Running - Bottom of my Knees in Terrible Pain (legs, biking, fast)
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Hi all,
I started running again after about a year break (I had my second baby and have been very busy). I started running every day at lunch. I started with 3 miles a day and worked my way up to about 4- 4 1/2 a day after two weeks (this is running every day M-F). The last day I ran felt some pain in the knee/upper shin area. After that last run, I’ve been in pain (it’s been a week now). I feel like I wasn’t stretching enough and I was pushing myself too much? But It’s both of my knees (the bottom of the knee…into the upper shin around the knee joint area). It hurts especially when I bend down or have to get up from sitting on the ground. Or walking up and down steps. And I experience pain when putting my legs in the indian style sitting position. I figured I had runners knee…but why is it taking so long to get heal? Sometimes the pain is excruciating. I’ve been taking advil twice a day for this week, stopped running, and have been doing some knee/hip exercises. And it might be just a touch better? But really not much. It’s the worse in the morning and at night.
Any ideas on what could be wrong? Or any tips to help it get better quicker? I’d rather not spend the money right now to see a specialist (I will if I have to), but if this is something I can help heal myself I’d rather do that.
Don't do anything that will stress your knees until the pain is gone. I would follow RICE - Rest, ice, compression, elevation. Its hard to diagnose you because it could be a number of things. I know how frustrating it is to have to forgo exercising, and I know you want to get back to it. So I highly recommend seeing your doctor, preferably an orthopedist if the pain is not gone in a week.
Stop running. It's that simple. It's terrible for you.
Well that’s simply bs
I wouldn’t have gone from zero running to running every day. That’s ramping it up too fast and then moving the daily mileage up on top of it. Back it back down and ease into it, limiting mileage increases to 10% a week
Hi all,
I started running again after about a year break (I had my second baby and have been very busy). I started running every day at lunch. I started with 3 miles a day and worked my way up to about 4- 4 1/2 a day after two weeks (this is running every day M-F). The last day I ran felt some pain in the knee/upper shin area. After that last run, I’ve been in pain (it’s been a week now). I feel like I wasn’t stretching enough and I was pushing myself too much? But It’s both of my knees (the bottom of the knee…into the upper shin around the knee joint area). It hurts especially when I bend down or have to get up from sitting on the ground. Or walking up and down steps. And I experience pain when putting my legs in the indian style sitting position. I figured I had runners knee…but why is it taking so long to get heal? Sometimes the pain is excruciating. I’ve been taking advil twice a day for this week, stopped running, and have been doing some knee/hip exercises. And it might be just a touch better? But really not much. It’s the worse in the morning and at night.
Any ideas on what could be wrong? Or any tips to help it get better quicker? I’d rather not spend the money right now to see a specialist (I will if I have to), but if this is something I can help heal myself I’d rather do that.
Thank you so much.
My wife and I both have double knee implants. IMO it would be most helpful for you to see a specialist ASAP!!!! While they enable you to walk, or maybe not, you don't want to get knee replacements to early in your life. Better yet not at all.
Agreed with others here - if you're getting pain in both knees it's clearly a warning sign that you're possibly trying to achieve too much in too soon a time, especially starting with a 3 miler.
It's difficult to say whether your problems are joint-related, muscular, ligaments, cartilage or a combo of all four. But I would strongly advise seeing an expert just in case its the onset of something quite debilitating in the mid to long-term, even when going for a casual stroll.
The early warning signs are telling you to get it checked out as soon as possible.
Probably cartilage degeneration; however, a good physician will be able to accurately diagnose.
Have you considered alternate methods of cardio such as bicycling? Every single person I know who runs regularly has had some form of knee, back or foot injuries. I can't say that about bikers. Personally, I walk at a good pace. You have to go much longer to burn the same amount of calories but it does the trick and (knock on wood) I've never had major knee or foot pain like you are describing.
Could be injuries to the meniscus, a structure which runs around the bottom of the kneecap and is prone to tears. Or it could be something else - shin splints come to mind.
I concur, get your knees checked out - and quit running or any other activity which involves twisting, torqueing motions (basketball, dancing) until you are cleared by the doctor. While you're waiting for an appointment, get OTC wrap-around lightweight knee braces that go beneath the kneecap and fasten with Velcro to help support your knees. The right ones can cut your pain in half, judging by my own experience.
Consider switching to biking or swimming or walking, once your knees settle down. Also make sure your running/walking shoes are supportive and include shock-absorbent soles and inners.
Ibuprofen is a good painkiller and anti-inflammant, taken with food to help spare your stomach. Try taking 400 mg. every four hours for a couple of days and see if that helps. If it works for you and your doctor okays it, you'll want to keep a steady dose in your system.
Sounds like it could be shin splints - caused by doing way too much too soon. You should have started back gradually. You need to back off until its better, or can progress to a really serious injury.
I'm not one who runs to the doctor at all even when something hurts...I can usually 'doctor' myself through most aches and pains. However, many years ago I woke up and couldn't get out of bed on my own. I had been having pain so bad (not a runner, speed walker) that at the end of the day I was dragging my leg...I took Ibuprofen and ignored it until the day I couldn't get out of bed.
That was my wake-up call. I really had to go to the doctor, my GP took some blood samples, got the results and sent me to a Rheumatologist. Autoimmune disease treated with Prednisone (horrific side effects), it only took a year for my body return to 'normal'.
We sometimes have pain from 'overdoing' but when it's persistent it is our body's way of telling us something is wrong.
I hope by the time you've read this (I hope you haven't gotten this far) break down and go to the doctor. Your knees/legs will thank you.
Best wishes and speedy recovery!
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