patellofemoral syndrome pain

[Kathi]

I was diagnosed with patellofemoral pain many years ago. Cycling really helped and for many years I had no pain even though I used Speedplay pedals. I even used them on my trainer when I tore my ACL. Then I started having foot pain and progressed to knee pain which progressed to hip and back pain. My old knee exercises, leg lifts, etc did nothing to alleviate the pain. Because of the negative things I had been reading about Speedplays I really started to believe the they were causing the problem. After 4 months of PT I changed therapists and he looked beyond the site of pain and found my left SI joint was locked, whereas the 1st PT had been treating the site of the pain, my right side.

2,000 miles of riding this summer with Speedplays, X1's and Frogs and no pain with knee or foot.

BTW, the podiatrist said I had 2 neuromas in my foot. I now can walk barefoot with no issues, no burning in the morning, no pain while riding. I'm using my orthotics less and less.

For some reason this time I rejected the ortho's suggestion of surgery and braces, the podiatrist injections and decided to let things run its course. And for me, I can confidently say the Speedplays were not the issue.