Need help getting rid of 'runner's knee'. (Read 1459 times)

This is far too general a question. So, I would recommend: See a doctor. Or at least be more specific.

Pain that goes away immediately when she stops running is very likely runner's knee. Does she have any pain when climbing or descending stairs? I had a bad case of runner's knee (patellar tendonitis) two years ago. My doctor, a runner, prescribed the following remedy, which I followed faithfully. It worked well, but requires patience. 1) Stop running now. Never "run through" runner's knee pain. (In my case, the pain was so severe I couldn't anyway). 2) Use ibuprofen and/or ice to heal the immediate injury. Take between two and four weeks off, depending upon how long it takes before she feels no pain when walking or climbing stairs. 3) When she feels no more pain, she should start walking. This is a hard step for a life-long runner, believe me. Walk as far as she feels comfortable, but stop immediately when the pain returns. Supplement these workouts with leg exercises designed to strengthen the thighs. (Sit in a kitchen chair, point the toes outward, and extend the leg straight out ahead of you. Repeat the set with the toes pointed inward. Work both legs). 4) When she can walk a mile without pain, begin to run-walk. Run distances should be short and slow. Stop immediately if there is pain. (In my case, there was. The pain would return after a block or two of slow jogging). Don't push. Do whatever doesn't hurt. 5) Slowly add mileage to the run-walk, or increase distance to the run portions. Use the 10% rule. 6) Be patient. Recovery from a severe case of runner's knee can take months. I missed the best part of the summer during my recovery and it was about nine months before I could run two miles. Finally, decide to run for a lifetime instead of just one race. I injured my knee by overtraining, trying to regain the speed of my youth. I was training for my own private two-mile race when I was hurt. For a time, I wondered if I'd ever run again. My doctor advised me to remember my age and take more care when planning my workouts. I'll be forty this year, and I'm back to 20-25 mpw. That may seem short to many, but for me they are the sweetest miles I've ever run. Good luck. Don't listen to anyone who recommends running through this. It's possible I suppose, but the only thing that will heal runner's knee is time and care.

Thanks! She's just coming off not running for a few weeks while she strengthened, and finally got professionally fitted for shoes but the pain came right back. I'll tell her what you both had to say... the best part being that it DID eventually get better.

amputate

I concur