Anyone recognize this knee pain?

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10-26-2010, 12:30 PM
Yen

Anyone recognize this knee pain?

Last Saturday morning, I rode 75 miles at a challenging pace on mostly flat terrain with some moderate climbing. I was able to keep pace with the other riders, and got home feeling good. I usually have a little patellar tendonitis (on the front, below the kneecap) so I applied ice when I got home Saturday afternoon. I felt good the rest of the day... no knee pain. On Sunday, I felt great and had NO knee pain.

Then, very early Monday morning (about 36 hours after the ride), I awoke with sharp throbs of pain down the back of my left leg from knee to ankle. I have never felt that type of pain around my knee before. After I got up to go to work, I felt sharp pain in the medial aspect of my left knee, radiating down the front-inside of the shin to my ankle. I have never had this type of pain in my knee before, and never had it radiate down to my ankle. Ice and Advil seem to help but don't completely relieve all the pain.

At work, I cannot avoid stairs or walking up/downhill, but I am being careful and avoiding stairs when I can.

I am training for an organized metric century on Nov. 13. I need to ride! I was planning to do a spin class tonight and on Thursday, then do a group training ride (including moderate climbing + 2 hard hills) on Saturday. However, if I have a knee injury then I need to rest. :(

Does anyone recognize this type of knee pain? BTW, I'm 54 years old; I ride a very light bike that was fitted to me, and I am not overweight.
10-26-2010, 01:53 PM
alpinerabbit

Sorry can't help for distance and a lack of medical training -

all I want to say is in with regards to

Quote:

I am training for an organized metric century on Nov. 13. I need to ride!

no you don't. you just rode 75. That's enough. Take off until the pain subsides, then try again but just go for the century - it's in 2 weeks; you can easily make it.
10-26-2010, 02:03 PM
Catrin

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yen

I am training for an organized metric century on Nov. 13. I need to ride! I was planning to do a spin class tonight and on Thursday, then do a group training ride (including moderate climbing + 2 hard hills) on Saturday. However, if I have a knee injury then I need to rest. :(

It may not actually be your knee but something else - I've a recent problem with my leg myself and pain shows up in the oddest of places. It might be a very good idea to take a few days off and rest the leg - if I had done this 5 weeks ago when I first hurt my leg it might be healed by now. Instead it drags on...and on... and now I am off the bike until it heals. Don't let this be you!
10-26-2010, 02:04 PM
Yen

Quote:

Originally Posted by alpinerabbit

Sorry can't help for distance and a lack of medical training -

all I want to say is in with regards to

no you don't. you just rode 75. That's enough. Take off until the pain subsides, then try again but just go for the century - it's in 2 weeks; you can easily make it.

I know I can ride 62 without any problem, but it includes 2 challenging (and steep) hills and other moderate climbing. I've done EACH of the hills on different rides (but only occasionally), but not all of them on the same ride --- this coming Saturday's training ride was to ride all the hills in 50 or so miles. I also was going to do a spin class tonight and Thursday, but I'll skip at least tonight's class and see how it feels on Thursday.

Hey, my other bike is a LHT --- I love that bike.
10-26-2010, 02:56 PM
indysteel

I've been known to ignore and exercise through a lot of pain, but I think a sharp and sudden pain in my knee would prompt a visit to my doc sooner rather than later.
10-26-2010, 03:29 PM
Yen

I'll take tonight (at least) off, give it some ice and rest. If there is no pain on Thursday, I'll probably do an easy spin class. If there's any pain at all on Thursday, I won't spin and may cancel the Saturday ride. :( Better safe than sorry.
10-26-2010, 03:32 PM
OakLeaf

Quote:

Originally Posted by indysteel

I've been known to ignore and exercise through a lot of pain, but I think a sharp and sudden pain in my knee would prompt a visit to my doc sooner rather than later.

+1, especially when it radiates.
10-26-2010, 06:12 PM
Yen

If it's not better in the next few days after ice, rest, and anti-inflammatory - I'll probably see a doc. Thanks for your input...