Oh No!!!!!! My knee is hurting

popette

I can't ignore it any longer. My knee is sore. It doesn't hurt when I'm cycling (although after 1.5 hours in rain yesterday, I did get three or four stabbing pains right at the end of my ride) but it's sore to walk on it and I'm hobbling a bit to protect it.
I think it may stem from a session on the turbo before I'd adjusted the float on th pedals and I was just cycling with my feet at the wrong angle of dangle. I'm going to take a few days off the bike and do a bit of core work instead. I think I probably should go and see someone about it but I don't want to be told to stay off the bike. I'm also taking antibiotics at the moment so I should be taking it easy - it's hard though, I don't want to lose fitness.

andyp

First off, take a deep breath and don't panic. A week or two off your bike now will not have a catastrophic effect on your goals for next year (assuming the Etape is still your main one?).

Then I'd recommend you see a physio if you can.

Another option, although it's a relatively expensive one, is to visit Cyclefit in Covent Garden in London. I had some issues with my knee a few years ago and a half day session there a) cured it and b) is probably the soundest performance investment I've ever made. It's obviously hard to quantify but my pedal stroke felt much more powerful after visiting them.

popette

Hi Andy, thanks for your reply and calming words.
I've booked a physio appointment for tonight.
I've always been a bit paranoid about my fit on the bike and I've had a session with Paul Hewitt in the past. I find that it's a very delicate balance to get it right - either my saddle is too high and the back of my left knee is sore and if I lower it too much, hte left knee will stay fine but the right knee will feel pain on the front. London is a bit of a trek for me - you don't know of any other similar services in the north do you?
Thanks again

andyp

I'm sure I read somewhere that Cyclefit were opening up a place in Leicester but their website doesn't mention it. (I know that Phil who works there commutes in from Leicester every day!)I don't know of anyone who offers such a service in the north - maybe other forumites will?

I'd really recommend it though as they spend a lot of time, i.e. 3 hours, getting everything aligned correctly as you pedal.

pedylan

Agree with Andyp it does seem a bit too early to panic!

There could be a couple of minor reasons why you're getting pain now - changing to cycling in cold and wet and also changing back to turbo trainer set up. Minor bike adjustments can have a big effect on knee comfort and pain.

You're doing the right thing by seeing a physio early, be interesting to hear their views.

If you're thinking about a new bike for the EdT then get a thoroughly good fitting before buying. I'm awaiting delivery of a titanium bike from Sunday bicycles. They're based in Macclesfield and gave me a 2 hour fitting and consultation which was comprehensive.

popette

Just back from the physio and already I feel an improvement after the ultrasound. He reckoned it was probably that session on the turbo when my alignment with the pedal was all wrong and it's just aggravated where the top of the knee cap tracks over the bottom bit. I've also got tight quads and hip flexors. I've got a load of stretches to do (which I already should be doing but I get lazy on them).
I'm going back on Thursday for another session but I think that should fix it really.

My turbo trainer bike is my husbands. He has different pedals to mine so I have to use his shoes/cleats (embarassingly, despite him being 6ft 4", it's me that has the bigger feet. In fact, I've probably got bigger feet than all of you as well :shock: ). He is using spd-sl cleats whereas I just use spd (we have the same style shoe). I've already slackened the tension on the pedals to the lowest but it still feels like I'm not able to turn my foot in to the angle that feels comfortable for me. I think I'll just have to buy a cheap pair of shoes and get my own spd-sl's put on them at the right angle for me. I don't find it a problem with the spds as there is so much room to wiggle my feet around.

Feeling much better. One thing physio didn't say was that I needed to stay off the bike. I'm still going to have a few days off, just to let things settle. I may also buy some knee warmers because I really do feel a difference in the cold. Does anyone else's knees creak? mine are hideous - he said not to worry if it doesn't hurt though.

peanut

just how big are your feet lol :shock:

No don't say :oops:

I still use SPD's on my road bike and find it suits me fine. I just bought a pair of new shoes and SPD-SL cleats but found they didn't suit me.

Sounds like you are going to need some new shoes and cleats lol.either that or you are going to need to convince your partner to change :roll: How do you normally set up your shoe/cleat alignment?

I found the best way for me was on a turbo trainer and just loosened the cleats sufficiently enough that with a little force I could gradually re-position the cleat whilst pedalling. I then removed my feet from the shoes and marked around the final cleat position.
I don't understand why but it worked out best with my shoes very slightly pointing inwards ???weird!

:shock: :? I'm not pigeon -toed but its definitly the most comfortable setup for me.

good luck with the knees

ut_och_cykla

Size 42 me, hubby 39! So nothing to be ashamed of popette 8)
Sounds like you'll get it sorted but DO THOSE EXERCISES! they are your medicine if you like - take twice a day (or whatever) but do them.

I'm not a physio or anything but tightness in quads and hip flexors will continue to cause problems in the future so get them sorted soon would be my advice.

Instead of buying new shoes & cleats how about some cheap SPD pedals & just swapping as required? Your knees might be happier and you save yourself having to align a new set of cleats on shoes. Alternativley if you haven't got them get the 'SPD for road' pedals - use them on the trainer and then swap to your good bike! Super for long rides.

popette

cycling shoes are 47!
Changing the pedals will work - either changing for the ones on my own bike before each session or buying myself a new pair. I do like the look of the spd for road pedals. My shoes are road shoes though, not mtb shoes with cleat recessed in the sole, so not sure if that would be an issue. The one advantage of size 47 (12ish) is that you get some good bargains in the sales. Mine were £90 reduced to £40. 8)

My knee already feels much better after the treatment yesterday. I can walk without hobbling now and I'm not panicing anymore.

You're right Ut_och_cykla, I really must do my stretches.
Peanut, I'm the same - ever so slightly want to turn my toe in a bit.

Thanks for your replies folks

oldwelshman

popette wrote:

cycling shoes are 47!
Changing the pedals will work - either changing for the ones on my own bike before each session or buying myself a new pair. I do like the look of the spd for road pedals. My shoes are road shoes though, not mtb shoes with cleat recessed in the sole, so not sure if that would be an issue. The one advantage of size 47 (12ish) is that you get some good bargains in the sales. Mine were £90 reduced to £40. 8)

My knee already feels much better after the treatment yesterday. I can walk without hobbling now and I'm not panicing anymore.

You're right Ut_och_cykla, I really must do my stretches.
Peanut, I'm the same - ever so slightly want to turn my toe in a bit.

Thanks for your replies folks

Size 12 Popette? Wow

popette

11.5 if you stick me on one of those clarks measuring things.
size 12 in trainers.
Slight pain in the ar*e when it comes to getting girly shoes. I don't get an awful lot of choice so if I do try on a pair and they actually fit, I buy them. The shop I go to seems to have changed their sizing recently though and nothing has fit me at all this year.