trip to the doctors required.

I had similiar symptoms following my knee giving out whilst playing cricket, and it turned out to be meniscus cartilage. Do a google and you can see where mine hurts. Needs keyhole to correct but like you, doesn't hurt to cycle as my leg doesn't straighten with any weight on it.

Strangely, my other, supposedly 'good' knee gives me more pain. About 15 miles into my 30 miler on Sunday I get a sharp pain right behind the kneecap, gets worse with climbing hills. Had it the ride before last aswell, though was some time ago owing to Xmas/weather. Lasted until today, is OK now. I wonder if the longer space of time between rides is contributing.

Anyone any ideas on this one?

Just a thought but your 'good' knee might be overcompensating for your bad one and you may be putting too much strain on it.

Also it may be an idea to check your riding position, saddle height and position, cleats and shoes etc.,

 

[jimheaney57]

Specialist help of some sort is required. Not sure about a GP though, a specialist orthapeadic doc and a good physio might be better.

I have trouble with both knees. I have arthritis in the right and a small meniscus tear in the left.

I went to the GP when the problem appeared in the left knee to ask for a referral to the specialist. His words to me were "You need to look at yourself in the mirror and decide when you want your knee replacement operation". He wanted me to stop running and cycling! I insisted on getting the referral.

MRI scan showed a small tear. The specialist said it wasn't worth operating on and told me to gradually build up my mileage, running & cycling and he would see me again in 6 months. I was back with him a few months ago and he gave me the all clear. I am now regularly back doing 50 + miles on the bike & so far up to 16 miles running without pain.

I should point out that I also use custom orthotics that I got about a year ago and I've no doubt these help.

My point is that a GP will normally not have the relevant experience with this sort of problem. If I'd listened to mine I would now be a lot heavier and far less fit than I am now.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

sussed mine out. it started making a very loud grinding noise. this helped me diagnose it to being a patella problem and just needed resting. cycling is recommended for strengthening the surrounding muscles. i also found that taping it up up below the kneecap helps a lot and is cheaper than the expensive straps which do the same job. it is improving every day now.

 

[KevinG]

Just a thought but your 'good' knee might be overcompensating for your bad one and you may be putting too much strain on it.

Also it may be an idea to check your riding position, saddle height and position, cleats and shoes etc.,

I followed this recommendation and before I went out again, raised my saddle height by about 1 cm, not really sure if it would really make any difference.

But it did, I completed 30 miles without so much as a twinge from the 'good' knee. amazing that such a small adjustment can have such a major impact.

Thanks for the advice.