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pain behind my knee and upper calf

Christy BealChristy Beal
in General Training Discussions

Since last weekend the back of my right knee and the upper calf are very painful.  It hurts to fully extend the leg but feels fine when bent. Going uphill hurts but not really on flats or downhill. It also hurts if I stand up straight and push my hips forward.  It doesn't burn but it is sort of tingly. 

Have I torn something or is it just overstreached?  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

Christy

Comments

  • DocHoffartDocHoffart
    Christy,

    It sounds like a tight popliteus and gastroc junction which is often associated with some dysfunction of the tibia and meniscus. Difficulty straightening the knee is a sign of meniscus issue (may be very mild issue like abnormal screw-home mechanism caused by a rotated tibia, poor hamstring function...). Hate to sound like a broken record...experienced DC or PT with ART training. Can be caused by nanyang things including cleat and seat height issues, sitting on a foot or 'w' sitting.

    Vince
  • Leigh BoyleLeigh Boyle

    Sounds muscular to me, especially coming off of Providence last week with no other twisting mechanism of injury. image

    Really common area to stiffen up after hard/long workouts. The calf muscles and hamstrings (back of thigh) criss cross right behind the knee and if they really tighten up you won't be able to straighten your knee out comfortably especially after sitting around for a while.

    If it were me, I'd try one of two things:

    1) Dig out the area yourself. Click here for a website to check out with video's and pictures. In particular, you're going to want to check out the posts on the Calf and Hamstrings. Both area's will need to be loosened up to really release the back of the knee. In addition to those posts, you can also check out the posts on Runners Knee. One is on treatment and has pictures for stretches. Be sure to ice well after and stay after it every day till it's gone.

    2) Check in with your local sports massage/ART/body work person and let them dig it out for you.

     

     

  • Christy BealChristy Beal
    Thank you Vince and Leigh for the advice. I found a Dr that does ART right down the road and I am heading there this morning. I am always afraid that I have done something serious and don't really know it. A few years ago I broke my fibula and it took me three weeks to figure out, I thought I was just sore.
  • Leigh BoyleLeigh Boyle
    hope the ART helped! keep us posted on how you're feeling. image
  • Christy BealChristy Beal
    I've been three times now, still sore behind my knee but I can straighten my leg just fine now. It no longer hurts to touch the back of my knee. He said that my IT band is really, really tight and he has been working that out. The actual ART hurts a lot but I feel much better now. I thought that I was going to have bruises from his fingers but I don't.

    I am going to try a run tonight and see how I feel afterwards. I have only been swimming this week because I do not want to hurt myself more.
  • DocHoffartDocHoffart
    Progress. Keep us posted.

    Keep in mind that it is all about capacity and load. Right now your knee/leg has reduced capacity so you do not want to load it so much as to exceed capacity again or you will end up right back to square 1. Better to mitigate things with reduced load for a couple weeks rather than blow the rest of your season. Swimming, especially with a pull buoy, will help keep cardio up and load down on the leg.

    Vince
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