Bummed about knee pain
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: SW Fl.
Posts: 5,622
Bikes: Day6 Semi Recumbent "FIREBALL", 1981 Custom Touring Paramount, 1983 Road Paramount, 2013 Giant Propel Advanced SL3, 2018 Specialized Red Roubaix Expert mech., 2002 Magna 7sp hybrid, 1976 Bassett Racing 45sp Cruiser
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1069 Post(s)
Liked 799 Times
in
507 Posts
Here is an update: Since Wednesday, I have been doing a lot of stretching, ice, Advil and mostly resting. Can't keep on the Advil long term as it upsets my stomach.
Today (Saturday): rode 57 miles, 4000 ft of climbing. Not hard, but decent pace. Wore a knee strap brace, drank 2 bottles of Perpetuem and one of Gatorade as it was 85º at the end.
Knee: perfect! No twinges or pains at all. I wish I knew what happened earlier, but I think I am back in business.
I'll continue with the stretching and thanks to all who offered advice. Ride On!
Today (Saturday): rode 57 miles, 4000 ft of climbing. Not hard, but decent pace. Wore a knee strap brace, drank 2 bottles of Perpetuem and one of Gatorade as it was 85º at the end.
Knee: perfect! No twinges or pains at all. I wish I knew what happened earlier, but I think I am back in business.
I'll continue with the stretching and thanks to all who offered advice. Ride On!
At least your solution seems to be far easier than the solution for my bone on bone knees. Happy continued riding.
#27
Full Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Thailand
Posts: 283
Bikes: Bianchi Infinito CV disk, and rim brake
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 29 Post(s)
Liked 98 Times
in
61 Posts
Doing the ice, rest and hops and barley rehydration therapy along with some advil. Just bummed because this weekend it is going to be 80º. (I'll probably ride anyway, or at least try.)
Damn, you turn 65 and everything falls apart.[/
Listen to your body, and rest. Taking a break from the bike is key here. Hopefully, it’s minor and you’ll bounce back in no time.
Damn, you turn 65 and everything falls apart.[/
Listen to your body, and rest. Taking a break from the bike is key here. Hopefully, it’s minor and you’ll bounce back in no time.
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Atlantic Beach Florida
Posts: 1,954
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3810 Post(s)
Liked 1,061 Times
in
802 Posts
This guy (Dr. Jonathon Sullivan) is so freakin' right... "...medicine is just as prone to mythology and folklore as any other human enterprise..."
#29
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Rode Tuesday after taking Monday off. Cold and windy. Of course I wore tights, but knee got sore again, although not nearly like before.
Conclusion: cold weather sucks and we need to get out of here in the winter. Now I know why my older relatives used to take off the day after Thanksgiving and not return until late spring. Next thing ya know, we'll be having dinner at 4pm.
Conclusion: cold weather sucks and we need to get out of here in the winter. Now I know why my older relatives used to take off the day after Thanksgiving and not return until late spring. Next thing ya know, we'll be having dinner at 4pm.
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,694
Bikes: too many sparkly Italians, some sweet Americans and a couple interesting Japanese
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 569 Post(s)
Liked 599 Times
in
414 Posts
72 and dealing with a knee since 1973. Latest help has come from reducing crank arm length. I always ran 172.5mm and a few 175mm and have moved several bikes down to 165mm and 160mm and they are the only bikes I am currently riding do to that knee. Your milage may vary.
#31
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Yesterday's ride, after 4 or 5 days off. About 52º at start, headwind on way back. Damn knee again! I am going to continue with the stretching and exercises and try lowering my seat a few mm, even though nothing has changed in years. Plan to ride tomorrow.
#32
just another gosling
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 19,583
Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004
Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3914 Post(s)
Liked 1,964 Times
in
1,402 Posts
If it turns out to be tendonitis, what works best is to stop cycling and walking, that low intensity stuff, and instead work the tendon with heavy weights. You can feel the tendon with your fingers and see what lifts in what ranges of motion work it the most. Do those. If it's an attachment issue, the only fix is rest. Absolutely do not do anything that causes pain.
I wouldn't use a knee brace. Doesn't seem like it's a thing where the problem is the joint going out of its normal range of motion and that range of motion needs to be restricted or the motion of the kneecap needs to be restricted.
The pain is in the front of the knee, for which the usual rec is to raise the saddle. You want to decrease the tension and range of motion of that tendon.
__________________
Results matter
Results matter
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Atlantic Beach Florida
Posts: 1,954
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3810 Post(s)
Liked 1,061 Times
in
802 Posts
I know the video is a little goofy, but it is an important test (but not the only one) for checking out the health of your knees. There are other things you can do to check the health of your knees, but simply doing an ATG squat is one of the quickest test.
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Upstate SC
Posts: 1,728
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 836 Post(s)
Liked 1,681 Times
in
790 Posts
We moved to SC when I retired.
#35
Senior Member
Thread Starter
[QUOTE=work4bike;22494576]Did you try the Asian squat or Ass-to-Grass (ATG squat)?
I know the video is a little goofy, but it is an important test (but not the only one) for checking out the health of your knees. There are other things you can do to check the health of your knees, but simply doing an ATG squat is one of the quickest test.
We visited China a few times, so.....yea, I know how to do that. Kind of awkward, but when ya gotta go, ya gotta go!
I know the video is a little goofy, but it is an important test (but not the only one) for checking out the health of your knees. There are other things you can do to check the health of your knees, but simply doing an ATG squat is one of the quickest test.
We visited China a few times, so.....yea, I know how to do that. Kind of awkward, but when ya gotta go, ya gotta go!
#36
Senior Member
Thread Starter
[QUOTE=Carbonfiberboy;22493584]Ah, so no resolution yet. Let's try a primitive diagnostic test, see if it's a swollen tendon sheath (tendonitis) or a damaged tendon attachment. Here's my recipe: Take 600mg ibuprofen every 6 hours (except when you're asleep) for 5 days in a row. be religious about it. It
Yea, back on the ibu. I have had back problems, and chronic ibu does a number on my stomach after a while. But for a short course, I am going to give it a shot. Thanks.
Yea, back on the ibu. I have had back problems, and chronic ibu does a number on my stomach after a while. But for a short course, I am going to give it a shot. Thanks.
#37
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Atlantic Beach Florida
Posts: 1,954
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3810 Post(s)
Liked 1,061 Times
in
802 Posts
If all we do is one exercise, say running (I don't want to pick on cycling) our bodies are very good at becoming proficient at that exercise, but it's not exercising the entire body, so the parts being less exercised are getting weaker and the parts being exercised are staying strong, if not being overused. This results in imbalances and those imbalances can cause severe pain and degradation in joints and connective tissues.
There is no pill to cure this problem. Pills can provide some relief of pain/discomfort, but it's NOT correcting anything. Taking a pill, in the long run, only worsens the problem. The best medicine is to exercise the weak areas that have been underused. The most effective way of doing this is thru weight training.
This Doctor calls it the Barbell Prescription....
Last edited by work4bike; 05-04-22 at 08:52 AM.
#38
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,186
Bikes: 2016 Surly Cross Check, 2019 Kona Rove ST
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 284 Post(s)
Liked 313 Times
in
211 Posts
Been riding almost 50 years. And although I sort of remember having sore knees way back when, none for decades. Seriously...decades. No change in seat height, cleats or anything for 5 years.
Then yesterday....have been off the bike for 2 weeks, but a decent base so far...out of nowhere, 25 miles in, my left knee hurts like hell! On the outside, towards the bottom. This was not a race or mountain assault. A fairly leisurely jaunt in 55º sun.
Doing the ice, rest and hops and barley rehydration therapy along with some advil. Just bummed because this weekend it is going to be 80º. (I'll probably ride anyway, or at least try.)
Damn, you turn 65 and everything falls apart.
Then yesterday....have been off the bike for 2 weeks, but a decent base so far...out of nowhere, 25 miles in, my left knee hurts like hell! On the outside, towards the bottom. This was not a race or mountain assault. A fairly leisurely jaunt in 55º sun.
Doing the ice, rest and hops and barley rehydration therapy along with some advil. Just bummed because this weekend it is going to be 80º. (I'll probably ride anyway, or at least try.)
Damn, you turn 65 and everything falls apart.
#39
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bastrop Texas
Posts: 4,529
Bikes: Univega, Peu P6, Peu PR-10, Ted Williams, Peu UO-8, Peu UO-18 Mixte, Peu Dolomites
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 992 Post(s)
Liked 1,657 Times
in
1,063 Posts
New pain after a two week rest and no changes in bicycle setup in many many years.
Well maybe ya just over did it. If I go a few weeks without ridding it can be at least one week for me to get back where I was at. That is do to my age at 68 and the fact that I am even more beat up than I look... Ha
Also, as you age things do change. Bars go up a little. Seat gets adjust forward a little. Seat height goes down a little. And when I say a little I mean just millimeters change can make a big, big, difference.
Of course you know this...
Well maybe ya just over did it. If I go a few weeks without ridding it can be at least one week for me to get back where I was at. That is do to my age at 68 and the fact that I am even more beat up than I look... Ha
Also, as you age things do change. Bars go up a little. Seat gets adjust forward a little. Seat height goes down a little. And when I say a little I mean just millimeters change can make a big, big, difference.
Of course you know this...
__________________
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
#40
Senior Member
Thread Starter
New pain after a two week rest and no changes in bicycle setup in many many years.
Well maybe ya just over did it. If I go a few weeks without ridding it can be at least one week for me to get back where I was at. That is do to my age at 68 and the fact that I am even more beat up than I look... Ha
Also, as you age things do change. Bars go up a little. Seat gets adjust forward a little. Seat height goes down a little. And when I say a little I mean just millimeters change can make a big, big, difference.
Of course you know this...
Well maybe ya just over did it. If I go a few weeks without ridding it can be at least one week for me to get back where I was at. That is do to my age at 68 and the fact that I am even more beat up than I look... Ha
Also, as you age things do change. Bars go up a little. Seat gets adjust forward a little. Seat height goes down a little. And when I say a little I mean just millimeters change can make a big, big, difference.
Of course you know this...
Likes For bblair:
#41
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Utah
Posts: 8,725
Bikes: Paletti,Pinarello Monviso,Duell Vienna,Giordana XL Super,Lemond Maillot Juane.& custom,PDG Paramount,Fuji Opus III,Davidson Impulse,Pashley Guv'nor,Evans,Fishlips,Y-Foil,Softride, Tetra Pro, CAAD8 Optimo,
Mentioned: 157 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2338 Post(s)
Liked 5,122 Times
in
1,808 Posts
Hmmm,,,,, just tried the asian squat thing and no issues, seems like how I've always squatted. But man the knees sound like rice krispies when I go down and come back.
I'm envious of all of you 70 year olds just starting to have problems. I've been bone on bone in my right knee since my 40's and now the left is even worse. I'm at the point now I can't stay on my feet for more than 10 minutes or so without significant pain and swelling. Hiking is now out, heck there's day I dread the walk from my office to the restroom at work. Biking is the only time I'm pain free. Unfortunately I'm also a disable vet who uses the VA. While the VA has basically been great everyone seems stuck on me reaching the age of 65 before replacement. To hell with the fact I can't even keep my own house and yard kept up due to the pain. Last set of "3 month" cortisone shots worked for maybe two weeks. A month from now I go for synthetic cartilage shots. If they don't work I'm going to war against the VA system for knee replacements. I'm tired of the constant pain and having no life. About to cancel my yearly trip to Montana again because if I can't hike in carrying my photo bears to shoot wildlife what's the point?
Anyway, rant over, take care of your knees!
I'm envious of all of you 70 year olds just starting to have problems. I've been bone on bone in my right knee since my 40's and now the left is even worse. I'm at the point now I can't stay on my feet for more than 10 minutes or so without significant pain and swelling. Hiking is now out, heck there's day I dread the walk from my office to the restroom at work. Biking is the only time I'm pain free. Unfortunately I'm also a disable vet who uses the VA. While the VA has basically been great everyone seems stuck on me reaching the age of 65 before replacement. To hell with the fact I can't even keep my own house and yard kept up due to the pain. Last set of "3 month" cortisone shots worked for maybe two weeks. A month from now I go for synthetic cartilage shots. If they don't work I'm going to war against the VA system for knee replacements. I'm tired of the constant pain and having no life. About to cancel my yearly trip to Montana again because if I can't hike in carrying my photo bears to shoot wildlife what's the point?
Anyway, rant over, take care of your knees!
__________________
Steel is real...and comfy.
Steel is real...and comfy.
#42
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Locust NC
Posts: 722
Bikes: 1992, Cannondale R900. 1991 Paramount pdg
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 63 Post(s)
Liked 175 Times
in
69 Posts
I went bone on bone for several years on my right knee until i no longer could walk 100 feet. Had knee replacement three months ago and now walking is coming back slowly but bike ridding came back fast. Bike riding does not hurt the replaced knee. You can walk a long time when pain in on inside of knee. If it goes to the lower outside more than likely your knee is worn out. My knee looked good to me in the xray until the doctor showed me there there was no padding left between the bones. He showed me how much my legs had bowed because of loss of cartilage.
Ed
Ed
#43
Let's do a Century
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,316
Bikes: Cervelo R3 Disc, Pinarello Prince/Campy SR; Cervelo R3/Sram Red; Trek 5900/Duraace, Lynskey GR260 Ultegra
Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 651 Post(s)
Liked 879 Times
in
408 Posts
Were you wearing either knee or leg warmers when the pain surfaced?
__________________
Ride your Ride!!
Ride your Ride!!
#44
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Medium weight tights. My past rule of thumb was to cover my knees below 60ºF, but as I get older that gets a little higher.
No riding this weekend (rain Saturday, Mother's Day events on Sunday), so maybe the rest will do me good.
No riding this weekend (rain Saturday, Mother's Day events on Sunday), so maybe the rest will do me good.
#45
Let's do a Century
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,316
Bikes: Cervelo R3 Disc, Pinarello Prince/Campy SR; Cervelo R3/Sram Red; Trek 5900/Duraace, Lynskey GR260 Ultegra
Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 651 Post(s)
Liked 879 Times
in
408 Posts
This probably sounds strange but sometimes I'd get knee pain from wearing something covering my knees. I'm not sure why but it would trigger the irritation.....
__________________
Ride your Ride!!
Ride your Ride!!
#46
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I am (unofficially) calling an end to my problem.
Rode Monday about 45 miles at a brisk, but not too intense pace. No problems.
Saturday, 77 miles, 4000 ft of climbing with some real tough ones.83ºF at end and again, no problems.
My conclusion is that it was a combo of conditioning, a 2 week layoff and cold weather. At least I hope so because milage and difficulty is getting ramped up.
Thanks for the help and support.
Rode Monday about 45 miles at a brisk, but not too intense pace. No problems.
Saturday, 77 miles, 4000 ft of climbing with some real tough ones.83ºF at end and again, no problems.
My conclusion is that it was a combo of conditioning, a 2 week layoff and cold weather. At least I hope so because milage and difficulty is getting ramped up.
Thanks for the help and support.