The Knee - Update

I went to a consultant about my knee, which hasn't been a problem, to have a firm diagnosis. I got a pretty firm diagnosis. My knees are in pretty good condition, my patella tendons seem fine but I do have either (or both) a meniscal tear or a meniscal cyst.

I'm going for an MRI later this week to get it confirmed and come up with a course of action.

I'm going to lay off the running while I await the results but I'll be in the gym and on the bike over the next few weeks. I want to keep my condition up, so I don't have to face the horror of getting fit from being completely out of shape.

Triathlon

I have always wanted to do a triathlon and I have deciding it is the right time to start training for one. I hope to do one in 2008 some time.

Now considering I am still recovering from patella tendonitis and that I can't swim it is going to be tough.

But why would I want to do it if it was easy.

I'll keep you posted.

Patella Tedonitis - Update

It's been a few weeks since I lasted posted about my left knee. I bet you have missed the constant moaning!

Well, over the last few weeks I have had some pain and some general swelling on the inside of my left knee. I have run a few times even doing as much as 20 minutes without any ill affects. My knee doesn't sweel significantly more nor does it hurt much (the ocassional twinge).

The problem is that my gait running or walking feels very unnatural. My whole body feels off and I have had some shoulder muscle pain and I even had to take a day of work due to some back / shoulder muscle pain.

So today I went to my GP and got a referral to a podiatrist to see if that will stem the tide or maybe even improve them. I've also been given a referral to the Ireland football team's physio if the podiatrist doesn't help. So I have some numbers to call.

It would be great to know where I stand (even if it is all twsting and contorted).

Keep Running!

Patella Tendonitis - Recovery (20)

I think this will be my final update on this.

I went to the physio today and it all seemed good. My knee is much improved and I have to add a few new stretches for my ITB to my current stretching routine.

I am to increase my running very slowly maybe up to 8 minutes this week and 10 minutes the next and so on.

I was told to focus on perhaps a triathlon over the next year instead of a marathon and i think i will go with that advice... so wait for my triathlon updates!

stay tuned for a how to beat patella tendonitis post comign soon!

Patella Tendonitis - Recovery (19)

I went a did another 5 or 6 minute run today and it felt completely normal and it feels completely normal now so I am just about done with this recovery.

I think I am going to post one more on this after a physio appointment and then one final one with the dos and don'ts of recovery.

Now I am going out to enjoy some food! Yum

Patella Tendonitis - Recovery (18)

Today I spend a lot of time on my feet, I didn't do any running but went for a game of pitch and putt which took about 90 minutes and then went out for a walk for around 90 minutes and my knee feels grand.

I even had time to do about a minute of skipping which is so hard but the knee was fine, so i hope to get out for a short run tomorrow morning if possible.

Patella Tendonitis - Recovery (17)

I did an hour long walk tonight (i had to get petrol, don't ask!) and my knee feels fine, i will do some stretches and leg raises tonight and then attempt a short run tomorrow morning.

This week I've noticed my knee less and less so that is great knees.

I have a physio appointment on wednesday and then I might try an Osteopath, to get to the cause of the injury and to try and prevent it recurring.

Patella Tendonitis - Recovery (16)

I bought a skipping rope today. A grown man who is not a boxer bought a skipping rope. I got the cheapest one in the shop. There was no way I was going to pay €18 for a rope that counted for me.

It's a good thing I didn't because I can count to 1 and 3 when I need to, I don't even have to concentrate that hard.

My skipping was awful but I just wanted to give the knee a little test, without having to go for a run.

I can feel my knee but no pain as such, I am just more away but i will stretch it out tonight and hopefully it will be fine in the morning. I intend to run tomorrow night or perhaps saturday morning.

Maybe 6 minutes!

Patella Tendonitis - Recovery (15)

It's the morning after the night before and my knee feels ok. I am going to do a small bit of gym work today and make a physio appointment before my next run which will most likely be on Saturday morning.

I intend to use the Infrared massager on my knee again tonight too.

A small run, a huge step

My recovery from patella tendonitis continues to gather pace.

I did a 5 minute run this evening in the local park. The weather was just perfect and I headed out.

I had no pain or twinges of any sort in my knee during the run. It's about an hour after it and I have the tiniest twinge now but nothing major to report yet and lets hope it stays that way.

You say tendonitis I say tomato

So for my 100th post I would like to state that I do know how to spell tendonitis even though I have got it wrong every time in all my posts. I have sorted it all out now.

I have done a lot towards my recovery and I am nearly there, well that's how I feel today.

You can relive my adventures here.

Patella Tendonitis - Recovery
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Patella Tendonitis - Recovery (14)

Walked for 30 minutes tonight at a high tempo. It's not the same impact as running but at the moment it will do. The knee feels fine although I am aware of it.

I think I need to be distracted from it while out for a run.

I am going to stretch and do weights before i go out again and this time it will be for a short run.

Patella Tendonitis- Recovery (13)

Unlucky for some but so far not me.

I went out and walked for about an hour and after yesterday's run there was no pain. I am still aware of my knee but i think I just need to be distracted.

I am going to try and early morning run if I can get out of my warm bed early.

Patella Tendonitis- Recovery (12)

Well my knee was feeling weird last night and a bit odd this morning. Not painful but it just didn't feel right.

The weather was too nice to ignore. So I went out for a small run. I have spent months doing stretches and weights and with no improvement so to hell with it, i thought.

I went out to the local park and did some stretches and then ran about 3/4 of a kilometre without any pain or ill feeling. So I stopped and came on home because I don't want to push it.

I warmed down and it has been a few hours now and no ill affects...

The end may be nigh!

Patella Tendonitis - Recovery (11)

Well it's back, although it never really went away. After a week or so of feeling good my knee has reverted to it's painful state.

I hadn't taken on more exercise, I hadn't added any more weights. I certainly didn't do any running. I was stretching as normal and doing leg raises as normal but last night and today my knee has been painful. The pain is slightly below the kneecap and on the inside (left knee).

I really don't know what to do next it's been over 8 months now. I have tried physios and physical therapists.

What next? Answers on a postcard please!

Patella Tendonitis - Recovery (10)

The recovery is going well. After the weekend of little or no exercise due to the wonderful Irish weather, my knee is feeling perfectly normal. No pain no twinges.

I want to start running but I am going to keep up the weights and rowing that i have added to my routine and maybe get a gait analysis before i start back with a very short run.

Patella Tendonitis - Recovery (9)

Another day another gym session. I concentrated on cardio so it was cross trainer and rowing. Knee feels fine. Will do some weights on the knee tomorrow and I am to do a 2 or 3 minute run mid to late next week. That will be the real test.

Patella Tendonitis - Recovery (8)

I had to walk for about 40 minutes today and my knee feels fine, nothing unusual. I didn't do any gym work but i will do some stretches and leg raises later.

Exciting Post eh?

Patella Tendonitis - Recovery (7)

I was in the gym today. I did 10 minutes on the cross trainer and added 5 minutes rowing which was more strenuous on my knee than anything I have been doing lately.

So far no reaction so that's good.

Things seem to be looking up

Patella Tendonitus (6)

I was in the gym this morning. I started with 10 minutes on a cross trainer followed by some weights including leg raises. I couldn't get on the leg press machine but maybe it's a good thing as my knee feels good this afternoon. It feels almost normal!!!