Knee brace? Need advice, thanks!

[lenshanem]

OK, back last March during a half my knee started killing me at about mile eleven. After that every run I tried I had to stop running about a mile to two in. I also had pain in my top outside thigh. Went to doc who took x-rays of my knee and said all was fine and he thought I had an overuse injury and a quad strain. So I went to PT for a while and was told to lay off the running. Had other unrelated surgery this summer and thought taking off several month would take care of this mysterious injury... Just started back doing a run/walk program (easing back in very slowly) three weeks ago and this week my knee has started mildly hurting again. I have iced it after each run this week and at night. I don't want to give up - I'm really looking forward to the Half in January. I was thinking about getting a knee brace to see if that would help any. Any suggestions on doing this and any recommendations on one?

 

[postesf]

Shan...I have a crazy knee. It had fractures from a broken leg and it's off centered a bit... I went to the ortho a few months ago and he x-rayed it and looked at an MRI from one year previous. After looking at the MRI, he thought it looked weird, but really couldn't find a problem. It crackd and pops and crunches when I walk the stairs and bend to pick up anything... He sent me to physical therapy and the goal was to strengthen my hips and my quads since everything kind of ties in all together.

I too am hoping to make it for the Half. My goal is a R/W (4/1). We'll see how it holds up.

My ortho gave me a really good knee brace that I like a lot. You pull it on, it has a donut/circle that is padded that goes around the knee. It is supposed to help keep my knee aligned since it's not...

I found it online... except mine's black... Your ortho may be able to get you something like this and insurance would/could/maybe pay part? I know I had to some on mine. It's been worth it though. I think mine is a size 5...I've got big legs.
http://www.kneeshop.com/proddetail.asp?prod=110412030X000X&cat=10

Good luck and I hope you can get it taken care of!!!

Stacie

 

[lenshanem]

Thank you Stacie. Good luck to you and your knee!

 

[princessrunner]

Shan, is the pain on top, the side (inner or outer) or below your knee. It almost sounds like an IT band issue. My DD also has a problem from her quads being so strong that her patellar tendon pulls her kneecap out of alignment. She gets shooting pains almost like a runners knee issue.

 

[lenshanem]

Before the pain seemed to be all over the knee, but this time it is on the side inner. When I was injured back in March my top side thigh hurt - like a dull pulling pain. It hasn't started hurting me again yet, just the knee.

 

[princessrunner]

Shan, sorry I was doing some research on this. I would definitely get checked out again.

In the meantime, try some hamstring stretching and strengthening and see if you get any results from that. Search out some good IT stretches too. This could be a case of "runners knee" definitely and a brace may help. A simple Chopat strap may do some good also. I am a proponent of strengthening and stretching to solve the problem rather than crutching through it so maybe you need more advice than just mine.

Women have historically stronger quads than hamstrings. We also taper in at the knee by design. Both of these are factors in getting runners knee. The best way to combat this is to strengthen your hamstrings and stretch religiously either through PT type exercises or yoga.

Best of luck!

 

[lenshanem]

Thanks Lisa. I ran today and it felt OK. Might also be the fact I'm just starting back up all over again... I'm gonna keep a close eye on it, though. I sure don't want to miss the Half!