Knee issue

[Alcoholiday]

while it's probably nothing, i have a bit of a discomfort on my left knee. It's located on the back side of my leg, right where my hamstring ends, and connects to the calf area. anyway, it almost feels like a buildup of scar tissue. It's not painful at all, but when i do stuff like squats, or quad stretches, i can feel it. if anyone has any idea what this could be or caused from, let me know, or if you need more information. thanks

[ernie]

Do some research on "Baker Cyst". I have some mild swelling accompanying the pain I alluded to in my post about my knee. The ortho pointed me in that direction, never actually heard of it. See if it makes sense.

[Alcoholiday]

it sounds similiar, except that it's barely even a bump on the back....

[Zig]

Every issue is something or turns in to something if we ignore it. Because we will always find a way to compensate around it and that can lead to other problems.

I have been reading posts here for a few months without commenting and have come to the conclusions, that while its okay to seek several opinions about your injury, its better if a professional has diagnosed your problem. If that happens, then the advice you get about that specific injury can help you with improving it.

Find a sports doc in your area who an evaluate it and identify your specific issue. Then ask for suggestions about how other people got that specific injury better. You will not have to experiment with suggestions which could actually make your problem worse. On my radio show, people call in all of the time with descriptions of pain or illnesses. The only ones I can provide advice to are those know exactly what there issue is because they have had it evaluated. If we know what your pain is, where it is, we can help but otherwise, we are all guessing. I could suggest that you have a strain to your popliteal. And could make recommendations for you, but I would be guessing. I might be close, but its still a guess. so let someone check it out in your area. Identify your exact problem before it gets worse (and it will unless you rest it or fix it), then ask for suggestions.

Good luck.

[Mike Robertson]

Alco -

How does it feel when you stretch your calves? Your hamstrings?

[allenkt]

I have a similar situation and finally decided I'd better get it checked out. I was hoping it would just go away but it hasn't. Weird thing is that I can squat and deadlift and it doesn't hurt too much but sometimes something as easy as slipping off my sock or shoe hurts my knee. Also if I run too much it hurts at first but then it goes away, but probably because I either ignore it or it goes numb.

I've been hesitant to go see a Dr about it because I'm afraid he'll tell me that I can't squat or run for awhile, neither of which are good. But I suppose it's better to get it looked at now and lay off it for a short time than to have an injury for life.

[cappuccino]

The key is actually finding a doc that can help you determine what's wrong if x-ray, mri, etc show all is well.

I had knee issues a while back so my primary care doc sent me to an orthopedist who found nothing wrong (aka x-rays showed nada) and gave me some celebrex and told me to do leg extensions. Granted, it was 2months before I could actually get an appt with the specialist and I had mostly stopped running and was no longer in "immediate" pain, so it was hard to replicate the pain in the dr's office as it really required impact for it to hurt (at this point walking was ok, just running)

I do believe it's important to get it checked out to rule out tears/strains/broken things. However, if you are lucky enough to know of a good functional movment expert, that would be awesome too. Gathering info and learning about possibilities and suggestions here in this forum has been far superior to anything I've found locally. Not saying an expert doesn't exist here locally, it's just can pretty much random trying to find the one that knows how to address my issues. You have to know someone who knows someone who can give you a good referral, or do a random yellow book search.

so getting it checked out in person vs on the internet isn't always as easy as it sounds when the tests come back normal...

[Alcoholiday]

Originally Posted by Mike Robertson

Alco -

How does it feel when you stretch your calves? Your hamstrings?

it feels fine.. this is the same knee that was kind of sore when i went to watch cressey's meet in illinois.

I've been doing foam rolling and stretching every day before and after my workout. mobility stuff before workouts, and foam rolling/stretching after.

i do foam rolling on my calf with a tennis ball, and it gets sore, but in a good way.... feels good.

the knee gets a bit sore on some days, but when i start to do mobility, or it gets warm, it feels fine. It's weird... sometimes when i raise my knee to do a quad stretch, or kick my leg, it'll crack, and feel fine then.

do you guys do assessments on knees mike? if so, what do you guys charge? or do you know anyone in my area? i'd be paying out of pocket b/c my insurance is basically major medical.

[Alcoholiday]

and thanks for all the suggestions guys... keep them coming.

[UConnJulie]

Originally Posted by Alcoholiday

while it's probably nothing, i have a bit of a discomfort on my left knee. It's located on the back side of my leg, right where my hamstring ends, and connects to the calf area. anyway, it almost feels like a buildup of scar tissue. It's not painful at all, but when i do stuff like squats, or quad stretches, i can feel it. if anyone has any idea what this could be or caused from, let me know, or if you need more information. thanks

What does it feel like if you squat ATG?

Is it lateral (toward the outside of your knee) or medial (toward the inside of your knee)?

Is it above the joint line (the crease in the back of your knee) or below it?

Have you ever had any direct injury to the knee?

[Alcoholiday]

i don't squat atg. i always squat parallel. my hips are tight i think, which is why i have a difficult time doing it, and which is why i do all the stretching.

but i don't get any pain in my knees after doing lower body work.

it's right at the crease line in the back of the knee (the tightness).

the pain is always right at the knee cap, in the inner part of the knee cap.

[tasinquefield]

Sounds like maybe patellofemoral pain syndrome (I've had it for years). My knees feel much better when I stretch out my calves and hamstrings, and also stretching and strengthening my hips. I have a hard time squatting and DL'ing if I don't do some dynamic stretching beforehand.

My knees also crack and pop quite a bit, but since I've strengthened my hips and become more flexible in my hip flexors, my knee pain has gone down considering. Maybe your tightness in your hips is causing problems?

From what I understand through my PT, tightness and issues in your hips (and feet) can cause a lot of problems in the knee, since it is mostly a "dumb joint" and will do what you knees, feet and ankles tell it to do.

[UConnJulie]

Originally Posted by Alcoholiday

i don't squat atg. i always squat parallel. my hips are tight i think, which is why i have a difficult time doing it, and which is why i do all the stretching.

but i don't get any pain in my knees after doing lower body work.

it's right at the crease line in the back of the knee (the tightness).

the pain is always right at the knee cap, in the inner part of the knee cap.

Stretching is good ... especially if your hips are tight ...
If you were to squat right now ATG (or attempted even if you come up on your toes) what does that feel like in your knees? What I am getting at is what does your knee feel like under extreme flexion? If you truly can't squat ATG, then sit on the floor with your feet under your butt (ie start on your knees and bring your butt back to your heels). What does that feel like?

Originally Posted by tasinquefield

Sounds like maybe patellofemoral pain syndrome (I've had it for years). My knees feel much better when I stretch out my calves and hamstrings, and also stretching and strengthening my hips. I have a hard time squatting and DL'ing if I don't do some dynamic stretching beforehand.

My knees also crack and pop quite a bit, but since I've strengthened my hips and become more flexible in my hip flexors, my knee pain has gone down considering. Maybe your tightness in your hips is causing problems?

From what I understand through my PT, tightness and issues in your hips (and feet) can cause a lot of problems in the knee, since it is mostly a "dumb joint" and will do what you knees, feet and ankles tell it to do.
Today 07:33 PM

It certainly could be patellofemoral pain syndrome ... and if that is the case, getting your hips and quads stretched out is very important (along with the TFL and ITB) ...

[Alcoholiday]

Originally Posted by UConnJulie

Stretching is good ... especially if your hips are tight ...
If you were to squat right now ATG (or attempted even if you come up on your toes) what does that feel like in your knees? What I am getting at is what does your knee feel like under extreme flexion? If you truly can't squat ATG, then sit on the floor with your feet under your butt (ie start on your knees and bring your butt back to your heels). What does that feel like?

the only thing i feel tightness in is a slight tugging at my hips when i squat all the way down. I can do the kneeling thing, and touch my butt to the heels of my foot w/o pain.

it's more like a dull pain that comes and goes.....

[UConnJulie]

Hard to say ... sounds like it might not be coming from your knee ... could be referred from your back or hip ... if it persists you might want to get evaluated by a professional ...