A plea to all runners - help!!

gimedatnow

Today, I woke up early for my morning run (~5-6 miles) and the second my foot touched the floor, I knew I wasn't going. My right knee feels totally inflamed and hurts right under the kneecap! I can hardly go a few steps without pain. :-( I'm pretty sure it's chondromalacia, aka "runner's knee." It would make sense since over 90% of my exercise involves walking or running (usually 5-13.5 miles per run) and I fall right in the middle of the typical demographic (19-year-old female, otherwise healthy).

Have any of you had runner's knee? If so, how did you deal with it and still maintain your exercise? I'm thinking about taking up swimming in the meantime, but any other ideas would be appreciated!

TooManyKids06

I'd go see for sure that it isn't anything that would require some physical therapy, or seeing and ortho, but as far as supporting your knee, KT tape is great and really helps me. I tore a ligament in my knee and have some ITB issues and KT tape helps with both of those!

jennyocox

Rest, Ice, Elevation and when it's starting to feel better and you are thinking of going out, strap it up first.

crobinson53

I would recommend the following:

immediately take some time off to recover
go to a specialist to have your running form analyzed, they may advise you to switch shoes

if everything checks out fine
run on a softer surfaces
change your running schedule around to include off days and less strenuous runs
focus on your form (as I get tired my form slips)
if else fails just buy another pair of running shoes

jeffrodgers1

Sounds like Patellar Tendonitis. I've had it and its not fun.

Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. Take some ibuprofen for the discomfort and stay off it for a few days.

When you feel ready to resume working out, ease into it and pick up a patellar strap (Rock tape will help too...)

Also... how new are you shoes? Are they worn out or did you do anything unusual to tweak the knee?

Also are you by any chance a heavy heal striker? Improper running form is the most common cause. When your foot lands your knee is straight and you end up transferring the shock into a straight knee. Basically try to run with bent knees and land on your mid foot.

gimedatnow

Also are you by any chance a heavy heal striker? Improper running form is the most common cause. When your foot lands your knee is straight and you end up transferring the shock into a straight knee. Basically try to run with bent knees and land on your mid foot.

When I'm running I'm usually pretty aware of my form, but yesterday, while walking to work I was definitely hitting my heel too hard (and wearing flats no less...)!

Thanks so much for all your responses!! I'll probably wait a few days and rest before calling in my doc. Hey, at least I get to go [running] shoe shopping! :P

jessicamckay13

Injuries are so frustrating! Once you take the advice to rest, ice, elevate and are feeling better, START SLOW. I had a back injury (still kinda there), started feeling better, and went out to run hill sprints because I had so much pent up energy from resting for a couple weeks. NOT a good plan.

I agree with going to a running store, mainly because I love running clothes/shoes shopping

Hope you feel better!