This one is kind of strange in that it doesn't sound or feel like the classic knee
problem.
A bit of recent history, Sat (3 days ago) I did a 30 mile ride, on one of my old
bikes with clips and straps. I had no pain at all during the ride, nor any other
time I've used this particular setup.
Yesterday ( monday) I started to notice some pain on the front of my patella,
centrally located and just over the bottom of the patella. Since Yesterday the
pain has gotten more intense, although by no means is it intolerable. One other
thing the pain manifests itself when my knee is bent 45 degrees (approx) or more.
My knee is sensitive to touch, and almost feels as if I've banged it really hard
(which I haven't done).
I haven't been on the bike since Saturday although I'm getting itchy to ride.
Before I trot myself off to an orthopedic Dr, or Sports Dr. does this sound
familiar to anyone?

Thanks,
Marty

Sounds like you are just getting old to me.

It's the bicycle love. You banged your knee on her bottom bracket in your sleep. Take a bunch of ibuprofen for a few days. It'll probably go away. If it doesn't, then go see someone. Sometimes weird stuff like that just happens. Probably nothing to do with the Saturday ride.

I'm just posting here just to give a reply. Not that I know anything about it.

Okay see ya.

Does the pain feel like someone jabbing you with a knife on the inside of the patella? I had this after starting running too many miles too fast when I started coaching cross country. It's called patella-femoral syndrome. As with most knee injuries it's caused by a muscle imbalance. The patella isn't tracking accurately through the groove in the distal end of the femur (thighbone). Your vastus medialis isn't strong enough. Do leg extensions by just sitting and holding your leg straight out for 30 seconds. Do 5 sets of these several times a day. Ice and ibuprofen may also help. Build your mileage slowly. Don't work through the pain, but stop as soon as any pain shows up. Just an armchair diagnosis. But if this is the problem, it will get better.

Hello marty,

I'm riding on elite level (not as a professional however), with weekly training of about 18-21h
I'm having excactly the same problem. I can climb stairs, walk, press weight etc without problems, but after everything from 5-30mins on a bike, the left knee becomes sore when bending, especially if I wear long tights (and sometimes in 2 layers - denmark isnt excactly warm these days) it seems like there's extra pressure on the knee. Furthermore, it seems to worsen if the knee becomes cold, and if I've been sitting with my knees bend more than a certain angle (the 45 degrees you mention sound spot on) the pain can also appear.

As you describe, the pain isn't intolerable, more like a tightening feeling like you've hit your knee on something (which I surely haven't).
I haven't got any answers as to what or why, but i do have numerous theories for myself:

- being uncareful with saddle height, i made a sudden change in saddle height going from the winter bike to the summer bike.
- excessive mileage did a 6h steady pace by myself when i normally was riding 4h interval in a small group which might just have made that difference in what i could handle
- Cleat position - my kneecaps are rather large and bony + my feet seem to point away from the body, which i dont think my cleat position supported. Therefore my legs tended to make an internal movement towards each other at each pedal stroke.

I've been treating with
Ibumetin (I suppose that's the same as your Ibuprofen
Ice
Stretches and exercises
A topical anti-inflammatory gel


as you can see, this post perhaps isn't much of an answer, rather than a search for answer

I went to see an orthopedic doctor yesterday specializes in sports medicine and he's
a rider. Of course when I went in the knee didn't hurt, figures. I had my knees x-rayed
multiple aspects and was quite surprised. At 54 my knees look like a typical 30 year olds
knees. No ragged cartilage, even spacing between all joints. What did show was a slight
roughening at the bottom of the cartilage. Ligaments were all good with no looseness.
What I described is commonly referred to as 'jumpers knee', commonly seen in volleyball and
basketball players. Weird since I haven't played either in a long time.
What he suggested is an exercise to smooth out the cartilage.
Basic procedure is sit on floor, legs extended out in front and tighten the quads and press the
knee gently towards the floor. This causes the patella to move over the knee joint and will
eventually smooth out the cartilage. I was instructed to do this 2 or 3 times a day, for about
5 minutes each time.
He also recommended Glucosamine which I found interesting as many doctors hold no
faith with supplements. He is of the opinion that it really does work to help joints.
Wolfgang, the pain was never like a stabbing pain, and according to the Dr the patella
is tracking ok.
I'll let you know how things go with the new exercise etc.
Marty

Make sure you stretch. Keep your legs from tightening up.

Google 'knee cold therapy wraps'. At your age and activity level a good quality wrap may be very helpful in maintaining healthy knees.

3 days later? ... yup! ... then, no doubt about it: definitely a Motrin (IB) deficiency (maybe, check out seat height and going slower or start "spinning" too).

I tend to spin and not mash, yes motrin deficiency and if I went slower I'd be in
danger of falling over

marty

I'm really interested in this exercise your doc suggested. Can you tell me how successful it is at curing the pain and if it is a permenant cure?

I had this exact same problem years ago which led to knee surgery. The pain had got so bad that i could not bend my knee back at all without severe pain and could not walk for longer than 20 mins. After surgery I was warned never to do jogging or I would have arthritis when i get old. The surgery basiclly involved scraping a layer off the cartilege inside the joint to make it smooth. Maybe I got a more severe damage whcih could not be fixed without surgery. It was caused by repeated impact from jumping and landing hard from sports.

so far I've been doing this 'exercise' the Doctor prescribe daily, at least 2 or 3 times a
day. I've found I can get the same movement standing with my leg straight and flexing
the quad (which pulls the patella up). My knee hasn't hurt at all since starting this
but I have to add that by the time I got to the Orthopod the pain was almost completely
gone. I've also been on a daily regimen of 1500 mg Glucosamine daily.
I have been on the bike and thankfully all is well there too.

Marty