middle age knee pain

[jetflyr]

I am 41, 6'2" and 210 lbs. I have been getting back into running. I started running again approximately 8 months ago. After a few weeks of running I would have a burning sensation in the knees. A particular run involved some distance and time. This run was approximately 7 miles. After the run I felt great. Approximately 6 hours later, both of my knees were giving me severe pain and were swollen. It hurt to bend them, and if I remember correctly, the pain was on the inside area of the knee and below where the the tibia and femur meet. Since this time I have stopped running for 1.5 months, attempted to run again and had pain again. No running for over 2 months after that instance. Since the start of February, have started running again and am taking it very slow due to the pain.

This is what I am currently feeling:

a slight burning sensation around the knee in general.
pain on the interior side of the knee in the area where the bones meet.
if I push on the inside of the knee in the vicinity of meniscus I can feel pain
I can also feel a slight clicking in the knee when bending it back and forth.

If I am sitting with both feet flat on the floor and my knees bent as in a normal sitting position I am able to duplicate pain. In this position if I keep my feet in place and attempt to move my leg rearward I can feel elevated pain on the interior area of the knee where the bones meet. In doing this movement, the muscles I see and feel moving are on the outside of my thigh down to my knee and on the inside behind my thigh extending to the back of the knee.

Pardon my lack of knowledge on proper terms and what not. I am looking for a doctor in the area to take a look. I am hoping to get an idea to what may possibly going on. Thanks, TOM

[Heidi]

Hi
When you started running again did you get a proper pair of trainers and your feet assessed? This is the most common mistake made by people who start up running.

If you over-pronate or oversupinate this changes the biomechanics of the lower limb, causing rotational forces that place more strain on the joints and muscles.
Find out more here: http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/general/pronate.htm

If you did not do this then I think this is definately the place to start. I don't know where you are based, but in the UK you can get this assessment done in specialist running and sports shops, as well as podiatry and biomechanics clinics.

[jetflyr]

No special running shoes initially. After the first setback, I went and got evaluated and purchased a running shoe that was recommended. That is the shoe I have been using since. That was almost 5 months ago.

[kershawm]

I'm a runner too and have had a lot of knee issues over the years. My advice is to 1) get a new pair of properly fitted running shoes as mentioned in the previous post and, 2) get orthotics. This should be the first stage of your treatment. Many times knee pain starts at your feet. Then, make sure you drink plenty of water and warm-up properly. Try this for several weeks and you will probably see great improvement. When you start to lose weight from your training, that will also take some of the stress off of your knees.


__________________________

Mike

<a href="http://www.markmillermd.com/patient-education/patient-guides.html" target="_blank">Knee and shoulder pain specialist</a>