Sore Knees(marathon training)

Running Bing

After my long runs and the following day my knees often hurt me. Its more of a soreness/stifness than a pain. It usualy hurts after I stand up after sitting down for a while. It doesnt happen on my short/medium runs. Is this normal or could it be the onset of an injury? Thanks.

iregk

Could possibly be the onset of some ligament or cartillage damage but it depends on what kind of pain and where it is. Describe the pain as in a needle type pain or a general throb etc... also where is it, back of the knee or front and so forth.

racso1975

i suffer the same and it is a constant pain to front knees especially when sitting down. Now the pain is not immense but is not nice to have all the time. i cycle and run and pain has only come in last week having returned from holidays in sun where i also ran. i was wonering if i had o do with drinking less water here. sorry to thread hijack

iregk

Doesn't sound like a lack of hydration issue. Where is the pain concentrated exactly. Its at the front ok, so would it be above, below the knee cap or pretty much the entire knee cap etc...

Sorry if these questions sound stupid but there are a number of things anyone could do to their knee and pain is usually concentrated in one focal point so it makes it easier to diagnose.

Running Bing

Sorry iregk I should have provided those details. Its just below the knee cap. I wouldnt describe it as a shooting pain but it is very sore after I sit down. Its usually bad right after the run and then gradually gets better. Its not to bad at all now. Like I said it doesnt really affect my running(Its when I stop) but Id hate to think if I continued running it would get worse as it would surely mean quitting the marathon, as unfortuneately I cant afford to take time off from training.

Transform

Usually nothing to do with water.

|Recommendations

1) Jump into plunge pool or ice bath after each session
2) Have a warm bath with 1-2 cup fulls of epsom salts
3) Take more fish oils - you are not taking fish oils? Now thats just plain silly!
4) Stretch for at least 15mins after each session
5) Use a foam roll

Running Bing

Transform wrote:

Usually nothing to do with water.

|Recommendations

1) Jump into plunge pool or ice bath after each session
2) Have a warm bath with 1-2 cup fulls of epsom salts
3) Take more fish oils - you are not taking fish oils? Now thats just plain silly!
4) Stretch for at least 15mins after each session
5) Use a foam roll

1) Check
2) Intend to do that
3) Really? This is something I never thought of. I do remember hearing though that cod liver oil improved joint suppleness so it makes sense. I should check it out.
4) Check
5) Excuse my ignorance but what in the name of god is a foam roll?

Cheers for the help lads. Fingers crossed now that all my training doesnt go out the window.

disturbed-angel

i hate to rain on a parade, but this sounds bad to me.
this sounds like chondromalacia patella.
I had this, is sucks, and the worst thing to do is to keep running on this.
you need to see a doctor or a physio ASAP.

"Chondromalacia patella is a common cause of kneecap pain or anterior knee pain. Often called "Runner's Knee," this condition often affects young, otherwise healthy athletes.
Chondromalacia is due to an irritation of the undersurface of the kneecap. The undersurface of the kneecap, or patella, is covered with a layer of smooth cartilage. This cartilage normally glides effortlessly across the knee during bending of the joint. However, in some individuals, the kneecap tends to rub against one side of the knee joint, and the cartilage surface become irritated, and knee pain is the result.

What happens to the cartilage with chondromalacia?
Chondromalacia is due to changes of the deepest layers of cartilage, causing blistering of the surface cartilage. The pattern of cartilage damage seen with chondromalacia is distinct from the degeneration seen in arthritis, and the damage from chondromalacia is thought to be capable of repair, unlike that seen with arthritis."

(this was the best short explaination i could find on the net with a short google, it came from http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/patelladisorders/a/chondromalacia.htm)

iregk

I was just going to post up that you've got cartilage damage before i read angel's response. Thats bang on what it is. I got it as well. Advice, stop running. This is somethign that grows and grows and gets to the point where you destroy cartilage and pretty much cannot stand on that knee.

Doing my last marathon it happened to me and I had to pull out after 16miles as I couldn't put any more weight on it.

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

Myksyk

Babybing ... you've got to cut your losses here. You need to stop running for a week or so (minimum). Take anti-inflammatories (nurofen), ice for 10 minutes every few hours, avoid squats and be careful going up stairs, see a physio asap for diagnosis and treatment. You might be lucky and get this sorted in a couple of weeks (crap I know but i had this and got it sorted quick enough). If you run on it you could be off for months. You could still do the marathon but you will definitely not be able to if you ignore this.