should I sell the bike or throw it over the side of the hill?

[bikerchick68]

Grrrrrrr... OK... So I've been riding a couple years and was having a knee issue with the left knee... pain to the outside, like being stabbed... went and got professionally fit by someone who is considered one of the best in the industry (John Howard) and NO MORE PAIN! That was in January... then Feb, rode my first century, did another in March then another in April... but in April the last 30 miles I had the pain again... only in the RIGHT knee! the left was fine... un-freakin-believable... so I took a break, let it heal up, then rode 24 miles flat... not bad, then got the flu so had another 2 weeks rest as I couldn't ride, more rest and healing time... did a 9 mile ride Tues... no pain, then last night did 14 miles and did a VERY SHORT climb. Knee hurt again... AAAAAARGH! I am so frustrated I can't even tell you... I was in the climb contmeplating how much I could get for the bike on ebay, or if I should just toss the dang thing over the hill and walk home!!!

I've done the doc thing and they said take Aleve and stay off the bike. Uh...OK... right... I've done a fit and fixed one side... now it's the other side... sheesh...

OK rant over... back to our regularly scheduled cycling chat...

[CorsairMac]

don't toss that bike over the side, send it out here where it'll have it's own room, a rack all to itself and cats to play with!!

Seriously tho: was the John Howard fitting something you can go back to him about regarding the right knee??

[Adventure Girl]

Some things come easily, others need waaaaayyyyy more work. Sounds like the fine tuning of your fit might be one of those that needs lots of work. Did your bike fit include pedal adjustment? Pedals with more float might help. How is your cycling technique? Does the pain happen only on climbs? Are you a spinner or a masher? What about if you ride on your trainer with high tension? I agree with CorsairMac. Maybe you need to go back to the big fit and see if there is anything else they can correct.

Other than that, read your signature line over and over!

[yellow]

Sounds like classic ITBFS. Been there, hard to "cure" once it flares up. I won't tell you how long I had to lay low with my most extreme and running-stopping case.

I use Speedplay pedals because of my history with ITBFS (this is what Mr. sports medicine Dr. Testa suggested way back when I was quitting running and starting cycling). I've found that stretching often aggravates it (plus it's very hard to stretch since it's not "muscle"--it's fascia, which is without blood and doesn't like to stretch), though I do it anyway to try to get as much flexibility in there as I can (the hip insertion actually IS muscle and stretchable). Ice is good, as is massage, though it can really hurt. I have a roller that I use everyday (usually in the evenings, whilst soaking in the hot tub) on the entire band, from the hip down to the insertion below the knee. I think that really helps.

Yah, lots of Aleve (Dr. Testa recommended that as well instead of Vitamin I[buprofen]) and take it easy. Get one of those rollers. They really rock (they have them at Road Runner Sports--"the stick"

Good luck. It stinks, believe me, I know.

[susan.wells]

Here's another sufferer... long history of it (I was a race-walker prior to cycling). yellow has given excellent advice. I would add a foam roller also. Mine is chronic. I have great leg strength but must gear down and spin "lightly" up hills otherwise the pain is quite sharp and I'm down for a few days. So I'd rather be a hill slug rather than not ride for a few days.

Susan

[KSH]

Trust me... I feel your frustration!

I bought my bike in October 2004... didn't ride much because the weather got bad.

So, I hit the spin classes in the gym... and worked very hard to get better.

Then, I had a few warm days and I hit the road! I was SO HAPPY because I was doing SO MUCH BETTER!!!

I was finally getting to where I could go 18MPH, and hills would not kick my butt.

Then, a slight pain in the knee started... and then it became acute, to the point where I couldn't even pedal with my left leg. I would be lucky to get in 20 miles without really bad pain.

I went to the LBS, kept getting fitted... changed pedals and shoes... all this right before the MS150. I was so frustrated and disappointed, because I wanted to ride the MS150... and I have the strength (in my legs) to do it...

So, I went into the MS150 with a plan... ride slow and spin the whole way. I didn't go over 12 MPH... averaged 9 MPH on the hills. I made it 45 miles the first day and 20 miles the second day!

Sure, I didn't get THAT far... and I went VERY SLOW... but I got 65 miles out of my knees that wouldn't go 20 miles before!

Do I have the answers? No. I just understand what you are going through.

I still have knee pain and my plan is to lay off when it's really bad... and to not over train. I have a triathlon June 18th... and I want to do it to have fun... so if I suck on the cycling... then so be it.

Best of luck! I know I have hope that my knee pain will subside as I ease back into the saddle... spin all the time... and rest when I need it!

PS- I am also going to add weight training to my regime!

[anaphase]

I have battled with ITBS for the last couple of years now (from running, not cycling).

The foam roller is a good idea. Another idea that is WAY easy is to get yourself a tennis ball and a trigger point chart. I have that Julstro book, The Pain-Free Runner (although I would recommend her Pain-Free Triathlete book for you), and her advice about rolling on a tennis ball really helped my IT band problems. Basically, you lay on your side, and put the tennis ball under your upper hip (is that the gluteus medius?). There is a trigger point there, so when you're on it, it kind of hurts, and you stay there for at least 30 seconds. The muscle is essentially in spasm, and you are doing deep tissue work to mellow it out. I know I'm not great at explaining it, sorry.

The IT band is hard to stretch, but if you stretch your hip flexors a lot and your piriformis, in addition to the regular IT band stretches, you should have some relief.

Hope this helps, and sorry you're hurting. It really sucks. Good luck!

[CorsairMac]

This could be waaaaaaaaaaaaaay outta date but it's worked for me for close to 20 yrs now.........ITBS from running and the exercise the Ortho PTs gave me was:

stand sideways to a wall with the bad hip facing out feet flat on the floor, keep your hand on the wall for balance. Cross the inside foot over the outside foot at the ankle and cock the bad hip out. You'll feel the stretch all through that whole side of the leg. I usually hold it for a count of 20-30 and I always do both sides just to make sure I don't develop ITBS in the "good" hip.



(so does this mean I Don't need to make a place in my house for your steed?? )

[bikerchick68]

thanks for all the advice and the empathy! I'm willing to try just about anything at this point... I am realy frustrated to not be able to ride like I am able! I've busted my butt to get to this point where I can enjoy riding centuries and am ever improving my time... then this... Corsair...I'll keep ya posted if you need to make room for the love of my life... LOL

gotta get me that roller and will definitely try those stretches too!!!