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Medial Knee Pain -- Runner

Posted , 7 users are following.

jimmy03889
jimmy03889

Hey all, I have been dealing with medial knee pain while running for the last year. I was a distance track and xc runner from Middle School through College. I took a year off, gained a few pounds, then started up again and have been suffering from left medial knee pain since then. I never had knee pain prior to last year. I cannot remember specifically injuring the knee. I have attempted to rehab the knee but the pain persists. I saw an orthopedist approx. 4.5 months ago. He did radiographs and an MRI, which returned negative aside from mild, non-specefic edema. He said he did not know what wrong and sent me on my way. Does anyone have any suggestions? PS. I used to run 70+ miles per week, now I cannot run over 20 due to the knee discomfort. O, I have also sprained my left ankle like 10 times. Could that cause knee pain? Thanks! 

0 likes, 25 replies

25 Replies

  • sue64229
    sue64229 jimmy03889

    Posted

    Hi Jimmy,

    i was never a runner but I did have a physical job for 10 yrs.  I was a support worker at a hospital, pushing patients on beds all day.  Sometimes as many as 45.  While pushing one of these beds, I felt my " go".  The pain was instant and the knee kept locking.  It turned out to be a meniscal tear.  Maybe, just maybe, the MRI you had, missed this.  It is very painful and interferes with daily life.  I had mine fixed, day surgery.  Got a blood clot. went back to work and retore it.  No more pushing beds for me.  Bilateral total knee replacements 3 weeks ago.  Ouch!!

    Hope me this helps

  • RethaT
    RethaT jimmy03889

    Posted

    Totally sounds like what I went through with my meniscus tear.  I had scopes done to repair but never got better.  After seven years of pain, I'm now 7 wks post PKR.  I have talked to several people though that have had the meniscus repaired and they've been good so I hope it works for you if

    you find this is the problem.  Definitely get a good sports orthopaedic!

  • debz13
    debz13 jimmy03889

    Posted

    I had arthoscopy to repair meniscus tear several years ago. It resulted in advancing my arthritis to bone on bone. I do think that is the exception though.

    Now, I have severe pain on the inside of my knee that could be a strained muscle, which I think sounds like medial pain. One of the therapists thinks it could be my hamstring. Excruciating pain.

  • larry43899
    larry43899 jimmy03889

    Posted

    Jimmy, I suppose you've checked your running shoes for over-pronation??

    I didn't have any knee trouble when I used to run but had to give up when my hip gave up in 2004.

    by then my left foot was overpronating but the only trouble id had previously was with my right calf muscle which sounds similar to your ankle trouble

    I started wearing orthotics after that but when the outside of my knee started hurting a few years ago I took them out and the pain went only to return a few months later on the inside??

    If you do have an arthroscopy at your young age there's a 99.9% chance it will work due to lack of arthritis unlike us owd uns.

    Good luck and i hope you get to running, I really miss it still

  • sarah87162
    sarah87162 jimmy03889

    Posted

    I would suggest you see a GP and get them to refer you to an orthopaedic consultant. I don't think you can do a self referral has to be through a doctor.

    Where I lilve in Wales you can refer yourself to physiotherapy without going through a doctor. That may be worth a try but orthopaedic consultant is what you really need I think.

    Good luck with alll this.

    Take care and keep in touch

    Sarah

  • sueisobel
    sueisobel jimmy03889

    Posted

    You say you stopped for a while and also gained some weight.  This would have made you change your rinning style.  Could be you started running the way you used to (pre-weight gain). Whatever happens you need your knee sorted.  If it is possible that you can run distances again, use a track for a while as the suface is softer for your joints or go back to xc for the same reasons + you will run a little slower.  I found out the hard way after years of running and ignoring the pain. Don't do the same, it really is not worth it.  See a specialist. If you need to do 'distance exercise' invest in a bicycle; no impact at all on your knees/hips
    • sueisobel
      sueisobel larry43899

      Posted

      Used to run a lot on roads, but grass verges whenever possible.  Off road cycling is my mode of exercise now (I cannot see the point of cycling on the road, suffocating on traffic fumes & at the mercy of bike haters).  It is nice to get the heart racing without the pain!
    • larry43899
      larry43899 sueisobel

      Posted

      I ran about 40 miles a week on road but looking back, by the time I got into my 40s the natural shock absorption you have in your knees and hips had gone

      I was having trouble with my right calf and checked my running shoes......I was over pronation on my left side, that was the beginning of left hip trouble.

      It's mountain biking for me to

    • larry43899
      larry43899

      Posted

      I even like cleaning my bikes.

      Bl##dy phone/internet is playing up again sorry

    • sueisobel
      sueisobel larry43899

      Posted

      There is a certain freedom about running. Until ones knees give up the ghost. But yes, biking comes a close second. Have done some long (ish) treks on the bike, but still cannot get up the steep hills standing on my pedals. Although very low impact my knees hate it. And I really hate cleaning my bike, yuk all that mud!!!!
    • larry43899
      larry43899 sueisobel

      Posted

      I don't/can't get out of the saddle either but I like the hi, s.

      I have a work stand in the back garden, spray the muk off on , hose it off and oil the chain

      Good to go.

      Mind you my back ends up full of mud despite the mudguards

    • larry43899
      larry43899 sueisobel

      Posted

      My knee felt ok after my ride yesterday but feeling didn't last long.

      Do you get ups and downs??

    • sueisobel
      sueisobel larry43899

      Posted

      For sure, cycling is ok, I can stay out for hours, but as soon as my feet hit the ground...... Sometimes I feel like screaming. Sometimes I do cry.  If I am in the middle of nowhere I have to force myself back on the bike, once I am sitting, the pain dissipates to a point where I can pedal.  Because this happens every time, it can be a bit off putting. Either desperation for exercise or if I am too stressed makes me do it time and time again.  Glutton for punishment? Yes. Does clear the head though, doesn't it !!!   but there are not many sports out there that are low/no impact and in the fresh air (and solitary).  In the winter (or cold days) I wear sports braces that have the metal down the sides which helps a lot, especially if the trails are too muddy and entails a lot of walking.  I have liquid pain meds at home, so relief is not so far away. On the other hand, the highs have me singing at the top of my voice, or grinning like an idiot if I skid and tumble off.  Happy days
    • larry43899
      larry43899 sueisobel

      Posted

      You're showing me up there sue isobel and now I feel guilty

      I've got the west pennine moor on my doorstep and I don't go out for more than 2 hours and don't push myself like you do

    • sueisobel
      sueisobel larry43899

      Posted

      Hah, I very much doubt it. I am very envious of you, all that beauty. I hope you take a camera when you go out.  I may go out for long rides, but it is stupid really; I deliberately cycle x amount of time in one direction, only because it will take me the same amount of time (or more) to get back home.  If that makes sense. No short cuts. But a huge psychological push.  Now the long nights are here, the freedom is less. The last thing I want to do after a day sitting in an office, is go to a gym, yuk; loud music and sweaty bodies!  Enjoy all that fresh air you have and mind any wandering wild animals ;-)
    • larry43899
      larry43899 sueisobel

      Posted

      The colours are beautiful at this time of year or before all the leaves have fallen.there's all the purples and greens known to man, or woman

      When the commonwealth games were held in Manchester part of the mountain biking course was only about 2 miles away.

      All the deer keep well hidden as do all the other creatures up there.

      I don't fancy the gym either.

    • sueisobel
      sueisobel larry43899

      Posted

      urgh, Now I am really  jealous.  The countryside in Surrey is beautiful too, but have to drive "to" the countryside to wide open spaces.

      You are very fortunate.

      What are you doing about your knees?

    • larry43899
      larry43899 sueisobel

      Posted

      I saw the physio today and my doctor last week re an mri that I had.

      They both think I.should try physio,.failing that, another arthroscopy which I don't want

      How long ago did you have your arthroscopy?!

    • sueisobel
      sueisobel larry43899

      Posted

      Are they saying you need to target specific muscles?  As a runner you knew what was needed, so what has changed?  I should imagine if they want to give you another arthroscopy it might be to wash out any debris that is getting between your joints. There are only so many they can do.  Did anything show up on the MRI. One of the reasons for more exercise is that if your strengthen your quads it will give better control over the way the joint behaves.  It may be other soft tissues that need work on.  Running uses specific muscles, maybe the ones that don't get a look in need working on.  This is all speculation, but at least they are not saying surgery, as in knee replacement.  They seem to want to go down all the other avenues first, which is wise for them, but very frustrating for you.

      Looking back at what you originally wrote, you said you sprained your ankle about 10 times. You have a weakness there.  That in itself will alter your gait. You would have had to alter the way you ran, which could have placed a strain on your already damaged knee.  Have you tried weight training.  If done properly you will be able to target certain areas, done in the right order you may be able to balance yourself out. Hope that makes sense ;-)

    • larry43899
      larry43899 sueisobel

      Posted

      The reason I was going over on my ankle all the time, although I didn't know it at the time was because laterly (2004) my gait had altered and I was over pronating on the side where my hip had started to go

      I put orthotics in both shoes and the one where I didn't really need one wasn't pronation enough.

      Once I ditched the orthotics about 3 years ago I stopped going over.

      The physio has now mentioned orthotics again but it's the wrong leg.

      Did you go down the orthotics route??

      He told me to work on lengthening by hamstrings and calves and strengthen the inner quads

      What exies benefit you?!

    • sueisobel
      sueisobel larry43899

      Posted

      I never did orthotics, my issues had deterioated by the time they were mentioned but was fussy when it came to trainers.  Those exercises are good for you, if done properly and not half a***d.  Take your time. You can never do enough.I am now lazy with proper exercises (apart from the bike) but I use stairs and exaggerate the going up and coming down. Pain does tend to put a stop to things, but then again I can do the same exercises in the pool (so long as the water is heated) (oh and the wobble board)
    • larry43899
      larry43899 sueisobel

      Posted

      I've never tried the wobble board and am a crap swimmer but I do the exercises he gave me, some of which I do anyway.

      I do the exies and stretches at work as well as home.

      Have both of your knees had the same result??

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