Painful knees, can anyone help?

[Lizzie]

Hey Everyone,

I don't know if anyone's got any advice they could give me.. I've always had pretty noisy knees -clicky and crunchy when I bend them (going upstairs, squats etc) - for 6 years at least but probably longer. In the last month or so I've started getting some pain. It's a sharp, stabbing pain under my knee cap when I bend it but it's happening when I walk, run, go up and down stairs, pretty much all the time, I certainly can't do a squat. It mostly doesn't hurt when I cycle though. I'm pretty worried about it, my GP has said they're fine and to excersise the muscles around my knees (he recommended squats which dont feel good at all) and that they're totally fine but I can tell they're not. Has anyone experienced the same thing? And more importantly, can anyone recommend a good physio or knee doctor who might be able to actually help me??!!! I'm pretty terrified of ending up crippled.

Sorry for such a long post,

Lizzie x

 

[Lizzie]

Duh, I'm in London.. Central-ish. Thanks again x

 

[AnythingButVanilla]

I was getting pain underneath my right kneecap for three or four months, went to my gp and was referred for an ultrasound scan which showed a large amount of inflammation under the patella and given a steroid injection into my knee for the pain. Like you, it didn't hurt whilst cycling but it was absolute agony afterwards and especially when going up and down stairs, getting off the bus and pavement and it didn't help that I'm naturally right-footed. I was seen at Chelsea and Westminster's trauma and orthopaedics and the amount of time between the initial gp appointment and injection was about three weeks. It might be an idea to go back to your doctor and ask to be referred. St George's is also very good for musculoskeletal problems and MRI scans if needed.

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

I second the idea of getting referred. Do not let the GP give you advice as they're not specialists, and that's what you need. Insist on referral, and make it clear cycling is a serious sport for you - do not be fobbed off.

Leg muscle building is about a range of exercises, using all the muscles of the leg and hip. The wrong sort of squats can do more damage than good.

 

[Scoosh]

+ 1 for referral - to a physio at the very least.

Hope you get satisfactory resolution in time to enjoy the riding season

 

[vickster]

Balance physio in Clapham (and other places I think) have a very good rep - friend of mine was treated there before and after her ACL reconstruction. Not cheap though by all accounts. I wouldn't bother with the NHS physio, quick assessment, sheet of exercises, job done

London Bridge clinic has good surgeons privately, but again I'd ago with the physio first

 

[albion]

I got the clickety click a good while before extreme knee inflammation.
The crunch click is usually a sign of wear resulting in bone hitting bone.

I'm now cycling at a higher cadence, especially on hills.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

A wee sharp pain a few years ago in my right knee developed in a BIG sharp pain, had to use a stick to walk. MRI found a damaged cartilage. Specialist says only knee replacement would do, but I'm not getting it on the NHS because I'm not old enough, they only last about 20 years. Time and exercise from the physio helped a lot. Also took up walking and lost 3 stone, which helped even more. Was a wee bit apprehensive on starting cycling, but it does not seem to make my knee ache.

 

[Hacienda71]

Make sure your saddle is at the correct height. Leg slightly bent at the bottom of the stroke.

 

[albion]

I'll second the above.

If anything I even have my seat a mm or two higher than the correct hight.
It certainly also eases my knee stress.

 

[Lizzie]

Thanks so much for all your replies, I've booked another appointment with my GP so I can insist on a referral and I've also got a cocktail of fish oil and other joint supplement stuff just in case they work.. Plus I've changed my eating habits and hopefully will drop a stone or two. Gonna get my bike properly set up at the bike shop too.

Thanks again, I love this forum!

 

[montage]

Get your saddle the right height, cleat position looked at, and have a vigourous stretching routine that pays special attention to the hamstrings and the Iliotibial band. If none of the above helps after a couple of weeks then chances are you will need specialist advice.

I spent 2 years chasing around a million different knee problems, paying money for people to give me crap advice before finally finding the right guys and opting for surgery. If you get desperate a bit down the line, shoot me a message and I can forward the details of a knee surgeon and a physio who are simply the best in the business......though this is by no means cheap

 

[fossyant]

See a sports physio for a second opinion. Do this before you go back to the GP. Gives you something to go on, and a MRI will show the problem.

 

[Globalti]

You've got chondromalacia patallae, read about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chondromalacia_patellae

I've had it quite badly from sitting too far back when skiing. It will go away eventually, but make sure your saddle is set at the right height, i.e. not too low.

Now cancel the appointment and send me the consultancy fee in beer tokens.

 

[snailracer]

Are you short-legged? If so, you could also try shorter cranks. The idea is that, if your cranks are a bit too long, your knee will be too bent on the downstroke, which tends to overload the joint.

Some sources suggest that the ideal crank length = 0.21 x inside leg measurement.

Most cranks are somewhere between 165mm and 175mm, which should be suitable for riders with inside leg of between 31 inches to 33 inches - not me!