Knee pains ??

Question

I'm thirteen years old, and I do cross country, and I stretch before running always. Since this morning I've noticed that my knee has been feeling weird. It feels like the knee cap is kind of out of place, and it hurts. I can only straighten my leg out out half way, and when I walk I have to limp. Yesterday I ran a cross country championship meet, so maybe I just pulled something, but I'm not sure. When I attempt to straighten it out, it hurts right in the middle of my knee--not exactly the knee cap, but the tiniest bit farther down my leg, like right under it. I don't know if there's a tendant or something below the bone that I might have injured...? It doesn't hurt on any other part of my leg except on my knee when I try to stretch it. Do you have any idea what this is or how to treat it????
I also have shin splints so if you know any stretches to treat that please let me know.
Thank you! ☺

Answer 1

The strain of the race may have allowed the horseshoe shaped cartilage to have slipped enough out of place to cause the restriction of the straitening of the leg. Sort of locks it up. There may be a bit of swelling accompanying this condition, which would make it even more evident.

There are 2 ways to have it restored to its proper position;
get down on the floor on your knees and try to sit on your heels, the other may be a day or so off yet but, kick an imaginary football and see how far you can kick it. Is one way of extending the knee to allow a reseating of the cartilage.

Answer 2

The most common things that cause this type of pain are patellar tendonitis and chondromalacia. With either one of these things, You need to stop running until it heals. Treatment includes taking ibuprofen or alleve, application of ice to the knee for about 10-15 minutes, several times a day, and elevating the leg. Once the inflammation subsides, then do only stretches for a few more days before running again. If you didin't do any damage to the joint, there is a band that you can wear just below the knee that helps take some of the impact off of the ligaments.

Answer 3

I'm 28 been very athletic all my life.I'm having same symptoms,i found out that i'm double jointed that's why it feells like my knee cap was out of place and i also have have rheumatoid arthritis.Are you real flexible?If you are you may be double jointed which could be cause of pain

Answer 4

Knee pain can be a result of injury or disease of the knee joint. Injury can affect any of the ligaments, bursae, or tendons surrounding the knee joint. Injury can also affect the ligaments, cartilage, menisci (plural for meniscus), and bones within the joint. The complexity of the design of the knee joint and the fact that it is an active weight-bearing joint are factors in making the knee one of the most commonly injured joints.

Pain can also occur in the knee from diseases or conditions that involve the knee joint, the soft tissues and bones surrounding the knee, or the nerves that supply sensation to the knee area. In fact, the knee joint is the most commonly involved joint in rheumatic diseases, immune diseases that affect various tissues of the body, including the joints to cause arthritis.

Causes of Knee Pain:

Cartilage Tear
Bone Tumor (rare)
Fracture (Broken Bone)
Patella Tracking Disorder (Kneecap Misalignment)
Septic Arthritis (Pyarthrosis)
Sprain
Synovial Plica
Synovial Sarcoma (rare)
Tendinitis

What are shin splints?

Shin splints are injuries to the front of the outer leg. While the exact injury is not known, shin splints seem to result from inflammation from injury to the tendon (posterior peroneal tendon) and adjacent tissues in the front of the outer leg.

Shin splints represent one member of a group of injuries called "overuse injuries." Shin splints occur most commonly in runners or aggressive walkers.


What are the symptoms of shin splints?

Shin splints cause pain in the front of the outer leg below the knee. The pain of shin splints is characteristically located on the outer edge of the mid region of the leg next to the shin bone (tibia). An area of discomfort measuring 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) in length is frequently present. Pain is often noted at the early portion of the workout, then lessens only to reappear near the end of the training session. Shin splint discomfort is often described as dull at first. However, with continuing trauma, the pain can become so extreme as to cause the athlete to stop workouts altogether.


What causes shin splints?

A primary culprit causing shin splints is a sudden increase in distance or intensity of a workout schedule. This increase in muscle work can be associated with inflammation of the lower leg muscles, those muscles used in lifting the foot (the motion during which the foot pivots toward the tibia). Such a situation can be aggravated by a tendency to pronate the foot (roll it excessively inward onto the arch).

Similarly, a tight Achilles tendon or weak ankle muscles are also often implicated in the development of shin splints.

How is the are shin splints diagnosed?

The diagnosis of shin splints is usually made during examination. It depends upon a careful review of the patient's history and a focused physical exam (an exam focused on the shins and legs where local tenderness is noted).

Specialized (and costly) tests (e.g., bone scans) are generally only necessary if the diagnosis is unclear. Radiology tests, such as x-rays, bone scan or MRI scan, in this setting can be helpful to detect stress fracture of the tibia bone.

How were shin splints treated?

Previously, two different treatment management strategies were used: total rest or a "run through it" approach. The total rest was often an unacceptable option to the athlete. The "run through it" approach was even worse. It often led to worsening of the injury and of the symptoms.

Currently, a multifaceted approach of "relative rest" is successfully utilized to restore the athlete to a pain-free level of competition.


What is the multifaceted "relative rest" approach?

This multifaceted approach includes:

Workouts such as stationary bicycling or pool running - these will allow maintenance of cardiovascular fitness.
Icing - to reduce inflammation.
Anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin); naproxen (Aleve/Naprosyn) - are also a central part of rehabilitation.
A 4-inch wide Ace bandage wrapped around the region - to also help reduce discomfort.
Calf and anterior (front of) leg stretching and strengthening - to address the biomechanical problems discussed above and reduce pain.
Careful attention to selecting the correct running shoe based upon the foot type (flexible pronator vs. rigid supinator) - this is extremely important. In selected cases shoe inserts (orthotics) may be necessary.
Stretching and strengthening exercises are done twice a day.
Running - only when symptoms have generally resolved (often about 2 weeks), AND with several restrictions:
A level and soft terrain is best.
Distance is limited to 50% of that tolerated preinjury.
Intensity (pace) is similarly cut by one half.
Over a 3-6 week period, a gradual increase in distance is allowed.
Only then can a gradual increase in pace be attempted.
Caveat!

The amount of injury that occurs prior to any rehabilitation program plays a significant role in determining the time frame necessary for complete recovery.

Shin Splints At A Glance:

Shin splints are a type of "overuse injury" to the legs.
The pain is characteristic and located on the outer edge of the mid region of the leg next to the shin bone (tibia). It can be extreme and halt workouts.
The diagnosis requires a careful focused examination.
A multifaceted approach of "relative rest" can restore a pain- free level of activity and a return to competition.
The "relative rest" approach includes a change in the workout, ice, rest, antiinflammation medications, stretching exercises, possible change in footwear, and gradual increase in running activities