Anterior knee discomfort - Causes?
Asked by
lilikoi (
10110
)
January 23rd, 2010
Lately I have been getting a “discomfort” (it is like a very mild “burning” kind of sensation, just enough to be noticeable) in right knee, anterior and at the cap or perhaps on the inner side of the cap. Pain occurs only in this location. When I extend this knee, I can feel “clicking” but it is not painful. Interesting though that there is no clicking in left knee.
I cannot get a good run in because this knee thing flares up before my heart, lungs, and legs get tired. Going up and down stairs for long periods of time (i.e. 30 min+) also seem to be a trigger, as is squatting (not squatting down, but weight lifting squatting) and walking for long durations (>1hr) and hiking. I don’t even do squats anymore for fear that I may make this worse. Sitting is not a trigger. I do not feel any discomfort until several minutes into some form of exercise.
Has anyone experienced this before? I have a couple ideas what it might be, but not sure. Looking at the joint, maybe the cap is rubbing against the cartilage somehow?
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5 Answers
You should go see an ortho and get your knee xrayed. You may have a situation where your cartilage behind your knee is deteriorating, and you will be prone to develop arthritis. It happens even when you are young and is not age related. They will probably tell you to take glucosamine and chondroitin supplements, and switch to low impact exercise, like biking or swimming.
I’ve noticed the clicking in my knee since childhood. I was limited in the amount I could run in my 20’s by knee pain, but did nothing about it. I’m now in my 50’s and stairs can sometimes be problematic. Biking strengthens the muscles around your knee cap without the strain of impact you get from running. While your body is created to run and move, it is not engineered to run on asphalt.
The supplements really help, btw, but take about a month before you can notice the effect.
It could also (maybe) be an IT band if you are as active as you sound. You may need to be doing more stretched. My knee was doing that and the problem really was mostly in my hip. I went to physical therapy and started stretching the muscle (lots of exercises for it) and it got better, although If I don’t stretch for a while and work out a lot it will pop right back up.
My first thought was the IT (ilio-tibial) band as well. It connects your knee to your hip and it is a very strong muscle so when it gets tight, it hurts a lot and inhibits a lot of activities. Lots of good stretching, icing and some rest can do wonders for it. Another thing to try is those big styrofoam rollers that you lay on top of on the ground and roll back and forth over the muscle. (I know you can get them at sporting goods stores like Dick’s).
I spent a lot of time in the trainers room when I was a college athlete for exactly this pain. It is an overuse injury, common in very active people.
Thanks everyone. I will look into the IT band thing as I do get hip discomfort lately as well on the same side.
Pretty sure it is not a meniscus tear, though.
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