Re: Help with injured knees
While stranded on the hard shoulder of the information super highway teachndad.azaka@timelimit.unicyclist.com typed:
>
> Hi,
>
>
> It’s a week before the Cal MUNi weekend and I reinjured my right knee
> this morning.
I originally injured it 22 years ago during my Bike
> Touring days. At the time it was diagnosed as an overuse injury also
> called Condrapatella(spelling?).
>
> Does anyone have any remedies for this like gelatin tablets or something
> like that?
For immediately after the injury, RICE (rest, ice , compression, elevation).
You probably mean Chondromalacia. A degenerative condition of the patellar
cartilage usually occuring in young adults and sometimes following injury.
It may be painfull but is often painless, and can cause intermittent
effusions into the knee joints. The cartilage on the posterior aspect of
the patella becomes roughened.
Clinically, the patient with chondromalacia presents pain in the front
of the knee. It is characteristically aggrivated by activities such as
running, climbing stairs or kneeling and is relieved by rest. The pain
is made worse by prolonged sitting with the knee bent, such as when
one attends the cinema or theatre. After prolonged sitting,
rectropatellar pain and stiffness on initiating activity is also typical.
Patellar chondromalacia, when present, typically appears in sporting
activity like running and jumping, and very often makes continuation
impossible. At rest, the symptoms are quickly relieved. These overuse
symptoms can be alleviated more permanently by a quadriceps muscle
exercise program, a patellar knee brace and anti-inflammatory medication.
If symptoms are extremely severe and persistent, an abnormal patellofemoral
tracking mechanism (lateral subluxation) can be treated surgically.
PLEASE NOTE! I am not a doctor. This is information that I have gathered
as I have the condition. The treatment would seem to be that you need to
rest the knees (no riding!) for a few days, and then take it easy. Build up
those quadriceps (get in the gym and do those squats and leg presses).
Wear a knee brace and get some anti-inflammatory medication.
From my own personal experience, rest is the answer. I take four or five
ballet classes per week. This is extremely hard on the knees. Come the end
of the term, I can feel my knees reminding me that they are not happy almost
all of the time. I rest during the end of term break and my knees are fine.
So the cycle repeats every term. If I was to give up some of my classes, my
knees would no doubt thank me, but since I love my ballet I won’t. I have
had good results with glucosamine, six weeks on and four weeks off. The
latest research shows a break is just as effective as continuous dose and
it is also better for the wallet.
–
Trog Woolley
(A Croweater back residing in Pommie Land with Linux)
Isis Astarte Diana Hecate Demeter Kali Inanna
trog at trog hyphen oz dot demon dot co dot uk