Fit at 50 and Beyond – Aches & Pains

About early-March this year I started feeling some pain in my left knee-cap after running. By mid-March, I found I had to even take some time off until I could buy some new running shoes. Then, to make things worse, I sprained my right knee on about the first of April. For about one week, I found I needed to sleep in a recliner because my knees were so aggravated and tender. Finally, a week ago, I went to see a doctor, although my knees started feeling a little better.  After a checkup and even some x-rays I was given the diagnosis: Runner’s Knee.

Runner’s Knee, more formally known as Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome,
is generally is caused by one of the following:

• Over-use – This could occur when one does not take breaks of one or more days between running or suddenly increases the speed or duration of the run. Also, poor shoes could cause this due to the extra pounding against the pavement. over-use of the knee.
• Injury – Falling and bruising the knee could cause this. Also, other injuries may contribute.
• Mis-alignment or Foot Problems – Running on the same side of the road (which slopes toward the outer road edge) causes uneven use by the right vs. left legs. Also, back problems could cause one leg to work harder. Fallen arches or other foot problems could cause extra load on leg and calf muscles.

In my case, I believe a number of things may have led to this  condition. My shoes were in need of replacement. I may have suffered a bruise to the bone shortly before this condition occurred, although it was not severe. I consistently ran on the left side and shoulder of the road, causing uneven strain on my leg muscles.

My knee problems seemed to start when I started taking fish oil, so I stopped taking the fish oil, just as a precaution. But truthfully, I do not believe the fish oil was causing any problems – in fact, it is supposed to help with joint problems. Abstaining from the fish oil had absolutely no effect so I once again am taking 1 capsule a day.

The doctor recommended taking Glucosamine Sulfate, so I am taking it. Truthfully, this seems to have had no effect, positive or negative.

In addition to new running shoes, I am switching sides of the road frequently to even out the stress and strain due to running on the side of a slope. Also, I find that by running on the shoulder (rather than the blacktop) I can lessen the impact on my knees.

I have read that icing down the knee(s) after a run can help. I will try this.

In addition to my left knee experiencing “runners knee”, I managed to moderately strain my medial collateral ligament (MCL) in my right knee! So this has only added to the problem. I have re-injured this knee a few times as well by doing things like kneeling in an awkward position to clean the gutters on my roof. This has only prolonged the problem in the left knee I think.

In conclusion, I will have to find a way to heal up the right knee while doing whatever I can for my left “runner’s knee”. If you have Runner’s Knee, I would recommend new shoes, icing the knee after running, running on a softer surface (rather than blacktop), and trying not to consistently run on the same side of a sloped road. Note that if you switch sides of a road, take all possible safety precautions to avoid being accidentally struck by a vehicle.