Knee pain flare up

[MoorFit44]

Question about knee pain.. I did Run 3 of Week 5 on Thursday morning and had zero aches or pain until today. On a relaxing dog walk I got the most excruciating pain in my left knee, across the middle of it, when I was walking down hill. Totally fine on the flat and up hill both before and after this. It was so bad I had to get my other half to support me until I got to the bottom of the hill. I couldn't weightbear or bend it. Has anyone else had this...what did you do?

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Many of us have had knee issues and if they are recurrent then it is best to get professional medical advice.

My initial research into my knee problems took me to many sites on the net and this one knee-pain-explained.com/ seemed pretty comprehensive, but it also illustrated the complexity of knees and the number of potential causes.

It was only after having regular physio appointments that I got the problem sorted. We are not, for the most part, medically qualified and a diagnosis over the net is unlikely to be reliable, so get a physio appointment.

Take care.

[MoorFit44 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thanks for your reply, I'll check that link out later on I'll also see what I can find out about taping up the knee area.

I suffered with bad knees as a teenager (many moons ago) due to too much sport and and have hyper-mobility in them. I've had to have arthroscopes and so there is a known weakness there. In the end I was basically told to rein it all in or I'd end up needing knee replacements! Scaremongering Dr I think! So...long story short I stopped the athletics, swimming and hockey and just carried on with Netball into my early 40's. Once I retired from Netball I took up Zumba and aerobics with no issues for the past 4 years or so.

This past 18 months I've been on a health kick and lost nearly 3 stone and upped my low impact working out to the point where I felt that I'd be able to get working on 'learning to run' without the excess weight to cause any pressure on the knees so I hope that it's just a blip.

I went for a walk this morning and did a steep downhill section where there was no pain so am hoping to give Week 6 Run 1 a try tomorrow. I will stop if I get any pain.

Ha I just realised I've pretty much told you my life-story!!

Onwards and upwards!

😃

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to MoorFit44]

That determination will get you through.

If you can do them with no issues, then the knee and leg strengthening exercises linked to in the guide to the plan will increase supportive musculature.

I too had knee issues prior to doing C25K, but running and strengthening exercises made my knees stronger than ever before. It was a careless non running accident that stopped me for the best part of a year and it was only very careful rebuilding under the advice of a second physio that got me back running. The first physio had pushed me too fast.

My knees (left in particular) will always be more susceptible to injury so I very much practice the advice I give in the guide to the plan on minimising impact and staying slow.

With your history, professional advice is crucial, but I am sure you will overcome it.

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate]

Your knee pain issue sounds very similar to what I've had ie excruciating pain going downhill. I went to the doctor, was x-rayed and diagnosed with arthritis. They prescribed physio to build up the supporting muscles and it was incredibly helpful. I also stopped wearing high heels 😪😪 and the pain stopped. The only time the problem recurred was when I decided to try planks. Had to go back to the physio again.

I started c25k in March and it hasn't caused me any problems, quite the opposite.So to summarise, see your doctor, get an up to date diagnosis and ask for physio, even if you have to pay privately it's money well spent.

[MoorFit44 Graduate in reply to Yesletsgo]

Thanks for the response I'm so pleased that you've not had any issues doing C25K with your knees, I bet that was a relief!

After many years of toing and froing with Dr's, orthopedic surgeons and physios about my knees I've a feeling that it's my old issue rearing it's ugly head again. I took an extra recover day before doing Run 1 of Week 6 this morning and had no pain which was great. I'm going to dig out all my old exercise notes from the Dr's and get back doing those again, I've been a bit remiss as I've not had any significant pain in my knees for a few years now - probably because I've done no high impact exercise. I just hope I'm not shutting the door after the horse has bolted!

My high heels all had to go after a nasty netball injury where I managed to tear the ligaments of one of my ankles and I just couldn't bear to wear them...my hubby says it was just the excuse I was looking for to wear comfy shoes all the time 🤣

I'm going to see if I can get a self referral for the physio as things have moved on since the last time I saw one about my knees and they might well have new things to try.

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate in reply to MoorFit44]

Good luck, I took throwing out my heels as an excuse to buy lots of new shoes so it wasn't all downside I'm careful to run mostly on soft surfaces like grass and to do stretches before and after running plus of course proper trainers. If anything my knee has improved since running regularly, though the early days were a bit iffy.

Hope you sort this out, excruciating pain is not something you need even if it is only downhill.

[MoorFit44 Graduate in reply to Yesletsgo]

Can't beat an excuse to buy new shoes Even if they are now running trainers ha ha!

Once I graduate I am hoping to get out on Dartmoor to run with my dogs off lead (having 2 crazy spaniels on lead is not an option!) which should be softer, I hope that helps.

I wonder where my knees might settle down too once they become accustomed to the difference in impact? I mean, at the moment it's pretty early days so they might!

I've got a new knee strap arriving today (good old Amazon)

Thanks so much for your help and advice

😀