Home General Training Discussions

Knee

Okay new one for me but my left knee cap has been hurting only when I put pressure on it.  so like in a plank or trying to get in my too tall bed!  I haven't done anything, like fallen or other.

 

and so today I look down while I was sitting cross legged and noticed a bulge on the knee cap.  what is this?  what should I do.  it feels squishy.  doesn't bother me during training but yes seems bigger.upper part of kneecap.  m

Comments

  • it looks bigger in person but couldn't get camera to get in that close!!  anyways frieking out husband!!!  ha.  I amfalling apart 11 weeks from IMWI! 

  • Hey Marianne!

    Haven't talked with you for a long time. Your description and the picture seem to indicate a cyst.  I'm not a doctor, but for some reason some fluid has been pushed through and formed (I'm guessing) right where the knee bends.   There may be something that caused the cyst that needs to be addressed. 

    Hope all goes well!

  • Cant really tell by looking at the picture....could be cyst or a patellar bursitis.....what is the diameter of the the mass and is it over the knee cap itself or not?

  • due to holiday can't get thru to make an appt this morning (yet).... 2 1/4 x 1" and right now not swollen (haven't ridden since Sunday, rest day yesterday and walked the dog today) but I can see it. i when I curl my leg, it looks like a ridge in the middle of left knee cap. it feels bruised but no visible signs of bruising... m
  • "sounds like" prepatellar bursitis...inflammation....the ridge is likely a thickened bursal sac.

    I can spontaneously improve or resolve by avoiding irritation. (see next).

    AVOID any kneeling or crawling or pressuree onthis area.

    Can be injected with cortisone, aspirated or surgical..last resort

  • Thanks for your prompt answer. to be honest here wondering I should go to IMWI camp this Thur - Sunday. No I have not purposely put pressure on it, like plank or any other stretches I have avoided. but I am 10 weeks out from race day and so I sorta came to a pause after this past weekend's training.....

    *I also seem to historically have tight left ham and piriformis so last week backed the running way down and looked up Leigh's website for foam rolling,stretching etc.

    so well? hmmmm.... how to get rid of this and in the meantime, what sort of training should I do or avoid?

    m
  • yes you were right, thanks. saw doc today xray said knee is fine but yes it is bursitis. not sure how I injured it, but yes I do housework!! lol. "housemaids knee"..... I am not going to camp and laying low to help it heal. m
  • Dont know if your MD has decided to inject or not but if it is Prepatellar bursitis, ive treated several of those using Iontophoresis with dexamethasone right over the patella. Usually resolved in 3-4 treatments with rest. Any physical therapist should be able to provide that treatment for you. Maybe ask your MD about it.
  • glad to hear the xray was negative and it's not something like a bone chip floating around in there. image

    what did the doc do for treatment?? anti-inflamms? injection?
  • anti inflamm,, actually still taking some for piriformis..!! begins with a D.... no injection. cuz actually the swelling has gone down considerable and hurts when he squeezed on it but yes relief that the actual knee looked good. took a rest day Monday, walked 4 miles yesterday with dog, rest day today and no camp.... so laying low to let the whole left leg recover!! haven't tried cycling and think will lay low as it has been since Sunday when I rode (and it got swollen again)..... he told me to wear a knee pad when I do housework...lol. I am just gonna tell hubby that I can't do any!!! ha. I hadn't read your post Derek before I left... so if it doesn't get better then yes another visit to my PT.. really I have been in there for months rehabbing either the right shoulder or the left glute so honestly I would like to stay out of there!! this is getting silly.... smile. Thanks for the info...

     

    *** google

    Symptoms of bursitis include:

    * swelling in front of the kneecap (prepatellar) or underneath the kneecap (infrapatellar)

    * warmth and tenderness

    * pain when you bend or straighten your knee.


    Bursitis is treated with rest, ice, and compression to reduce swelling. To relieve pain, doctors typically recommend an over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, and others) or naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, and others).

    You'll also need to avoid activity that aggravates the condition during the healing process, which usually lasts two to six weeks. If the fluid in the bursa shows signs of infection, you'll need to take antibiotics, and the doctor may remove fluid daily. In extreme cases, the swollen bursa is removed surgically.

    Your doctor may also recommend physical therapy. Physical therapy focuses on strengthening and stretching the quadriceps and inside hamstrings. A physical therapist can also show you how to protect your knee in sports and daily activities. If your normal stance puts pressure on the pes anserine bursa, using flexible, over-the-counter arch supports in your shoes may reduce it.

    To prevent prepatellar bursitis, wear protective kneepads (such as roofer's pads or gardening pads) while kneeling or while playing sports likely to involve hitting the knees. Bursitis can recur if you don't take preventive measures after it heals.

    ***

    I put the above in there in case anybody else is having knee pain that swells up the knee as I was ignorant!  but had been having a bruised knee feeling...

     

    m

  • Marianne

    Here is an article that has helped me with swelling of the patella tendon.
    I now have a weight under my desk at work and use some of the exercises described.

    I am not a medical pro.

    Strength training to treat and prevent injuries works for me.

    my 2 cents

    http://www.massagetherapy.com/articles/index.php/article_id/888/Some-Essential-Principles-of-Orthopedic-Massage
Sign In or Register to comment.