Will getting clipped in help my knees?

[joyrider]

I really got restarted cycling about six weeks ago - been building up VERY SLOWLY. Saw a sports med doc early on to talk about the crunching sound in my knees (had that since my two pregnancies) and how to protect my knees during riding. She did an xray, said everything looked fine except that my kneecaps track on the outside, common in women, not a major defect but what she described as a "setup for pain". So I've been going along okay, working on keeping a higher cadence, etc. noticing a little knee tweakiness after riding, plus additional achiness going up steps.
And then I decided it was time to start working on hills a little! Well, I would call them hills; you folks would probably call them "slight rises" or "bumps". So I did that two days in a row, both rides less than an hour long, and now the knees feel REALLY hinky. Esp. the left, with stinging, pain, sore to the touch. Been resting for two days, icing, off my bike and in a snit about it. Have an appointment with the sports med doc this Friday. I'm afraid she's going to tell me to lay off riding!
So I thought I'd bring this issue to the people I consider to be the REAL experts! Has anyone else had a similar experience? Any feedback would be appreciated!

[Jennifer Gallow]

Sounds like chondromalacia, that's what keeps me from running and why I found cycling (crikey I wish I found cycling sooner -- it's so much more fun for me than running!). My knees were well past the crunching stage into very painful catching and locking. I couldn't walk 15 steps without ending up in tears. The cycling and certain leg excercises were recommended -- two cousins are physical therapists, handy don't you know! -- and the difference was noticable almost right away. (the point being to strengthen the proper muscles to force the kneecap to track properly).

I found the clipless pedals did help -- Speedplay X series are very highly recommended for that particular knee ailment, and I agree, I love them -- as did making sure I wasn't pushing too hard a gear. Even now, if I take a hill too hard my knees feel it first. I also have to make sure I don't monkey around with saddle position too much ... too high or too low is tough on my knees too, and even too far forward or back.

But thats just my situation ... I'm not qualified to offer medical advice (if I was maybe I wouldn't be such a wreck all the time!). I just know that worked for me. I'm sure there are more knowledgable people who can chime in.

[SadieKate]

Yep, chondromalacia for me also. 4 knee operations when I fell backpacking and turned a chronic problem into acute with a tear on my kneecap. Did your doc talk to you about prescription orthotics? These can help align your knees. Without these, I wouldn't be doing anything active. Might be worth a little research. If you go this route, be sure to find a sports med podiatrist who works with cyclists so that he/she can fit the orthotic in your cycling shoe.

Clipless pedals help because I can pull up. The pushing down for hills can be a killer and strength is a critical factor.

Chrondromalacia for me means no tennis or volleyball any longer.

[joyrider]

As of now, I'm not riding with cycling shoes - but rather with a fairly stiff-soled running shoes with superfeet orthotics in them. And I guess I need to work harder with those exercises! My doc gave me a couple to do. But she wasn't all that informative when it came to protecting my knees while cycling - other than don't ride with your seat too low. If anyone can recommend a cycling-knowledgeable sports med doc in the South Bay, I'd love to hear about it!

[Susan126]

I would recommend getting a bike fit and orthotics. I had knee pain and a crackling right knee but after getting a bike fit and orthotics I've been pain free and no more crackling to boot!

[joyrider]

Saw my sports med doc on Friday. She said that with my knees, hills are going to give me pain. Period. She said I had arthritis in both knees, and she said she didn't like to tell me NOT to ride, but left the statement hanging, implying to me that if she could, she would. She said I just needed to do what I could to minimize "wear and tear" from here out, recommended glucosamine, and to keep up my exercises. Not very positive.
Argh! I really think it's my weight that makes docs think that the best I can hope for is to boogie down in water aerobics twice a week and to enjoy a full twenty minutes of chair stretching on Sundays.
Once we got talking, though, she said that getting fitted, losing weight, and getting clipped in all might help.
So I want to thank you folks again for being truly supportive. I know I can make this work. I think, though, that I need to switch to a solution oriented doctor.