Help! Advice needed.....

[Emmajane71]

Hi all, having graduated back in August then continuing 30 minute runs for a couple of weeks I developed right knee pain, I have not run for over a month to rest my knee, during this time I visited the doctor who promptly told me that running obviously wasn't for me and to join a gym! (I got the feeling he was very much against running!)

He didn't know what was causing the discomfort so sent me for an x-ray which was fine. My knee stopped hurting so I started yesterday doing the NHS knee strengthening exercises and I can already feel the slight discomfort coming back. I can't afford a sports physio, I had my gait analysed and got correct trainers back in wk4.

What I want to know is has anyone else experienced this problem and have they come back from it? I don't want to stop running as I was really enjoying it, I'm refusing to give up without a fight!

Any thoughts or advice appreciated.

Thanks

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

If there’s no damage evident, the strengthening work will help. My knees sat me out of a week each early in C25K and I used knee braces on them as I came back, but now I’m running pain free.

I don’t see how your doctor can say running isn’t for you without further explanation... we are all born to run!

I did avoid hard surfaces for a while, but now I’m starting to use tarmac paths and there’s still no issues at all... I may even try paving stones soon.

I’d advise testing the knees with very brisk walks and then a short (literally 20 yard) run. If still pain free go for the same short run both up and down a hill. After that it’s a case of going off very gently and being prepared to stop.

[Boofle999 Graduate]

I also had a week out after Wk4 with quite bad pain in both knees. The pain went away with rest and I also got some braces to see if they would help me to start running again. I have just done Wk5 using braces with no pain to speak off, heading off for a gait analysis next week because I think it has something to do with the way I run, given that it went away when I stopped! So my story is positive, it seems that I have managed to come back from it, hope you find a solution so that you don't have to stop running.

[Jinty55 Graduate]

Hi, I have a 'clicky'! left knee and when I started this I had some swelling above knee after runs. I now do a series of stretches after my runs which seems to help. I have no pain when running just a tightness in day after. I agree with previous reply we all can run just may have to take more care after.

[Mimirossi Graduate]

I found that strengthening my gluteal muscles and quads and also lots of stretching helped my knee pain. I now very rarely get sore knees. Good luck!

[Emmajane71 Graduate]

Thank you all for your replies, I went for a brisk walk and added a tiny jog in and it's flared up after 5 weeks rest, very annoying! I'll persevere with stretching and building up the leg muscles and see how it goes