General Cycling Discussion - 8 months of knee pain, a living hell

Since October of last year now, my case of quadricep tendonitis has persisted.
I've seen 2 sports medicine doctors, 1 physical therapist and one professional bike fitter. Nothing has worked and I'm running out of money to pay medical bills.

Cycling is my passion and this is just agonizing.
I don't know what to do anymore besides just stop riding

That's a real bummer. It sounds like your problem is very serious, but for what it's worth, I solved a knee pain problem by repositioning the cleats on my cycling shoes.

Recumbent? Rowbike, I currently am having a knee problem when climbing or tours of 20mi. No problem on Rowbike(completely different body movements). Good luck

Could help, or be sold on eBay
http://www.powercranks.com/

That's a real bummer. It sounds like your problem is very serious, but for what it's worth, I solved a knee pain problem by repositioning the cleats on my cycling shoes.
What kind of knee problem did you have?

I would stop riding for a year and see if you can come back. Sometimes these sorts of injuries just require a lot of time to heal.

Can I suggest white water kayaking for next year???

I solved my knee problem by having total knee replacement. Best thing I ever did. No pain. After years and years of pain, it's a revelation. I'm doing century rides and I'm riding my bike to work just about every day. Even just walking around is great. I'd forgotten what it was like to just get up and walk, or ride my bike.

See an orthopedist. If the words "knee replacement" are uttered, don't panic.

I solved my knee problem by having total knee replacement. Best thing I ever did. No pain. After years and years of pain, it's a revelation. I'm doing century rides and I'm riding my bike to work just about every day. Even just walking around is great. I'd forgotten what it was like to just get up and walk, or ride my bike.

See an orthopedist. If the words "knee replacement" are uttered, don't panic.


A knee replacement would do nothing for quadricep tendonitis.

I had severe tendonitis in my elbows last year. The only thing that made it better was stayin off the bike. It took several months, but I am all better now. Getting back in shape this spring is painful! lol.

Clayton

Best solution for tendonitis is rest the tendon. Get off the bike.

You really do need to just totally rest the leg. Take one month off and see how you feel. You won't lose much fitness in that time. You really won't. And if you end up pain free you will be faster anyway.

Why not take up some easy swimming?

Everyones replies I think just reaffirms that I am at the point I need to stop (at least for some time period)

Its confusing though because my first sports medicine doctor scolded me for stopping cycling. He said I needed to continue but just not push hard. I think his intent was so I didn't lose my fitness level. This guy is a race athlete so I'm taking that advice with a grain of salt. Every doctor seems to say something different so I don't take what they say with too much seriousness anyway.

Never really enjoyed swimming much but this sure is the season to give it another try. Our development has a pool so its worth a shot. Thanks for the suggestion.

I'd actually love to try a recumbant too. Seems like I'd be the only recumbant rider under 25 but hell, who cares. I just wish they weren't so damn expensive otherwise I'd give it a go.

Everyones replies I think just reaffirms that I am at the point I need to stop (at least for some time period)

Its confusing though because my first sports medicine doctor scolded me for stopping cycling. He said I needed to continue but just not push hard. I think his intent was so I didn't lose my fitness level. This guy is a race athlete so I'm taking that advice with a grain of salt. Every doctor seems to say something different so I don't take what they say with too much seriousness anyway.

Never really enjoyed swimming much but this sure is the season to give it another try. Our development has a pool so its worth a shot. Thanks for the suggestion.

I'd actually love to try a recumbant too. Seems like I'd be the only recumbant rider under 25 but hell, who cares. I just wish they weren't so damn expensive otherwise I'd give it a go.


I am very injury prone and have been for years. Most of my injuries were during my track days in HS. And almost all of them were the result of not knowing when to stop and rest. I always pushed. I saw specialists and practically lived at the trainer's, yet the only thing that ever fixed all my stress fractures, tendonitis, shin splints, torn ligaments and muscles...was REST.

I am 34 and know better now. The first sign of an injury no matter how slight. I rest for whatever time it takes for the pain to be gone PLUS three days. I have not been sidelined with an injury for more than a week in years. And whatever injury I get is so minor that it is nothing more than an inconvenience. Not a living hell as you describe nor does it require medication, splints, tape, and crutches as was the norm for me in HS.

Of course now that you have been injured for months, a week off won't be enough. It may take more than a month. But some of the best advice I have heard was actually in regards to training horses...."Take the time it takes so it doesn't take time." It applies here too.

Everyones replies I think just reaffirms that I am at the point I need to stop (at least for some time period)

Its confusing though because my first sports medicine doctor scolded me for stopping cycling. He said I needed to continue but just not push hard. I think his intent was so I didn't lose my fitness level. This guy is a race athlete so I'm taking that advice with a grain of salt. Every doctor seems to say something different so I don't take what they say with too much seriousness anyway.

Never really enjoyed swimming much but this sure is the season to give it another try. Our development has a pool so its worth a shot. Thanks for the suggestion.


The idea to keep on the bike ,in time, might be the ticket to keep the tendon stretched to the right
length but that comes much later and just tootle when you ride. NO SPEED OR PRESSURE!!

As to swimming......
It is a well accepted way to rehab after knee or hip surgury. I don't like to swim but was
told to "water walk" in the shallow end to get easy loading of the joint and tissues. So I
walked back and forth 15 times then rest to go 15 more times for about a 1/2 hour to
work my legs in an easy low impact way. Worked like a champ in just one week!! I kept
at it for about as month then cut back to twice a week to maintain tone. Still water walk
once in a while when the tissue aches again and it helps bunches. Try it........

I am very injury prone and have been for years. Most of my injuries were during my track days in HS. And almost all of them were the result of not knowing when to stop and rest. I always pushed. I saw specialists and practically lived at the trainer's, yet the only thing that ever fixed all my stress fractures, tendonitis, shin splints, torn ligaments and muscles...was REST.

I am 34 and know better now. The first sign of an injury no matter how slight. I rest for whatever time it takes for the pain to be gone PLUS three days. I have not been sidelined with an injury for more than a week in years. And whatever injury I get is so minor that it is nothing more than an inconvenience. Not a living hell as you describe nor does it require medication, splints, tape, and crutches as was the norm for me in HS.

Of course now that you have been injured for months, a week off won't be enough. It may take more than a month. But some of the best advice I have heard was actually in regards to training horses...."Take the time it takes so it doesn't take time." It applies here too.
Wow, you sound like me.

Sounds like me. This is my third year with this irritant. I even took the whole winter off. Did everything; ice, rest, stretch, re-fit the bike and cleats. I was good for about a week this year, then it came back again. Don't know what I'm going to do, getting off the bike is not an answer. Maybe I'll just dial back speed and distances. Wish somebody had the fix for this.

Sounds like me. This is my third year with this irritant. I even took the whole winter off. Did everything; ice, rest, stretch, re-fit the bike and cleats. I was good for about a week this year, then it came back again. Don't know what I'm going to do, getting off the bike is not an answer. Maybe I'll just dial back speed and distances. Wish somebody had the fix for this.


If you rest for six months and get reinjured in a week, there is something wrong with your fit.

Every time I've had tendonitis (knee, elbow, lower leg) the only thing that really works is to let it rest -- even if it takes weeks. That plus deep tissue massage and ice might do the trick. Heresy, I know -- but you might be wise to stop riding for a month and see how it responds. GW