Pain around top of fibula

[BoomerCyclist]

Although I'm now convinced this is not actually a knee problem it's quite similar to something someone reported below and this is as good a place to ask for help as any.

I'm a very active 63-year old who does some weight work, a lot of yoga, and a LOT of cycling. In January-February I was doing some jogging, indoor cycling, and weights. On about February 10 I was skiing and had a bad fall--the fall itself was nothing, but the slope was steep, the snow was hard, and I literally bounced about 100 yards down the hill. I had some mildly bruised ribs (now OK) and tore my left calf muscle. The calf muscle itself has now recovered its flexibility pretty much through physical therapy and exercise but there's one problem.

The problem is on the outside of the leg, right below the knee, on top of the end of the fibula. It doesn't hurt all the time but it hurts a lot if I try to totally flex the knee. I love doing the "Saigon squat" stretch, when one sits, basically, with one's feet on the ground, but I can't do it without significant pain now. I have been able to ride as much as 40 minutes (not hard) but the problem seems a bit worse after I do. I suspect this has something to do with a tendon or perhaps muscle that runs all the way down the lower leg. I've also had stiffness in my ankle--mild stiffness--off and on since two days after accident. (The ankle wasn't originally hurt at all.)

The pain sometimes radiates a bit both up and down when I'm flexing the knee or just when I make an unexpected movement. The question is, what can I do to get this well? Has anyone had anything like this--particularly something of traumatic origin? It looks like I have to get it healed before I can start training seriously again and I have a big bike vacation scheduled for mid-June.

Thanks in advance.

BC

[Heidi]

Hi
A possibility is the Lateral collateral ligament (LCL) injury. This is not injured as commonly as the MCL (on the inner knee) although can be injured during a fall as you describe. Fully flexing the knee may cause pain in the ligament. You can read more here: http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/knee/ilateralligament.html

The ankle probably feels stiff as the injury to the calf muscle has caused the calf muscles to tighten and this reduced ankle ROM.

[BoomerCyclist]

Thank you! I went to the link and my symptoms do indeed match the category 1 ligament strain as described. Sounds like I'll have to stop riding completely for a couple of weeks, even the 30-minute indoor ones I've been doing. The treatment is pretty much what I've been getting but I may also try some acupuncture.