spinwax

Well this is the worst. I couldn't be more depressed right now.

I had knee surgery back in Oct. Things have been going great and looks like I was going to peak for a couple of the biggest stage races (including San Dimas). I felt I could win with my fitness.

Well, I really started running into some knee pain as I stated in my TT bike thread. Talked to my surgeon/ortho doc last week. Now I am on an oral cortizone and start therapy. Looks like I have Patellar Tendonitis.

He says, I need to stay COMPLETELY off of the bike for a minimum of TWO MONTHS!!! Are you F-N kidding me? That is a minimum. Who knows how long it will be before I get better. I should go in to therapy (ultra sound on my knees, etc) next week. I am going to ask the therapist if my doc is 100% correct. Not that I don't trust my Dr. but they sometimes go for the worst case. Shouldn't a good physical therapist be able to tell me what kind of work outs I can do.

Honestly, it would have been ok if he said I could still ride but not hard. Being off the bike for this long will just kill me.

I was so fricken excited about this season.

jrennie

I'm going through the same thing right now. Patellar Tendonitis is a repetition inflammation so while the PT might have you doing strength exercises to get the muscles balanced and tracking right it isn't the same as cycling. 95 rpm for an hour is 5700 rotations on your knees and will continue the flare up. Better to take the time off and heal then be permanently bothered by it for the rest of your life. It's a hobby not a job.

MDcatV

sorry to read this. put your energies into something positive, the time will pass quickly, and you'll be back in action a better person for it.

spinwax

I have to keep remembering that. It is just mentally hard. I just love to be on the bike. I really was prepared and believed I could win a lot this season; no doubt about it. Now I am fricken staring at my bike and losing leg muscle...LOL.

How long have you had it? Are you taking time off? What are you doing to make it better.

So far:

I was put on some sort of Pack medicine. It seems to be a Cortizone of sorts.
Stretch. Lots.
Roll legs out.
I wear jumpers knee straps.
I ordered some Kinseo tape. Or however you spell it.
Ice. Massage with ice over the tendon.
Massage the tendon.
Elevate at night.

ridethecliche

I think one of the reasons that my case was so bad was because I thought it wasn't much of anything since it didn't hurt much on the bike. So I trained and raced cross.

I'm finally starting to feel like my knee is normal again. It still clicks but doesn't burn. If only I could say the same for my hip.

Maybe do something with your upper body to train 'something' while your knee heals up?

You can strengthen your back and core a lot in 2 months. That'll pay great dividends in the future. I've been lifting while I can't ride. I'm enjoying it since atleast I'm doing some sort of activity.

rumrunn6

deep breaths. my world got a shake down last year when my current spouse broke her kneecap. everything - all our plans; my plans; went down the tubes. your challenge now is the mental one. see a therapist (mental) and plan good things for yourself like professional massages. do some traveling - anything for distraction. stay healthy; walk and swim. good luck!

ImprezaDrvr

With my hamstring strain a couple of years ago, the PT gave me a good stretching regimen that has helped to keep the problem at bay since. Don't discount the advice that a good sports PT can give you, but yeah, you have to be a good patient too unfortunately. I ended up with 8 weeks off and survived, and I'm a better rider today as a result. Not much consolation now, but it's all I can do.

rumrunn6

+1 for hamstring stretches! you get a giant black and blue bruise just above your knee on the back of your lower thigh?

ImprezaDrvr

No bruising, but I had swelling and heat just below my knee. The first thought was that it was a calf strain, but it was a hammy strain right at the bottom of the muscle. The PT was great, focusing not just on the hammy but on general flexibility in my legs. It's all a system, and my stretching now hits my hamstrings, quads, calves, IT bands, lower back, glutes and hip flexors. Plus work to straighten out a bit of a tilt in my pelvis. That's why to the OP I say, find a good sports PT. He or she can start you in with good habits that can make you more comfortable and less prone to injury for a long time if you follow the routine.

botto 

find a sports ortho.

the PT for my thumb (early arthritis due to overuse) suggested i wear my brace while i ride.

when i mention this to my ortho, he replied: she doesn't get it. bless.

spinwax

My ortho did mostly sports injuries before he moved out here. He even worked with the Boston Ballet among others. He seems to be pretty good, but like most doctors, it is like pulling teeth to get them to spend some time with you during diagnosis.

Man, don't feel bad, I have arthritis as well. Man, getting old sucks.

substructure

Sorry man. I have to remind myself too that this is a hobby. Hang in there, K?

jwible

Meloxicam (Mobic) will be your friend.

spinwax

Yeah, everyone always says it is just a hobby. I do take it very seriously. Probably too seriously and that is why it is so hard on me when I don't get to ride. Thank goodness it's not what I do for a living and my only source of income. LOL.

Icing on the cake. I signed up for the big San Dimas Stage Race in Cali and they don't give refunds. 115.00 down the drain.

ridethecliche

Just take it easy...

As for the stage race, see if they'll let you 'sponsor' a junior to do the race. Help someone out!

Remember that if you slip up with this, it could become a nagging problem for a long long time.

Let your body heal. Go to the gym and workout if you get the 'gotta do something' itch.

bostongarden

Sorry to hear this spinwax. Consider writing to the stage race folks, explain your situation and see if you can get a few dollars back. Hang in there!!

spinwax

That is a great idea. Unfortunately I am as broke as the next guy, but if I don't get my money back, I will look into that. I would love to help a Jr out!

waterrockets 

Sorry to hear about the new injury. I had the same problem after my busted patella. Since mine was a known issue with scar tissue, I had somewhat different advice from my Dr. and PT: do what you can, but don't do anything that hurts it. This meant about a year of really under-using that leg, but developing really strong glutes to compensate. It still hurts a bit for certain amounts of strain (no way I could get off a no-weight one-legged squat on it). For cycling in general though, no pain at all, even sprints.

RichinPeoria

that sucks ... and my back pain sucks and it puts me out of many activities. I was off the bike for awhile this summer because of it (and another situational thing) ...I hope you are feeling better soon.

Greg180

I empathize with the situation. I am recovering from knee surgery and I have been intentionally slow in attempting longer hours and higher power. The older you get the more time the body needs to adapt. I will ride the circuit this year and I will, at best, get pack finishes. Hopefully next year it will be better.

I am not a half full glass guy...I'm just thankful I have a glass.

ridethecliche

Well said greg.

spinwax

What makes this injury so difficult for me other than the fact it happens right at the begining of race season is we (as in the Doc and myself) have no idea when I will be better. He gave me a minimum of 2 months. That doesn't mean I will be ready to ride then. It could be 5 months, 12 months. I guess this injury is one of those things that could take a really long time or as little as 2-3 months.

Heck, even if I am fully ready to ride in two months, that leaves me about 3 months to get back in shape and I would have to start out slowly. That puts me well into June. Hell I will be lucky if I get any races in this yr. What a fricken joke. This pisses me off. Makes me depressed and there is not one thing I can do about it, except rest, stretch etc.

Again, who knows how long it will take. I am going to struggle through the next two months. What the hell will I do if I am not back to normal and it starts getting into the 4 and 5 month mark? Might be time to pick up video games or something.

Thanks for the kid words. I will keep everyone posted.

Racer Ex 

You're not allowed to pull the "getting old sucks" card unless you're starting to get mail from AARP.

Some thoughts from someone with a bunch of ortho issue in the past including one knee surgery:

Stretches can often cause more inflammation depending on how you're doing them. Same with massaging the tendon itself. Consult with a good sports PT first, then proceed as directed.

Look at your diet. There's linkages between food and inflammation, so consider diet modifications. I'm not a big fan of prescriptive medications, if you are being given something you should absolutely do some independent research before jumping on a regimen.

FWIW considering all my injuries and past issues, I'm holding up pretty well. But for a while I was falling apart, multiple cortisone shots in the shoulders, Etc. It seemed like every few months something new would start hurting. Now, even though I put a fair amount of stress and activity on my body, nothing chronic is showing up.

I credit this mostly to diet changes and supplementing with anti oxidants, vitamins, and glucosamine. I've first hand knowledge that glucosamine is effective under some conditions, unless retrievers are subject to the placebo effect. It's worth giving these things a shot.

And I agree with WR about doing things as long as they don't make your knee hurt.

Hope things improve.

spinwax

LOL. that is how I feel right now. Honestly, one of my major problems is, I went from an out of shape 220lb 6foot dude to 155 and racing competitively all in one yr. Lots of changes that my body, bones, cartlidge, muscles, and mind were not prepared for.

My diet is pretty darn good, I am a supplement fanatic (including glucosamine).

Riding the road bike doesn't really hurt my knees since the injury unless I put much out over level 2.

I have been doing a ton of research, and most sites/books say massage the tendon with the thumb and use ice to massage as well.

The one UPSIDE, is I don't think it is terrible dammage. Many things I have read, people have swelling, severe pain all the time. I have pain all the time and especially if I twist and leave my feet planted. I also have zero swelling. I can stretch the quads with no pain. I can lay my hands flat on the floor and stretch my quads with no pain.

I am going to think really positive and hope that my issue is a minor one.

Again, thanks guys for all the input. It really keeps my head up.

Caad 8

I'm pretty sure I told you that.