Another knee pain post!

[karen]

I'll keep working out my legs and see if I can get everything of equal strength.

I'm also quite curious to see if our resident PTs have any specific advice for me... Paging PTs!

[Pinkberry]

I tore my cruciate ligament in the right knee about16 years ago...and four surgeries later. For the most part it holds up, but tends to swell (fluid on the knee) when over exerted...over time...and sometimes...it 'slips.' I have been told with knee injuries...as with back injuries...we will probably be dealing with them the rest of our lives! Stretching and chiropractic work on your legs can be extremely helpful as well as keeping up the electro-stimulation...I posted on this cute little hand-held electro-stimulator on another site that I religiously visit (www.traxee.com). The device is the same concept you use at physical therapy, but for people like us that will be dealing with old knee injuries for the rest of our lives, it is a great investment. And just be good to yourself...i find if I spend the whole weekend running, I'll pay for it the better part of the week. Stay in there, be strong, and don't give up!

-Pink

[TahoeDirtGirl]

Have you tried this? I'm not sure if you went to PT but this is one of the things that helps me. I had surgery on my knee in 2006 and couldn't walk after a 'simple' scope surgery to remove bone frags and trim my meniscus. To tell you the truth if I don't ride, my knee bothers me.

So back to the self myofascial release, it's basically giving yourself a massage with a foam roller. Roll your IT band, quads and calves and it takes a while but it helped me. I had fluid on my knee for the longest time as well and I did water therapy which is what triggered me to go into part time personal training but that's another story.

You can get the foam rollers through www.performbetter.com and I think they are about 3 feet long. You can also roll your back with them, which for me is HEAVENLY. Especially the a.m. after a long mtn bike ride.

Chondromalacia is usually what they say when they detect crepitus (popping and cracking)- kind of a blanket diagnosis. I would find a good sports med person or orthopod. But the orthopod usually wants to start cutting you open. I'm having the same kind of problem right now with a foot injury from Oct where I shoved my foot between two rocks when I was riding. I think alot of it is just getting it stretched out but it hurts like heck. Good luck!