Knee Trouble

TownyDC
TownyDC Posts: 157
edited July 2015 in Training, fitness and health
After years of putting up with dodgy knees, my right knee has finally given up.
Annoyingly though the final straw wasn't through cycling but after an eventful weekend of DIY, laying decking in my back garden.
3 weeks now not on the bike and waiting for an MRI to find out what damage has been done.
Symptoms are as follows, a few days after that fatal weekend, swelling around the top of the knee, sharp pains on the inside left of the knee, pains across the front of the knee cap when i twist, bring my leg back too far or walk awkwardly. The pain goes though when i gently and slowly straighten the leg and i feel the knee fall back into place with 2 little clicks.
It might be a long road and after 3 weeks i'm climbing the wall, especially as it's a cr@p time to not be on the bike.

Should have laid my decking in the winter.....

Can anyone give me a potential diagnosis?

Towny

Comments

  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Sounds like my knees, so it could be a meniscal cartilage tear. Could also be a host of other things, so you have no alternative to wait for your MRI.

    I've had 3 ops now, right knee twice, and think the left needs doing again. Cheerful orthopod said I'd need knee replacements by the age of 60. That's just over 2 years away and I'm determined to prove him wrong!
  • TownyDC
    TownyDC Posts: 157
    MRI tonight at 6pm, i assume i won't find out there and then but i have waited 6 weeks and not been on the bike since, climbing the walls is an understatement.
  • sloppyschleckonds
    sloppyschleckonds Posts: 8,019
    Have you posted this on any DIY/ Decking forums for anyone who may have suffered the same?
    I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Alternatively, get hold of a copy of your scans and post a link to them on here.

    You might not get a valid medical opinion, but it could be quite entertaining...
  • ryanmc29
    ryanmc29 Posts: 4
    I had an MRI and had a 2-3 week delay before results.

    It was only a few weeks ago that I got results that looked perfect so thought I was good to get back to cycling. I have been doing a very very small amount of running and getting back on the bike. I have increased my weekly mileage fairly quickly and has been absolutely fine. However went out on a group club run last night and was pushing harder than normal and knee really was struggling, to the point that I was unsure if I should pedal home.
    Feeling a bit frustrated after being pleased about MRI results clear. Anyone able to offer any advice as the medical guys have signed me off as fine?

    Thanks in advance for any pointers :)
  • TownyDC
    TownyDC Posts: 157
    MRI done and yes ryanmc29 2 to 3 weeks before I find out.
    Might just try a few easy rides in the mean time to test it out.
    Saying that don't want to do more damage either, just hate not going out on the bike.
    Keef66 if MRI scans are your bag, it will be my pleasure :D
    Sloppy searching for diy/decking forums next...... :shock:
  • fudgey
    fudgey Posts: 854
    I managed to tear the lateral collateral ligament in my left knee on sunday, was doing a 24h mtb event and it was turn to go again, got my stuff out the tent, stood up... Then fell over. Knee was locked for about an hour and a half with the medical team pulling, pushing and prodding unit the chap finally managed to free it, by forcing my knee inwards to the sounds of a horrific crunch. Even tho i was off my tits on entinox it still hurt a lot, and still does. Still swollen, still cant straighten my leg nor bend it properly yet.
    Got an appointment to see a specialist on the 8th, then god knows how long till i get another mri...

    I done similar last year and between the injury and the mri was a good 4 months or more, so it was all healed up and nothing wrong was found....
    My winter bike is exactly the same as my summer bike,,, but dirty...
  • diy
    diy Posts: 6,473
    it sounds like you've got housemaids knee. Bursitis Knee.

    http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Bursitis/Pages/Treatment.aspx

    On the decking front, an impact driver was one of the best tools I ever bought. Makes such light work of wood screws.
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  • TownyDC
    TownyDC Posts: 157
    MRI results are back and I have a high grade retro patellar chondromalacia. This means the cartilage behind the knee cap is damaged but luckily doesn't require an operation.
    So it's time to pop some Glucosamine sulphate and get back on the bike and build back up slowly after 10 weeks off of the saddle.
    Cartilage should repair but will never be as good as it was before the damage apparently.
  • stevewj
    stevewj Posts: 227
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19663378#p19663378]TownyDC[/url] wrote:
    MRI results are back and I have a high grade retro patellar chondromalacia. This means the cartilage behind the knee cap is damaged but luckily doesn't require an operation.
    So it's time to pop some Glucosamine sulphate and get back on the bike and build back up slowly after 10 weeks off of the saddle.
    Cartilage should repair but will never be as good as it was before the damage apparently.

    I have had this for many years and suffered knee pain during and after cycling. In tried different pedals - Look, SPD, Crank Bros, all with the same probs. Tried Speedplay and haven't had prob since - do 100 + mpw on 73" gear grinding up hills without issue. This is, I feel, because Speedplay don't have the spring loaded centreing that the others have - it has completely free float until the unclipping point so my ankles/legs/knees can assume whatever lines they want unrestrained by the pedal. This is prob why the vast majority of \\tour riders use them.

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