Patellar Tendonitis

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pornstarzombie
pornstarzombie Posts: 297
in Fitness and Exercise
Anyone have this problem? I had an acute injury to my patella tendon when I was 19, that I never had addressed. It's slowly gotten worse over the years, I had it injected last August and the injection lasted until about December when it started to act up again. I ended up in the emergency room last week unable to walk because it was so bad.

So they injected it again, but it's still pretty achey. They wanted to refer me to a surgeon, but I lose my insurance in May so there wasn't time to get a referral in, etc.

How do you guys deal with it? I have a brace, kind of a dinky one but it's the one the ER gave me. I ride horses - a LOT - and that doesn't help but there is no way I can NOT ride the horses. I know I should probably ride with the brace on from now on.

But anything else? I've started taking tumeric, and cinnamon mixed with honey in the mornings. I've been icing it off and on when it flares up, and I use Thermaflex on it.

Until I can get surgery, I'm sure I'm stuck with the pain but it'd be nice if others could chime in :(

Replies

  • mandr97
    mandr97 Posts: 40
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    Bump...I have tendonitis in an ankle I broke when I was 18. It comes and goes as it pleases. But I don't know how to keep it from flaring up. I'd like to see what advice you get. :) Good luck!
  • JoolieW68
    JoolieW68 Posts: 1,879 Member
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    My son, who is 19, was recently diagnosed with the same thing in both knees (he played ice hockey for several years). He works as a cook at Red Robin so is on his feet a lot.

    We did a few things that he said has helped. First is to go get him fitted for shoes. I took him to a fitness store and they fitted him, just like they do for a runner - watched him walk and suggested shoes specific to his stride and how he plants his foot when he walks and stands. I bought hima pair to wear at work and another pair to bum around in. Second thing is he went to physical therapy to learn exercises to strengthen his knees. Lastly he started taking glucosamine.
  • jillybeanruns
    jillybeanruns Posts: 1,420 Member
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    Are you getting cortisone injections? You have to deal with the root of the problem, not just cover up the symptoms to deal with the pain.

    And I have tendonitis, posterior tibial in my right leg, and you better believe I would not get an injection just so I could keep on running. I dealt with it, with physical therapy, time off and being diligent with my rehab exercises and strength training. Surgery isn't always the answer, either. But you're really just masking the symptoms by getting injections.
  • kesteele
    kesteele Posts: 127
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    I have it; there were some physical therapy exercises to strengthen your quad and help with pain. Straight leg raises 3 sets of 10 reps twice a day. Also get up to the door frame lying on the floor and put one leg straight up against the frame with the other through the door (stretching your hamstring) with your butt up against the wall. Hold this for 30 sec and do 3 times twice a day. and lastly take your affected leg bend it behind you and grab with the opposite hand and stretch your quad. My Physical therapist said that these help stretch and strengthen the muscles around it and aid in pain control.
  • AvonLucyR
    AvonLucyR Posts: 124 Member
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    There are several styles of braces you can find in the drug store or medical supply stores. The smart thing to do is to avoid aggravating it. (Easier said than done, I know.) Did the doctor do an MRI? The definition of diagnosis is 2 guesses. You look young which is why I am concerned for you. I have had knee trouble since my 20s. They wanted me to have surgery, but I am 55 now and have made it through with just occassional injections. Words ending in "itis" involve swelling, so if you can do things to reduce the swelling, the pain should decrease. Ibuprofen, Aleve, etc reduce swelling, but they are hard on your stomach and liver, etc. Ice reduces swelling also. Make sure it never is against the skin (cloth between). None of this qualifies as medical advise...I'm no doctor. Certainly hope you can get it under control! Good luck! :flowerforyou:
  • AvonLucyR
    AvonLucyR Posts: 124 Member
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    Definitely strengthening quads is #1 to protect knee!
  • TrainingWithTonya
    TrainingWithTonya Posts: 1,741 Member
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    I tore my patella tendon a couple of years ago and treated it with physical therapy. Basically, weight training and kinesiotape. Took about 3-4 months to heal completely. The secret is in continuing the weight training after the normal physical therapy time is over. Because of strengthening the muscles of the knee and the tendon, I can do anything I want on my knee without pain.
  • LadyBeryl
    LadyBeryl Posts: 344 Member
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    I have a bone spur tendonitis and I wear a brace and arch support. Once it heals, I need to protect it or it will flare up badly again. I understand the need to ride -- does it help by wearing a brace?

    Those night splints that keep your foot from flexing also help. (I usually take it off after a few hours though.)
  • LilRedRooster
    LilRedRooster Posts: 1,421 Member
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    A few peope have mentioned it, but you need to let it heal, and do strength training that targets the mucles around that tendon, to to take the strain off the tendon itself. Doing stretching exercises for those muscles will also help take the strain off the tendon, and help keep it from overstraining.
  • pornstarzombie
    pornstarzombie Posts: 297
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    Thanks for the replies everyone - I appreciate it.

    I'm going to be 26. I've been off it for a week and a half now, I was on crutches and barely using it. Injection was monday and I started walking on it a bit, must have done too much because it's really hurting tonight.

    I know cortisone injections aren't the answer, but it's only my second one ever and they do want to go in and do surgery, to scrape everything clean. I have an MRI, but it's from last year and I'll know they will want to do another one. X-rays are clean, just a little bit of cartilage wear between two of the bones.

    I walk with my weight on my outside, the soles of my shoes are always worn down on the outside. My kneecap tends to slide to the side when I walk as well, it doesn't stay just up and down. I am going to go and get fitted for shoes, even though I know I'm not going to like the price tag...my knee is more important to me right now.

    I have pretty strong legs from riding, nice firm quads. I think that is why I've been able to go so long without treatment, because I do have strong legs and muscles.

    I forgot about the glucoseamin, I was taking Joint Juice last year and it really seemed to help. I'll have to pick up some more.

    It's just hard for me to take time off from work, because riding horses is my job. I'm also in school right now for Phlebotomy/MLA and I am on my feet for 90% of the class, drawing blood and doing lab stuff. I can't miss anymore school, so I'm trying to find ways to wait it out. I'm going through a nasty divorce, if I was still married it wouldn't be an issue to stay at home for six months to let it heal, but as it is that is no longer an option.

    I have a very high pain tolerance, so for this to knock me off my feet...I know it's bad. I went through a whole bottle of percocet last week, and still was curled up on the couch crying because it hurt so bad.

    I'm going to call my ortho again on monday, it'll be a week after the injection, and let her know it isn't working and see if she can super-rush a referral to a surgeon through.
  • sipseyab
    sipseyab Posts: 59
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    I've had a similar knee injury, AND I ride horses, so I understand your dilemma. I have had great success with doing exercises given to me by my physical therapist. I had surgery on one knee, but decided to just try PT on the other, and it's doing quite well. What you need to do more than anything is to strengthen the muscles around your knee so you take some of the strain off your joint and tendons. I haven't had an injection for almost a year. Cortisone is really contra-indicated for this condition since repeated injections can weaken the tendon.

    http://www.sportsmd.com/SportsMD_Articles/id/289.aspx

    About 3/4 of the way down this article there are some exercises shown.
  • pornstarzombie
    pornstarzombie Posts: 297
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    I've had a similar knee injury, AND I ride horses, so I understand your dilemma. I have had great success with doing exercises given to me by my physical therapist. I had surgery on one knee, but decided to just try PT on the other, and it's doing quite well. What you need to do more than anything is to strengthen the muscles around your knee so you take some of the strain off your joint and tendons. I haven't had an injection for almost a year. Cortisone is really contra-indicated for this condition since repeated injections can weaken the tendon.

    http://www.sportsmd.com/SportsMD_Articles/id/289.aspx

    About 3/4 of the way down this article there are some exercises shown.

    Thank you! I'm going to try the exercises. I am starting a strengthening and toning class on tuesday, so I hope to address the leg muscles in that class.

    I ride in a treeless, with endurance stirrups that swivel freely so there is no twist on my leg, it helps a bit. The posting is what gets me, but there is no way I can do a 50 mile endurance ride without posting..I don't own a gaited horse LOL
  • jingoace
    jingoace Posts: 219 Member
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    Try Lubrisyn Hu :
    http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=b218e791-5479-4f1a-b5d2-8e1353c0e393&gas=lubrisyn hu

    It is the same product as we use for our horses, but is formulated for people.

    Synthovial 7 is another good product for people:
    http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=024ae843-ee46-43a6-8a54-78bacd6b66f2&gas=synthovial seven pure hyaluronic acid ha

    Also cortizone injections just kill the nerves & flesh, & bring you one step closer to a knee replacement (IMHO). Use over-the-counter Aleve (which is Naproxin) for joint pain. OR, use Ibuprofin to reduce the inflamation... but don't use both at the same time!!!!

    I have bone-on-bone knee issues & I still wanna ride too,
    :) J
  • jenj1313
    jenj1313 Posts: 898 Member
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    Go see a physical therapist... you should be able to get in at least a few visits before May and they can get you on the right track. There are lots of things that can cause / aggravate patellar tendinitis. Having someone actually look at you can get you on the right track. Be aware that the healing process is slow no matter what though. Some research papers say 9-12 months for full recovery. Of course, that's an average for all people... some people get better more quickly, some take longer... but it sounds chronic and you should be prepared for the pain to get slowly better over time. There's no magic cure, unfortunately.

    Also... fish oil and glucosamine with chondrotin (sp?) sulfate may help, especially if there's a component of your pain that is coming from the patellofemoral (knee cap) joint.

    And... bike.

    Good luck :-)
  • sipseyab
    sipseyab Posts: 59
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    Well, the swivel stirrups help for sure. But, you should wear a knee brace too. I wear one on long rides - especially if it's a faster ride where I can't take my feet out of the stirrup often.

    Do you ride an arabian?
  • pornstarzombie
    pornstarzombie Posts: 297
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    Well, the swivel stirrups help for sure. But, you should wear a knee brace too. I wear one on long rides - especially if it's a faster ride where I can't take my feet out of the stirrup often.

    Do you ride an arabian?


    I will have to start riding with a brace. I'm going to look for a riding specific brace I think, the other ones just don't work well and even when I'm walking they slide. ONe of the articles I read suggest a chopat brace, so I'm going to get one of these :

    http://www.cho-pat-store.com/chopat-chopdulatn-closeout.html

    I do ride an Arab :)
  • lorim77
    lorim77 Posts: 63 Member
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    I just got a Cho-Pat the other day. So far I like it, but I agree with the other posters. You need to strengthen your other muscles around the knee.

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