Training & Nutrition - Knee pain - ride or don't ride

I have been having a lot of pain on the inside (medial) of my left knee. The funny thing is, it feels OK when I ride, but afterwards it hurts to stand up, walk, or straighten the leg. Since I feel OK when riding, I'd really like to keep going, but I'm afraid I may be causing some damage.

Before anyone answers with the obvious stuff:

1) I have had a professional fit from someone who is a legend in Toronto cycling. He took a lot of time with me, and I think the fit is spot-on.

2) I use speedplay pedals with tons of float

3) I ride in low gears and spin at a fairly high rpm. I am also avoiding hills completely.

Most years I have some knee pain and I always figure it is just over use. Previously it was always my right knee that hurt. This year my right knee is absolutely fine, and the left knee is killing me.

You might try some of the dietary supplements like glucosamine/condroitin/msm. Might be my imagination (don't think so), but it seems to have helped my knees.

Before anyone answers with the obvious stuff:


I think the one obvious suggestion you missed is:

4. See a doctor

An orthopedist who specializes is sports medicine should be able to figure out what's wrong and know how to fix it. You don't mention any stretching you're doing. Could just be you need to stretch. In that case, the orthopedist would give you a referral to a physical therapist.

Good luck.

Bruce

I think the one obvious suggestion you missed is:

4. See a doctor

An orthopedist who specializes is sports medicine should be able to figure out what's wrong and know how to fix it. You don't mention any stretching you're doing. Could just be you need to stretch. In that case, the orthopedist would give you a referral to a physical therapist.

Good luck.

Bruce

Yep - you're right. That's what I'm going to do if it doesn't get better. In the meanwhile I'll stay off the bike for a couple of days. Damn! Now what am I going to do all weekend? :mad:

Are you a F/T commuter? Is that why you don't want to rest it?

How long on the bike before the pain goes away?

Glad someone suggested a doctor -all kinds of alarms go off in my head when I get knee, shoulder, or back pain. No need to mess around with these areas IMO.

I had a bit of knee pain on my right side after a longer-than-ususal ride on Tuesday, and I'm taking a long (5 days) break from serious rides, and taking today completely off as far as biking is concerned (I still did my 8.5 mile round trip commute with no symptoms). If I feel it again again I do a serious ride tomorrow, I'm going to ask about it.

You might try some of the dietary supplements like glucosamine/condroitin/msm. Might be my imagination (don't think so), but it seems to have helped my knees.

Me too. But my physio told me that it's the chondroitin that does the good - glucosamine by itself doesn't do much, apparently.

But see a doctor too.

A dr's opinion is always worthwhile. Except when they advocate knee surgery. That can do more harm than good.

Sometimes overbuilt quad muscles/underworked hamstrings cause knee pain. Be sure you stretch your hamstrings.

Are you a F/T commuter? Is that why you don't want to rest it?

How long on the bike before the pain goes away?


I'm not a full time commuter, but I do commute 2 or 3 times per week. I just love to ride, and I don't want to stop but I guess there is no choice at this point. When I'm on the bike the knee feels fine. It's just so damn strange. Moral of the story might be NEVER get off the bike???

You might try some of the dietary supplements like glucosamine/condroitin/msm. Might be my imagination (don't think so), but it seems to have helped my knees.

Yes, I've been trying that, but don't see any difference yet. Maybe it just takes as while.

ive got a torn MCL and ACL and I as well as my doc are trying to avoid surgery at all cost...as of Friday he said to come back with some upper leg growth (my calves are already huge) from cycling, lunges, leg curls and leg extensions in two months and he said as long as I keep a routine up and stretch that hes pretty sure I will be able to get by without surgery or knee braces besides while im racing or doing my low impact activites like raquet ball.

When my knees got bad a while back, I resolved it by doing medium-heavy squats in the gym. The loadbearing exercise, once a week, balanced out and strengthened my knee joints a treat. Approach with caution, but I'd recommend it.

I have the exact same problem. After doing a century yesterday, it is incredibly painful to straighten or bend my knee. It hurts at exactly the same spot you described, the medial part of my left knee. When I have my knee totally straight, the pain is in between the knee cap and bony bump right below the vastus medialis (inside quad muscle). I too have speedplay pedals with over 30 degrees of float. I've talked to a family friend and he thinks it might be a tracking problem due to muscle imbalances and/or poor pedal mechanics.

http://www.mortonsfoot.com/pickingrightpci.html

Maybe this link can help you.I tried glucosamine for 2 months,but ıt doesn't seems that it is helpfull

When I first started riding, I had knee pain, but it got better with MORE riding. Just take it easy and if it becomes painful DURING the ride, stop or ease up. Also try to avoid big hills if you can. These are just my experiences. Yours may be different, depending on the cause. Good luck.

If your KOPS is correct you maybe not warmed up sufficiently.And remember,
High cadence is quite an effort on your knees.