In KNEED of support.

[newbie-nick]

Advice, please.

My left knee has been niggling for a couple of weeks and I have tried Deep Heat and a neoprene leg support for when I'm not active. Can any of you recommend a support to wear whilst I'm running? There are lots out there, but I'm like a child in a sweet shop and can't decide.

It's on the inside of my left knee, and just behind the knee cap area.

I really don't want to bother the doctor for something so incredibly trivial, especially when the doctor had to call me in for a quick check as they hadn't seen me for so long. I'd be happy never setting foot inside the surgery again! No offence, doctors.

Thanks.

[Hidden]

This may help but but but..... Don't rule out the Drs in favour of a self prognosis 👍

upandrunning.co.uk/collecti...

[mrrun Graduate]

How's your knee now? There is nothing trivial about the biggest and one of the most complex joints in your body. The main rule when it comes to it is never to self diagnose. When just one knee is hurting that's not down to niggling pains that every new runner will experience. There could be an issue with your lower back and weight distribution, there could be a problem with hips alignment, there could be some inflammation, there could be anything. I had a knee issue when I started running and decided to use google and YouTube as a guide, instead of seeking professional help (not from my GP, they wouldn't have a clue, but from a sports physio). As a result, the knee got inflamed fairly quickly and for the next 10 or so weeks I couldn't run and had difficulties walking in the beginning. The physio's bill was not funny either. In other words, you don't mess with your knees. And in terms of what support to wear, that's (again) down for them to decide.

And, of course, if you don't figure out what's causing the pain, it will keep returning. Have you bought your shoes through a gait analysis shop? I didn't and that was one reason for the injury. The others were poor hydration, lack of proper rest, running hard and on consecutive days.

Good luck!

[newbie-nick Graduate in reply to mrrun]

Thanks for the reply. In my school days, I used to train for long and triple jump pretty much every day, and that has caused me problems in the past. At one point I thought I was going to have to call out the Mountain Rescue Team to collect me from Helvellyn, but I managed to bottom-shuffle down with the aid of my wife. Following that, I was referred to a physio who did some ultrasound treatment and it has been absolutely fine ever since. That was some 25+ years ago.

I don't have any unfamiliar running shoes and there is nothing else I have changed, so I am guessing that it is the old war-wound playing up again... or I did until this morning when I climbed aboard the bath. My knee made a very slight knuckle-crack sound and it is so much better now. Where that has been hiding for the last few weeks I'm not sure, but now it feels 75% better. Hopefully, that will be the start of a full recovery.

Thanks for the kindness and I really do hope that I will be back out running next week, or the following one if I feel another week's rest is called for.

Take care and happy running.