Training & Nutrition - Synovial Plica Syndrome

I've been diagnosed with synovial plica syndrome and would appreciate hearing from anyone with experience with this problem. It came on after a couple of weekends of some hill work, 14 miles of 4 -8 % grades, followed by plyometric workouts later in the week. My orthopod has advised relatively long-term NSAID therapy. I was also icing my knee a couple of times daily when it was really tender and I've done no riding at all for a couple of weeks. The pain is less but the synovial band "catching" persists unabated. Has anyone had this problem treated with cortisone injections? Has anyone used DMSO? I've also had a professional bike refit done but haven't done enough riding since then to know how much of a difference it will make.
Thanks for any input.

plica syndrome could be a number of things, could be plain inflammation
or could be a piece of the synovial membrane getting munched between the joint and causing physical discomfort

I just had a piece of flap of synovial tissue snipped out of my knee earlier this month
we initially thought it was a piece of shredded cartilage or meniscus floating around and getting caught in the joint.

plica syndrome could be a number of things, could be plain inflammation
or could be a piece of the synovial membrane getting munched between the joint and causing physical discomfort
.

In my case there are folds of synovia apparently entrapped between joint surfaces. Was your surgery arthroscopic? Has it resolved the problem?

Plica syndrome was one of the reasons I started cycling more seriously. Tried the nsaids with little success, finally found a doctor that would listen when I told him I wanted it fixed and not to be told to take it easy for 4-6 weeks and see what happens. Had the arthroscopic surgery, did some rehab on the bike and haven't had the slightest problem since...

wayne

yeah, definitely helped because the flap was on the front right side and getting caught, when it got caught it would cause the rest of the membrane to pull especially at the side and back which is where i felt most of the discomfort.

the surgery was arthroscopic, 5 holes and was back on the bike 2 1/2 weeks later
officially retired from soccer also

Ah, you guys give me hope. I've been thinking scoping might be the answer and am glad to hear from someone who has been through it. Thanks.

while my problem was in the wrist, I tried a brace and NSAIDs for a long while too. I was diagnosed with De Quervain's syndrome (SP) which is basically tendonitis at behind the base of the thumb on the wrist.

I had great luck with a cortizone injection, 600 mg ibuprofen, a brace, and ice packs at regular intervals. The key was combining the varied treatments at one time. I tried one or the other separately and did not have any luck. When I hit it hard, I knocked back the inflamation and got better.

Note, I have tan/olive skin, and the cortizone took the pigment out leaving a white patch around the injection point. This came about a couple of months or more later. Weird.

Good luck.

No experience with Synovial Plica Syndrome, but you might want to also investigate fish oil and/or flax seed to reduce inflammation. Might shorten or help the NSAIDs.