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Knee Pain

Original Post
alex59195 · · coeur dalene, idaho · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 20

So had a question and wanted to see what opinions people have. Im not asking for medical advice, just what people think and ill use that to help judge what I should do or go to next.

Im 23 210 6'2''
Been backpacking and doing sports for awhile and just recently about a month ago started having a serious pain on the left leg left side of my knee cap.

First started happening when I was kick stepping up a wall face. French technique. No pop or anything. just started to get a serious pain if I happens to apply weight the right way after awhile. That night it was stiff and was painfull to move my knee back and forth. the next morning it was better, but having to come down absolutely killed me. Had to walk side steps the way down. using my ice axe as a cain.

Pain was gone in a day or two. was tender to the touch too.

2 weeks later I went for a trip, like a mile hike up some elevation.

Everything was fine till I went down. Something happened and the pain was back almost wincing every step I had to take.

I have a trip this weekend that's gonna be a bit more intense then these two climbs. Im worried my knee is going to go out on me again and have to drive threw the pain. Im planning on getting trekking poles and a knee brace.

Elizabeth929 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 0

I've had a very similar problem, namely with hiking downhill, not so much climbing yet. I even went to see a PT about it and they were kinda helpful. The biggest things they recommended were to strengthen my glutes and hip muscles (if they were pulling their full weight there would be less tension on the knees) and then foam roll foam roll foam roll!! IT band for sure, but glutes, quads, and hamstrings too. I've noticed slight improvement from the exercises but the most substantial change (which again, will only really help for hiking downhill) was using trekking poles to take some of that pressure off my knees. Hope this helps, it's still a work in process for me too

cnadel · · San Francisco, CA · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 5

Just my two cents…

I engaged in high impact sports for many many years (Soccer, Judo, Snowboarding). Never had any significant traumatic moment that I could remember, but one day I was running to catch the bus and started to feel a dull pain on the outside/back of my knee once I got on said bus. From then on the pain would come and go - usually reflective of whatever activity I had just engaged in (i.e. it would hurt after a day of snowboarding or the like) - but it never hurt so bad that I couldn't just deal with it.

Several months down the road I tried to do some interval cardio on a treadmill and could barely walk the next day. My girlfriend finally got sick of hearing me bitch about it and insisted I go to a doctor. MRI revealed a torn lateral meniscus, a small baker's cyst, and an osteochondral lesion on the femoral head. Doctor was rather surprised that I couldn't pinpoint a moment when I may have blown it out.

I had surgery to get all the torn cartilage cleaned up and then followed with PT. That was just about a year ago and I'm just now feeling like I can run short distances again, BUT going downhill aggravates it way more than flats or uphills. In fact going uphill or up stairs is totally fine and has become my preferred form of cardio along with cycling. I started hiking with trekking poles to assist on the downhills and those help a whole lot.

TL;DR. Go see a doctor. You could have something going on in there without actually knowing when you did it.

Peter Howes · · Beverly, MA · Joined Nov 2014 · Points: 80

I know you explicitly asked to avoid medical advice, but I'm not sure what can be said that isn't medical advice... First, see a doctor or trainer.

From a similar personal experience it sounds like an inflamed IT band, this is an over-use injury, have you been "over-using" recently? Can you locate the pain, is it general, site specific, does it radiate? Massage, rest, stretching and smart training will be the primary ways to deal with an inflamed IT band.

When mine blew up the trainer recommended I get a pair of green super-feet, this brought the pain down significantly while running, and combined with all the other preventative measures has arrested any further problems.

It if is your IT band the trekking poles might help, but don't bother with the brace.

Good luck amigo!

alex59195 · · coeur dalene, idaho · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 20

Thanks everyone for there info.

I remember coming down that if I tried to not lock my knees up, and kinda sit in a seat and walk down, That caused it to throb nicely. which points to ITBS I believe. if I did a karaoke step down the hill it would help not be so painful with each step. But sometimes, I would twist It or step a certain way and get a instant sharp pain and have to hobble a bit to recover.

is not fun when it starts acting up.... Reading about knee things on google I believe it is ITBS. just seems to be the best fit. I didn't stretch at all before going when I started noticing. I also took some pills in my med pouch. Ibuprofen or something, but it noticeably helped the pain and I was able to walk better after a hour or two in camp. then the pain would come back and I would even need help walking a bit.

Think im gonna get some poles, take it easy, pack a bit lighter and see how this weekend goes. I hit the doc up that week when im back.

Mathias · · Loveland, CO · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 306

I can't help with any kind of diagnosis as I haven't had this particular knee pain. However, I've found that any time I've suffered ligament or tendon damage, the area has always gone numb at the time of injury. So regardless of the activity, when a joint or part of one goes numb, I stop what I'm doing and go home to take care of the injury I know will soon become painfully apparent.

My point is, if you remember a time when it went numb, that's probably when you did it.

wing thing · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 115
alex59195 wrote: having a serious pain on the left leg left side of my knee cap.
If the pain is located on or next to your knee cap, the diagnosis may actually be patellar or quadriceps tendonitis. The ITB attaches to the tibia tubercle and not to the patella. The treatment is slightly different for each so it's best to be examined by a sports med doc or PT to be sure.
alex59195 · · coeur dalene, idaho · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 20

Well my knee held and did good. I Could feel the pain lingering tho. Never got to severe like it was before, or I guess inflamed. Had a great trip Heres a pic:)

Stevens Lake

Goldie Johnson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2015 · Points: 0
alex59195 wrote:So had a question and wanted to see what opinions people have. Im not asking for medical advice, just what people think and ill use that to help judge what I should do or go to next. Im 23 210 6'2'' Been backpacking and doing sports for awhile and just recently about a month ago started having a serious pain on the left leg left side of my knee cap. First started happening when I was kick stepping up a wall face. French technique. No pop or anything. just started to get a serious pain if I happens to apply weight the right way after awhile. That night it was stiff and was painfull to move my knee back and forth. the next morning it was better, but having to come down absolutely killed me. Had to walk side steps the way down. using my ice axe as a cain. Pain was gone in a day or two. was tender to the touch too. 2 weeks later I went for a trip, like a mile hike up some elevation. Everything was fine till I went down. Something happened and the pain was back almost wincing every step I had to take. I have a trip this weekend that's gonna be a bit more intense then these two climbs. Im worried my knee is going to go out on me again and have to drive threw the pain. Im planning on getting trekking poles and a knee brace.
Alex,
It would be best for you to consult an orthopedic doctor. It is possible that you exhausted your knees due to your involvement to extremely physical activities.
Let us know of the outcome/findings: placidway.com/treatment-det…
Scott McMahon · · Boulder, CO · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 1,425

Just a thought to add in some more hammy exercises, and use a foam roller.

I know the "Colorado StairMaster" was giving my knee problems from an imbalance in my leg muscles.

VanessaK · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2015 · Points: 0

Thought anyone experiencing IT Band issues might find this helpful:

Healing IT Band Injuries

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Injuries and Accidents
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