Knee Hassle

Trotter

Anytime Ive tried to do any physical exercise..running especially, during the past 6 months or so Ive had a sharp pain in the fleshy bit around the bottom of my kneecap.

Ive seen the doctor and the physio, and even had an arthroscopy (Keyhole Surgery) about 6 weeks ago... Yet the same sharp pain is still there.

My question is.. has anyone got to this stage of the medical process (post op) and still had trouble with a sports injury.. to the extent where its just too damn sore afterwards to do any exercise?

Better still, does anyone have an immediate cure?

I do exercises often, the ones where you sit on the floor and put a bottle under the knee and strengthen the thigh muscle.. but they dont seem to make a difference.

I have a feeling too that I was just another patient to the surgeon, he didnt take too kindly to me asking questions.. he basically said.. your knee is grand, keep doing the exercises.

I was always a fitness minded person but its going out the window now and its sooo frustrating.

Any advice?? AND Im NOT asking for specific medical advice as such, just success stories!! I know its not to be used as a medical board.. that'd be bold.

Einstein

For what its worth,

The fleshy part under your knee is attached to your Quadriceps. Depending on the result of your arthroscopy, work should probably be concentrated on your quads and hamstrings (Always work on the opposing muscle group). Whether that be sports massage, physiotherapy exercises etc.

Im no doc but am a qualified Neuromuscular Therapist.

D..

sutty

Maybe you could try this board?

joe.

or a physiotherapist

Mr E

Trotter. One word: Physio!

I had the same problem last year (pain just under my left kneecap). I could run for about 10 minutes, but then it would start to get sore. I went to physio, and his explantion was that my quad muscles were firing in the wrong order, and pulling on my kneecap, causing the pain.

I had 3 45 minute physio sessions. Each session consisted of some massage on the quads, 10 minutes of electrotherapy, and some leg exercises (leg raises etc.). He gave me some exercises to do at home too (lunges, stepups) which I did twice a day. I eased back into exercise (slow jog, short times) and I was back to full speed after 3 or 4 weeks.

Hope this helps.

Einstein

Spot on TmB.

Beruthiel

sutty wrote:

Maybe you could try this board?

good suggestion slutty

Altheus

Just a suggestion aside from the obvious, if you sleep on your back put a pillow under you knees if you sleep on your back, or between them if you sleep on your side.

Trotter

joe. wrote:

or a physiotherapist

I did see a physio, 3 of them, the 3rd one sent me to the doc, who sent me to the surgeon.

The quad muscles firing in the wrong order sounds interesting! The main exercise Ive to do is putting a 2ltr bottle under my leg and then straightening my leg and lifting my foot.

Are there other exercises I should be doing?

I think I'll go to the physio again and explain its still happening. I might try a different physio again though. Any recommendations for a physio in Waterford?

Trotter

TmB wrote:

Trotter. One word: Physio!

I had the same problem last year (pain just under my left kneecap). I could run for about 10 minutes, but then it would start to get sore. I went to physio, and his explantion was that my quad muscles were firing in the wrong order, and pulling on my kneecap, causing the pain.


Hope this helps.

This sounds exactly like what happens me. I feel the sharp pain when I step up onto something (getting on a bus for example). The arthoscopy showed my knee was fine structurally so no problem there. The only other option is the quad. Thanks a lot for your quick responses everyone.. its light at the end of the tunnel!

Einstein

Trotter wrote:

This sounds exactly like what happens me. I feel the sharp pain when I step up onto something (getting on a bus for example). The arthoscopy showed my knee was fine structurally so no problem there. The only other option is the quad. Thanks a lot for your quick responses everyone.. its light at the end of the tunnel!

Unless you find a decent physio that actually does some sports massage (and I don't just mean deep friction) you're really wasting time. Go to a good sports therapist (like me- but I aint in waterford ), and as mentioned, a couple of sessions on your quads and hammers should bring some definite relief.

D...

DrIndy

all sound advice, notably TmB.

Remember it isn't just doctors who specialise, but physios as well. Rehab physio is different from sports physio is different from hospital physio. Although they are trained to treat everything, you have better success with someone who does the same type of work every day as they are more experienced.

Trotter

DrIndy wrote:

all sound advice, notably TmB.

Remember it isn't just doctors who specialise, but physios as well. Rehab physio is different from sports physio is different from hospital physio. Although they are trained to treat everything, you have better success with someone who does the same type of work every day as they are more experienced.

Good advice.. but who do I go to? As far as I can find, lots of the physios in Waterford are just the normal standard physios. Ive one more that I'll try, after that Im at a loss who to go to.

Trotter

DrIndy wrote:

all sound advice, notably TmB.

Remember it isn't just doctors who specialise, but physios as well. Rehab physio is different from sports physio is different from hospital physio. Although they are trained to treat everything, you have better success with someone who does the same type of work every day as they are more experienced.

Good advice.. but who do I go to? As far as I can find, lots of the physios in Waterford are just the normal standard physios. Ive one more that I'll try, after that Im at a loss who to go to.

Imposter

Trotter wrote:

Good advice.. but who do I go to?

Ask at a local soccer, GAA or rugby club. They should know the better physios for sports injuries in your area.

Trotter

Someone has recommended Adam Bux, in Dundrum. He's a South African guy.
Has anyone else dealt with him?

DrIndy

Imposter wrote:

Ask at a local soccer, GAA or rugby club. They should know the better physios for sports injuries in your area.

An excellent idea - but go for the big ones first like the county GAA or Waterford United soccer team. They would have the name of the person they use. Hopefully you can get an appointment quick too to see them.....

Boru.

Hi trotter

In regards to the Knee Injury. I'd need to take a more detailed history, but I'd say it sounds like Cold Invasio of the knee joint. Cold Invasion is a Chinese Medical term basically describing the nature of stagnation resulting from injury.

There are a couple of things that you cna do to help yourself. You can consult many online pictures and find a point called St-35. Its located in the outer depression of the knee cap when flexed. Lightly massaging this point will provide benefit if it is cold invasion, as would heat. For instance you can rub in deep heat, take hot baths, or buy a bean bag, throw it in the microwave and that should provide relief. That said there are many different causes and of knee pain. Let me know if that helps and we'l see if we can progress it. In the meantime I'll check and see if I know any good acupuncturists in Waterford.

Oh and ginger teas. I can't recommend that enough. Not he twinnings style. Get some actual root ginger peel the skin, take two slices pour in some boiling water and drink it down over ten minutes. Three times a day, morning noon and night. Awesome stuff. Let me know how you get on.

Hope this helps,

Boru.

Trotter

Thanks Boru! I'll give it a shot!

DrIndy

Boru. wrote:

Hi trotter

In regards to the Knee Injury. I'd need to take a more detailed history, but I'd say it sounds like Cold Invasio of the knee joint. Cold Invasion is a Chinese Medical term basically describing the nature of stagnation resulting from injury.

There are a couple of things that you cna do to help yourself. You can consult many online pictures and find a point called St-35. Its located in the outer depression of the knee cap when flexed. Lightly massaging this point will provide benefit if it is cold invasion, as would heat. For instance you can rub in deep heat, take hot baths, or buy a bean bag, throw it in the microwave and that should provide relief. That said there are many different causes and of knee pain. Let me know if that helps and we'l see if we can progress it. In the meantime I'll check and see if I know any good acupuncturists in Waterford.

Oh and ginger teas. I can't recommend that enough. Not he twinnings style. Get some actual root ginger peel the skin, take two slices pour in some boiling water and drink it down over ten minutes. Three times a day, morning noon and night. Awesome stuff. Let me know how you get on.

Hope this helps,

Boru.

Although I would never state that alternative medicine was ineffective, it is important to note that all treatments initiated by doctors and physiotherapists are based on research with thousands of people and it is on this basis that treatment is started.

Although alternative medicine MAY work - there is little or no research evidence supporting this, if there was then this would be mainstream medicine. This does NOT mean it is quackery or fictitious, merely it is unproven.

Therefore - it is important to exhaust all the research proven remedies from the GPs and Physios before using alternative medicine. Also if you see your GP or Physio, it is important they know what alternative medicine you have explored.

Trotter

DrIndy wrote:

Although I would never state that alternative medicine was ineffective, it is important to note that all treatments initiated by doctors and physiotherapists are based on research with thousands of people and it is on this basis that treatment is started.

Although alternative medicine MAY work - there is little or no research evidence supporting this, if there was then this would be mainstream medicine. This does NOT mean it is quackery or fictitious, merely it is unproven.

Therefore - it is important to exhaust all the research proven remedies from the GPs and Physios before using alternative medicine. Also if you see your GP or Physio, it is important they know what alternative medicine you have explored.

I agree, alternative medicine can be great but I'll try another physio or two first. I managed a pain free 30 minute jog on the beach today (The hardest sand I could find) and I was delighted. It hurts like mad now though!!

seabee

TmB wrote:

I had the same problem last year (pain just under my left kneecap). I could run for about 10 minutes, but then it would start to get sore. I went to physio, and his explantion was that my quad muscles were firing in the wrong order, and pulling on my kneecap, causing the pain.

I had a similar problem recently and the area under my knee has swelled up a little bit. I've kept my weight off the knee (where possible) and I apply ice to it when I go home in the evening. The pain is gone but it still seems to be a little bit swelled or could this be fluid collecting there?
If so how can I remedy this?