Push thru, bike fit, or visit the doc?

[Zen]

It almost sounds like a torn meniscus but that seems an unlikely injury in cycling. Did you do any sudden movements that would affect you knee?
You should probably have an MRI. A knee injury if left untreated can eventually affect your whole body.

[spokewench]

With the description of "my knee was screaming in the first 1.5 miles of the ride", after being off the bike for week, I would be pretty concerned about the knee and I think I would be going to the doctor to have he or she look at it.

Could be Chrondolomacia (sp?) that is more under the knee cap though so it is hard from your description to tell what it is. Usually, you do not injury your knee too badly while cycling, but it could also be tendinitis??? Anyway, just thoughts.

Sometimes a knee will just need warming up and stretching when you are experiencing one of the two maladies above, and then will get a little better as you are warmed up.

Did you push really hard on the ride you went on? i.e. were you pushing bigger gears or feeling fatigued and at that point did it feel like you were pushing a bigger gear when you weren't? You could have fatigued your knees pretty good since you have just started riding this year.

But, I think if you have "screaming" pain, you should go see a doc. If it is nothing serious, at least they can send you to a PT where they can give you stretching, strengthening, etc. exercises to help you work through these issues with your knee.

spoke

[teigyr]

I also recommend going to Erik Moen. Since he's a PT, he will understand what's going on and will make changes when he can and recommend other changes if they require parts.

I'd also say to do it as soon as possible. Not only could you be damaging something but if you're going to ride STP, you want to be comfortable with the new adjustments by that point. There will be changes and he recommends doing short rides for the first week to get used to them.

[orcoz]

Hey all! Thanks for the input! I'm looking for a good doc to check it out, and I'm also looking up Erik.
I've been pretty active all my life. Lots of swimming, jogging, hiking etc. with no major injuries. No surgeries or anything like that. I think a twisted ankle is about as serious as it got.
On the 70 mile ride we went on (on the 20th) I was feeling pretty good. The last 20 miles I had a flat in my rear tire that we had to keep stopping every couple miles to fill up. (Forgot the tool kit on the dining room table) The SAG wagon finally showed up <1.5 miles from the end. I was determined to finish by that point. I just stepped off the bike and stood there while DH filled the tire. No precipitating event to cause the injury, but yes, I know I was pushing harder than usual with the relatively flat tire. Middle ring though, and it was a relatively flat ride.
Even yesterday's ride I was feeling OK (after the Other knee and my back worked itself out) too. Then we stopped for water and bang, that left knee decided to reappear when I got back on. I finished that ride, but I was sore.
Now this morning just hurt from the get go, so we turned around (thank DH for that one, I would have kept going to see if it worked itself out). This afternoon the knee is a bit sore, but I can do stairs, walk, jog, etc. with no pain. But put me on the bike and yowie!
I know STP isn't THAT hard, but I'm kind of self-driven that way. Don't want to be back with the folks riding their big-wheels.
You're all awesome! If you have further thoughts I'm all ears!