I have been cycling for several years but in the last 12 months have been having severe problems with my knees: last year I had a particularly intense summer of cycling.
After prolonged cycling ( more than 3 hrs). I get severe pain in(usually the left) knee but sometimes in both knees.It comes on very quickly and very suddenly i can no longer even walk! When i get off the bike, lifting the leg over the top bar is agony in the knee joint. For about 12 hours it is painful, especially when descending the stairs. However, on a brighter note it always seem to clear up after 12 hours and I can soon swim, run and cycle for 1-2 hours. But as soon as I increase to 3-4 hours it comes right back.
I have tried to rest for a couple of weeks, applying ice, taking ani-inflammatories etc and then creep back into cycling by spinning low gears and gradually building up the milage. I even stopped all excercise for one month and then tried to build up again. I haven't climbed a hill in months. However, after going through this process I still can't cycle for more than 3 hrs without the pain coming back.Usually its the right knee.I circuit train once a week( nothing new have done for years).
As mentioned, I was guilty of over training last summer and for awhile I developed very tight hamstrings and calves, and also a tight piriformis. These problems have eased off very slowly over the last year through stretching and rest, but have never really cleared up 100%.
Have seen physios who don't seem to be able to diagnose it ( disappointing!). I have been given a stretching programme which i follow every day, but 12 months later still no real improvement. Have not changed my bike for the last 2 years.I am 35 years old.
Can anyone diagnose this? Is it patellar tendonitis? Or Chrondomalacia? I don't think its ITB. Ive read about "Runners' Knee" and the symptoms sound pretty similar.
Should i stop all sport for a few months?
Why won't it clear up!!??
After prolonged cycling ( more than 3 hrs). I get severe pain in(usually the left) knee but sometimes in both knees.It comes on very quickly and very suddenly i can no longer even walk! When i get off the bike, lifting the leg over the top bar is agony in the knee joint. For about 12 hours it is painful, especially when descending the stairs. However, on a brighter note it always seem to clear up after 12 hours and I can soon swim, run and cycle for 1-2 hours. But as soon as I increase to 3-4 hours it comes right back.
I have tried to rest for a couple of weeks, applying ice, taking ani-inflammatories etc and then creep back into cycling by spinning low gears and gradually building up the milage. I even stopped all excercise for one month and then tried to build up again. I haven't climbed a hill in months. However, after going through this process I still can't cycle for more than 3 hrs without the pain coming back.Usually its the right knee.I circuit train once a week( nothing new have done for years).
As mentioned, I was guilty of over training last summer and for awhile I developed very tight hamstrings and calves, and also a tight piriformis. These problems have eased off very slowly over the last year through stretching and rest, but have never really cleared up 100%.
Have seen physios who don't seem to be able to diagnose it ( disappointing!). I have been given a stretching programme which i follow every day, but 12 months later still no real improvement. Have not changed my bike for the last 2 years.I am 35 years old.
Can anyone diagnose this? Is it patellar tendonitis? Or Chrondomalacia? I don't think its ITB. Ive read about "Runners' Knee" and the symptoms sound pretty similar.
Should i stop all sport for a few months?
Why won't it clear up!!??
