Should I run track in spite of my knee pain?!
Question: I used to run long-distance track up until a few years ago. Ever since I started, my kneecaps had become loose, and would sometimes slide out a bit and slide back in place. It would hurt, but after about 20 minutes it wouldn't hurt so bad anymore, and I'd run in spite of it. My left leg was worse than my right. I'm 16 now and want to start again, but sometimes it slides out badly now. One recent incident was when I was playing dodgeball about a month ago, and I fell sideways on my left leg. I felt the kneecap slide out way farther than usual, then pop back in. It felt like my knee was on fire, but I ignored it and continued to limp for about 2 weeks. I don't limp anymore, but occasionally it still hurts if I run for a long time, and sometimes it cramps up so that it doesn't move properly, and it kills. I'm eager to start running again, but should I wait? Or is there nothing I can do about it now anyways? Did I really screw up my knee?
Answers: I used to run long-distance track up until a few years ago. Ever since I started, my kneecaps had become loose, and would sometimes slide out a bit and slide back in place. It would hurt, but after about 20 minutes it wouldn't hurt so bad anymore, and I'd run in spite of it. My left leg was worse than my right. I'm 16 now and want to start again, but sometimes it slides out badly now. One recent incident was when I was playing dodgeball about a month ago, and I fell sideways on my left leg. I felt the kneecap slide out way farther than usual, then pop back in. It felt like my knee was on fire, but I ignored it and continued to limp for about 2 weeks. I don't limp anymore, but occasionally it still hurts if I run for a long time, and sometimes it cramps up so that it doesn't move properly, and it kills. I'm eager to start running again, but should I wait? Or is there nothing I can do about it now anyways? Did I really screw up my knee?
You have a condition called subluxing patella and also have patellofemoral pain syndrome due to the looseness in your knee caps. You have not done anything to your knee that bad, and that most likely cant be fixed with some rest and by going through physical therapy. You would be advised to stop running until you see an orthopedic doctor so that the doc can assess just how loose your knee caps are and if physical therapy can help with your problem by strengthening the muscles in your hips and thighs.
try a doctors medication. Some tylenol, aspirin, or ibuprofen would work 2.
Since you have access to a computer, try looking up the nearest orthopedic physician and cartilage damage to the knee. YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY NOT continue any sports that involves force to your knees until you check with a physician.
Aleve. which has naproxin in it, is te best over the counter stuff your gonna get. But like the people said, DO NOT RUN anymore. See a doctor. I am in the Army man, trust me, after 9 yrs, of not having a choice, my knees are jacked, no turning back... for the rest of my life man... my knees are gonna be like this. Your young, and have control right now, see your physician, get it taken care of before it too late.
Do NOT run
Pain is our ALARM to warn us that something is amiss in our bodies.
Would you continue exertion of any kind if you had a chest pain?
Knee replacement is terribly expensive and a long recuperation.
I suggest that you should not do any sports for right now until you get checked by a orthopedic physician. Don't do anything too strenuous & try to rest your leg as much as possible.You might have damaged some ligaments on your left knee. If you don't get it checked out it may get worse & you may require knee surgery if you don't take care of it now.