Training & Nutrition - Ow! My Patella!

I got in a bike accident two years ago, and smashed my knee kindof badly. It took me a year after that to be able to bike and not be in horrible pain afterwards. Hills kind of didn't happen for awhile. Then I switched cranksets, and was *magically cured* but now it is back! It just randomly flares up for no reason at all. I can't workout, or pretty much do anything, the pain has been building for a few days.

Does this happen to anyone else? I want my patella to not hurt anymore. Limping right now. :twitchy:

See a doctor.

See a doctor.

Ah if only. The ER doc I saw right after the accident was basically like 'ya you bruised it. k bye!'

Ah if only. The ER doc I saw right after the accident was basically like 'ya you bruised it. k bye!'
All ER doctors are like that. Now go to your primary doctor/urgent care.

I am one of those good-looking young people the New York Times likes to write about who choose to pay off their student loans rather than pay out of pocket for health insurance.

Take time off from riding. When you do ride spin more. No mashing.

Try raising your saddle. With your heel on the pedal, you should just barely be able to touch the pedal with your knee completely locked. Try it with both legs, and use the higher adjustment, as your legs, like most folks', are probably not the same length. It's also OK to have a little air under the heel instead of touching, but only a little. Then check your fore-and-aft saddle adjustment. Tie a small weight to a string, or use a plumb bob if you have one. Sitting normally on the saddle with one foot at 3 o'clock, hold the string on the bony protrusion right below your kneecap. The weight should be over the pedal axle. I assume you normally pedal a good fast cadence.

IME doctors can't tell anything about a knee without an MRI. I've been misdiagnosed many a time. Try taking 600 mg of ibuprofen twice a day for a week. See if that helps. If nothing helps and it keeps getting worse, try for the MRI. By then you may be able to convince a doctor to make a diagnosis, though that keeps getting harder to do.

Try raising your saddle. With your heel on the pedal, you should just barely be able to touch the pedal with your knee completely locked.

But remember that a too high pedal can be as dangerous to a knee as a too low one.

I haven't used CF's method. Take a look at

http://www.fitnessvenues.com/uk/biomechanics-of-cycling

for a tape measure based seat height guide.

Also:

http://www.bottombracket.co.uk/cycling-sore-knees.html

Take time off from riding. When you do ride spin more. No mashing.

Good advice.

But remember that a too high pedal can be as dangerous to a knee as a too low one.

I haven't used CF's method. Take a look at

http://www.fitnessvenues.com/uk/biomechanics-of-cycling

for a tape measure based seat height guide.

Also:

http://www.bottombracket.co.uk/cycling-sore-knees.htmlIME, none of the tape measure methods are as accurate as measuring with the body part. Measure to what, and everyone's pelvis is a little different.

Pain behind patella - raise the saddle. Chondromalacia.
Pain behind or side of knee - lower the saddle. Iliotibial band syndrome.
Doesn't always work, but it's the first thing to try, fit-wise.

IME, none of the tape measure methods are as accurate as measuring with the body part. Measure to what, and everyone's pelvis is a little different.

Pain behind patella - raise the saddle. Chondromalacia.
Pain behind or side of knee - lower the saddle. Iliotibial band syndrome.
Doesn't always work, but it's the first thing to try, fit-wise.

Interesting! It's always tempting to consider numeric methods as being more precise, but it isn't always true.

I'm not quite sure about "behind the patella" and "behind the knee" - are they the same or different places? Is the second "Behind the pattella but at the front of the bone behind" and the second "at the back of the leg"? Or something else again?

Interesting! It's always tempting to consider numeric methods as being more precise, but it isn't always true.

I'm not quite sure about "behind the patella" and "behind the knee" - are they the same or different places? Is the second "Behind the pattella but at the front of the bone behind" and the second "at the back of the leg"? Or something else again?Yes, different places. Behind the patella means it feels like the patella is causing pain in the front of the knee:
http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&nfpr=1&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=AoaeTZC1CeniiAL3ncjvAg&ved=0CDMQBSgA&q=chondromalacia&spell=1&biw=1601&bih=913

At the back of the knee, meaning somewhere else:
http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&biw=1601&bih=913&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=Iliotibial+band+syndrome&aq=f&aqi=g7g-m2&aql=&oq=

Health insurance even when when I was paying out of pocket was cost effective in the long run. Two "special events" so far. So you are young, that is good. Back off if it hurts too much. See a doc if it does not fix itself, but you need to find a doctor who treats professional athletes, ask around/read the paper. Find the trainer or coaches of your local football college or pro team, ask them, or an endurance coach, they wont mind you calling up and asking, you are a potential client.

Supplements can help, if I did not believe they helped I would not be forking over $50/month as a 53 year old super active dude. My favorite one contains glucosamine, chondroiten and tumeric. Supplements are not all the same (meaning innefective) and you get what you pay for, so no discount stores.

I just remembered that there was a good thread on patella pain here:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/392107-patellofemoral-syndrome-aka-runner-s-knee