Hey PS Docs...question about Knee Pain...

[vc10um]

Soooo, last night as I was heading off to bed (about 10-11 hours ago), without any warning or traumatic event I started having a very localized, I would call it medium, sensation of pain each time I stepped on my left leg, pretty much right at the bottom edge of my patella.

I have been training for my 6th half marathon and in an effort to hit my PR have stepped up my training a little bit this time from previous races. I've been known to have knee pain in the past (sometimes climbing stairs is torture on both knees, and usually the first half mile or so of training runs comes with mild, nearly unnoticeable pain in both knees) but nothing that's been this acute or intense.

The kicker to it all is there doesn't appear to be any swelling at all at the joint or anywhere surrounding it. I'm thinking I may have my first case of Patellar Tendinitis. If the pain doesn't respond to rest and ibuprofin over the next 48 hours, I'm going to make an appointment with the doctor, but do you have any advice on additional care measures in the meantime?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[rosetta]

Just rest it and take an anti-inflammatory painkiller.

Tendinitis is possible, or you may have a damaged meniscus.

See doc tomorrow as planned, unless you have severe pain +/- swelling with a fever (signs of septic artritis which needs emergency treatment)

 

[vc10um]

Thanks, Rosetta.

I've been resting and icing it and taking ibuprofin since last night and it seems to be feeling much better. The pain is still there when it bears weight, but it's definitely reduced, and still no swelling to speak of. I have to be at work all day tomorrow, but I plan on seeing the sports med doctor on Tuesday.

 

[Regular Guy]

Sorry...I'm on topic and off topic, as I have a vaguely similar problem, but the circumstances are very different.

Walking 3/4 mile a day maxes out my typical exercise. Actaully, I had been using a treadmill for 30 minutes daily at 3.5 miles per hour ( my bad), when my very specific incident happened....I slid on the end of a power cord, and fell on my but, while twisting my knee. This was 2 weeks ago, and although I think there's been improvement, it's still highly differential.

Going on the web, one suggestion was to see a doc if after 10 days it hadn't improved. But, it has, I think, slightly. In another article, it offers to see a doctor if one or more categories was an affirmative, one of which was that the person was 55 or over. I'll be 55 this Thursday.

Can I/should I give it another 2 - 4 weeks. Am I stupid or smart to make an appointment to see a doctor now?

Sorry to highjack.

Ira Z.

 

[rosetta]

Hi Ira

You should be ok to wait for another two weeks. If you are unable to weight bear due to pain, see your doctor immediately.

 

[Regular Guy]

Thanks, Rosetta. Fortunately, I've been able to walk since the incident. I guess I'll continue to look for the slow heal, which I expect too (and maybe only) will work.

Regards,

Ira Z.