Knee ligament pain

the flying hernia

I'm getting pretty noticeable pain in the outside of both knees - or more precisely, the ligament on the outside (I think the lateral? Don't think its the IT band - pain is below the knee - on the knobbly bit of bone where the ligament attaches) . One knee is worse than the other.

Hurt a lot after a sportive last year, so rested it. Now just easing back, gradually building up miles but keeping the forces / gears low, streching afterwards etc - but the pain is back and pissing me off - especially as I want to start riding to work (30m round trip).

Have checked c& adjusted cleats and seat. Not really making a difference (the bike was pretty carefully set up by folk at a club who seemed to know their stuf).

Any advice or thoughts appreciated - especially whether sports physios are any good with cycling probs...and whether a trip to a cycle set up place like Cycle Fit would be a good idea.

Doobz

sounds like your seat is too low - see how you feel with the seat a bit higher..

pbracing

Also worth doing the sitting on a workbench or wall thing where your feet don't reach the floor, to check the natural angle of your feet. I walk pretty straight inline, yet when I did this my feet pointed in quite a lot, and more on the right foot. Helped a lot setting my new pedals and cleats up which had given me pain on outside of my right knee.

pbracing

Double post cos of the flaming 'article not found' rubbish again. Really p-ing me off now.

djaeggi

I would find a physio ASAP but...

As far as I understand it (and I'm not medically trained, but have just had a number of close family members with a variety of knee injuries over the past few years!) , if you've sprained you LCL and cycling aggravates it, the main reason is that it's under tension somehow and the only two ways you can do this is by: having your feet too close to the cranks (this is a pedal/cleat/q-factor issue); having your feet pointing in, when they should be pointing out more (cleat setup and float). That said, the LCL can take some time to heal properly, particularly if it was badly sprained, and there might be a different underlying cause (e.g. damage internally in the knee), hence finding a physio to tell you exactly what's going on is really important.

In the meantime, stop cycling, rest & ice the knee, consider taking ibuprofen or using an ibuprofen gel, and get yourself pain free before starting to find the cause of the problem and getting the rehab going, which is going to involve strengthening the major leg muscles.

What pedals are you using BTW?

ronthechef

DO NOT RIDE

seek advice from someone who knows what they are talking about, I had exactly the same as you before Xmas but carried on riding, I have now been off the bike for 4 weeks, I can hardly walk, let alone cycle

I have been to a physio and doctor, They have told me it is recurring tendonitis, I could be out for the whole of the year!!!!

F&@cking gutted

Pom

sorry if this is too old to post.

but i had the same situation, not from cycling but from skateboarding about 2 years ago. I got really bad pain in the same areas you described and my knee would routinely collapse or lock at unexpected moments.

Went to the doctors and it turned out after about 6 months of scans and things that i'd torn cartilage in my knee and needed surgery to fix it. they cant really fix it only slightly mend it. so ive got ice on my knee after any cycling or skateboarding and need to do exercises every day.

really get this checked out. i left mine so long they couldnt do a lot, go get checked now!

hope that helps, and dont worry

the flying hernia

Thanks for the replies - much appreciated.

I think i have been a bit of muppet - riding on and ignoring the (increasing) pain. Funny how easy it is to do that when you really miss your bike...Now hurts to walk so even i can work out that this isn't healing itself!

Did a full bike check at the weekend and heights etc seem OK and toes pointing the right way...Will look again at the Q factor though. A little less close to the crank perhaps?

More importantly, am on the lookout for a physio in the Kingston (SW London) area - any recommendations gratefully received.

Have just signed up for the Etape Caledonia and making family plans around the Novi Colli so arse is now in gear. thanks again for replies.

TFH