what's wrong with my knee?

[Tread]

Hello there!

I've had a problem with my knees for awhile now, and I need to figure out what the problem is. Hoping someone can help me!

I think it all started several years ago when I began to train for a marathon. I started getting a crippling dullish pain in the outside of my knee which made it very hard to even walk. Now, years later, whenever I try to run(~2 miles) or if I go backpacking(~8-10miles) I get the same pain. When I am backpacking, when it first comes on the biggest problem is walking downhill. I can still hike uphill with no problems for a certain amount of time. Eventually, downhill, flat and uphill all hurt. When going downhill, the brunt of the pain is when I pick up my foot to bring it forward in my step.

I noticed that if I push on the tendon on the outter side of my knees, it is very tender. Usually within a couple days, the pain is gone, I am back to normal, and can walk again with out a limp.

Any ideas about what this might be, and what I need to do to get it treated would be VERY appreciated. I'm scheduled to hike the Pacific Crest Trail in a year, and need to figure this out before that!

sincere thanks!

Ted

[Heidi]

Hi

I think this may be your answer:

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/knee/irunnersknee.html

The symptoms you desxcribe are textbook symptoms for this injury.

Treament is usually a combination of soft tissue therapy and massage, vigorous stretching, strengthening of the hip muscles and correction of any biomechanical problems, such as overpronation.

I hope this helps!