Bizarre knee injury

[jessiepowers]

I'm 23 weeks pregnant and fairly active still. I've been running for a long time and have been continuing to run throughout my pregnancy. I also bike on a trainer twice a week. I've never once had any hint of knee pain during these activities. However, the other day I was sitting at my computer working on a project for quite a while. When I got up, I felt an awful load bearing pain in my knee from getting up. I didn't seem to get up in an unusual way or twist it in any way. The knee pain just came out of nowhere. The pain wasn't awful so I didn't think too much of it. I also didn't have any problems bending my knee or walking, so I didn't think it was a big deal. But again, every time I would go from sitting to standing, or squat, I felt an awful pain, and later I began to hear a popping noise when I would bend my knee. Later that night I climbed into bed on my knees and felt horrible pain from kneeling. After that I couldn't walk or bend it for a while. After alternating ice and heat and resting I regained mobility and can walk again and bend my knee in a full range of motion. But I still cannot kneel, squat, do stairs, or get up from a sitting position. I can't figure out what the heck I did to it. It's doesn't appear to be swollen, is not sore, unless I aggravate it by doing those activities, also the popping noise is gone. Any ideas as to what this could be or what to ask my doctor to look for? I want to figure out what I did so I don't do it again! I'd like to get back to exercising.

[Heidi]

Hi,
Pain on squatting and stairs are common complaints with a condition knwon as patello-femoral pain syndrome, or anterior knee pain.

It is usually caused by maltracking of the patella, where it moves to the outside of where it should run, causing pain and damage to the cartilage on the underside of the knee cap.

You can find out more about it on these pages:
http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/knee/indexcmp.php

If this is indeed the problem you are having, it is treated by treating the cause. These can vary from person to person but can include overpronating feet, weak hip abductors, tight IT band and other lateral knee/thigh structures etc.

Definately visit your Doctor and ask to be referred on for some Physio

Good luck!