Bought some Speed Play peddals and new shoes today!

[Technotart]

AWESOME info!

What the rollers do is stretch the IT and release any sticking points. You can't just do the rollers alone though, it takes the exercises and stretches like you posted to really get them loosened up.

One activity that is REALLY great for IT if you have access to it is a yoga class.

[KSH]

WOW! Thanks for all the great advice! I really do appreciate it!

Yes, the knee pain is baffling and frustrating... and really worrying me!

I have been running for years (never very serious running... just a few miles a week)... and I have NEVER had knee pain! Then, I get this bike... and BAM... I get serious knee issues. Of course, it took around 300 miles on the bike, and many spin classes at the gym for it all to crop up.

As far as going to a doctor... unfortunately, my deductable on my insurance is $500, and I am really broke. So, I can't go to one. Which is what I probably need to do... I know.

Then, I have the MS150 this coming weekend, in 5 days! My plan is to stay around 12 MPH, wear knee supports, and stop at every rest stop. I can ususally hang for a good 20 miles until it gets accute. So, maybe I can keep it at bay if I take it real easy the whole way.

I also hope that taking this week off from exercise will help too. Unfortunately though, I have a triathlon I want to do June 18... and this is cutting into my training time.

Finally... I don't know how far I want to go with all this... how much money I want to spend to see if I can even keep riding... or to help my knee pain when riding. At what point do I just give up and sell the bike? I am just so scared that I am doing permanent damange to my knees... and I have always had good knees. The last thing I want to do is screw my knees up on this bike. It's just not worth it to me.

This is all so frustrating and disappointing.

[KSH]

Ok... I read about the ITB Syndrome... and that is NOT my problem.

I get accute pain on the INSIDE of my knee.

It starts from behind... and then works it way to the inside of the knee. In fact, the outside of my knee is just fine.

[joyrider]

Sorry to hear of your frustration - you know we are all rooting for you! - for your ride in the MS150 and beyond... I know how hard it is when you're really psyched up for something... and then a monkeywrench gets thrown in... trust me, I'm not very patient with this stuff either!
Anyway, I encourage you to scrape some money together when you can to go to see a good orthropedic or sports medicine doc. You know, it can take so long to get in with those folks, it might be worth your while to start exploring your options now! Especially since you're going to be paying for a good chunk of it, you want to be at least reasonably assured that your money is going to HELP YOUR KNEE PAIN. The one suggestion I can make if you do go that route is to check out the doc to make sure he/she is experienced with dealing with cycling related injuries and cyclists.

[spazzdog]

ACL strain perhaps that's radiating toward the medial retinacular fibers? A minor MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament) injury? (jeez, sometimes I scare myself)

The latter could speak to a possible adjustment on the pedal cleat to achieve a more natural alignment... something comparable to the position your footstrike is when you run since the MCL controls or restrains external twisting of the tibia. Your cleats do not have to "match" in position on the shoe. The cleat needs to be under the ball of the foot, BUT the angle of the cleat should be as natural as possible (IMHO).

In my case, I had to do this on my cleats for the following reasons:

• i have a full size differential in shoes
• i toe in from the knee/hip
• i am a midfoot to toe striker when i run

When I reset my cleats I let my foot hang naturally onto the pedal and placed the cleat. No more pain.

spazz (who ain't no doctor but has sure spent a lot of time with 'em)

[emily_in_nc]

A very low-tech suggestion since you have back-knee pain: Have you tried lowering your saddle a bit? Back-of-knee pain can be from a too-high saddle. Since yours rotates to the inner knee, I am not sure if that is it, but it would be an inexpensive thing to try. Last fall I had (in the other leg from the earlier ITB syndrome) back of knee + upper calf tendinitis and also had to cut way back on miles, use easy gears, stretch, etc etc for that one (went to a physical therapist). I had to take it easy for about 2 months before I was back to my normal cycling form - but I did come back just fine - slowly - after that.

It's quite a bit of concern that you have such a long event coming up while you are still having such pain. I definitely don't think you have to give up cycling forever as nearly all ailments can be cured, but usually a major part of the cure is to get off the bike for awhile - or at least cut WAY back on miles. You could continue doing more and more damage to yourself if you keep up the miles. I know you won't want to hear this, but if it were me, I would give some serious thought to pulling out of the MS150. You are not a machine; you gotta take care of your body!

Emily

[KSH]

A very low-tech suggestion since you have back-knee pain: Have you tried lowering your saddle a bit? Back-of-knee pain can be from a too-high saddle. Since yours rotates to the inner knee, I am not sure if that is it, but it would be an inexpensive thing to try. Last fall I had (in the other leg from the earlier ITB syndrome) back of knee + upper calf tendinitis and also had to cut way back on miles, use easy gears, stretch, etc etc for that one (went to a physical therapist). I had to take it easy for about 2 months before I was back to my normal cycling form - but I did come back just fine - slowly - after that.

It's quite a bit of concern that you have such a long event coming up while you are still having such pain. I definitely don't think you have to give up cycling forever as nearly all ailments can be cured, but usually a major part of the cure is to get off the bike for awhile - or at least cut WAY back on miles. You could continue doing more and more damage to yourself if you keep up the miles. I know you won't want to hear this, but if it were me, I would give some serious thought to pulling out of the MS150. You are not a machine; you gotta take care of your body!

Emily

Well, the saddle has been raised, and lowered. And lowered again. I had it fitted again when I bought the shoes and pedals.

As far as not doing the MS150... well, I am going to do it. I have a plan... and if the pain gets too bad... then I will take the SAG van. But, I can hang for 20 miles before the pain gets accute. So, I should be able to hang.

My other huge issue with all this, is that it's triathlon season... and that is the whole reason why I got a bike and started all this... and now it looks like my season will be shot to hell. UUUGGGGGHHHHHH.

I wanted to start training for a June 18th tri... but it seems like a no-go now. So upset!

Not to mention, this is what I do to keep my weight down... and now, I have already gained 4lbs... what will I do if I can't train?

Thanks again for all of the advice, I really do appreciate it. Maybe some rest will help?

[KSH]

ACL strain perhaps that's radiating toward the medial retinacular fibers? A minor MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament) injury? (jeez, sometimes I scare myself)

The latter could speak to a possible adjustment on the pedal cleat to achieve a more natural alignment... something comparable to the position your footstrike is when you run since the MCL controls or restrains external twisting of the tibia. Your cleats do not have to "match" in position on the shoe. The cleat needs to be under the ball of the foot, BUT the angle of the cleat should be as natural as possible (IMHO).

In my case, I had to do this on my cleats for the following reasons:

• i have a full size differential in shoes
• i toe in from the knee/hip
• i am a midfoot to toe striker when i run

When I reset my cleats I let my foot hang naturally onto the pedal and placed the cleat. No more pain.

spazz (who ain't no doctor but has sure spent a lot of time with 'em)

Thanks Spazzdog.

Do you think the advice above applies to me having the SpeedPlay pedals though? Just wondering?

[spazzdog]

I have Speedplay... I still had to put my cleats on just a little "cock-eyed" from the norm. But mine are X2's... complete float. Are yours the ones with the adjustible float? Sorry, can't remember...

Another ailment that comes to mind is inflammation of the bursa... but I think that would bother you when running too. Just not sure.

You really should see an orthopeadic "sports" type doc. Sometimes a quick xray or MRI can tell them the problem and poof! it's off to phys therapy you go, mystery solved. If you're short on $$, they all will make arrangements that maybe would help out.

spazz, completly flummoxed

[KSH]

I have Speedplay... I still had to put my cleats on just a little "cock-eyed" from the norm. But mine are X2's... complete float. Are yours the ones with the adjustible float? Sorry, can't remember...

Another ailment that comes to mind is inflammation of the bursa... but I think that would bother you when running too. Just not sure.

You really should see an orthopeadic "sports" type doc. Sometimes a quick xray or MRI can tell them the problem and poof! it's off to phys therapy you go, mystery solved. If you're short on $$, they all will make arrangements that maybe would help out.

spazz, completly flummoxed

I have the X5's... the most basic ones. And... between those and the shoes... I paid $250. OUCH for a broke gal!

Yea... well, with health insurance the way it is... DR's have to go through certain steps before an MRI is done... due to the cost. They have to try medicine, etc... etc... THEN it can be done.

I'm getting to the point where I am starting to think that cycling is just not made for my body or knees.

I can't afford it!