knee pain ???

[Bob A]

I started running in March to lose weight and to be ready for the academy which started on 7 July. I hadn't run more than 10 times since I left the military in '92. I tried to do more than I was really ready to do and developed shin splints (I've had them before so I know that's what they were) and I took a little time off from running.

When I got hired, I was running about 2 to 2.5 miles 3 times a week. We did some prep for the academy which included lots of firearms drills. I noticed that the kneeling and prone positions caused my left leg to hurt terribly. The pain was just below the knee cap on the lower bone. It's gotten a lot better, but staying off it is not an option.

What I'd like to know is:

can anybody give me some ideas as to what this might be? (runner's knee?)

what might have caused it? (old age?)

how long it may take to heal? (days good, months bad)

[JRT6]

This question has been asked frequently and maybe should be put in a permanent freqently asked question thread.

Bob,
Runner's knee is either ITB syndrome or caused by "patella subluxation" which summed up briefly means your knee cap isn't tracking right possibly do to a muscle imbalance and is grinding up all the cartilage under your knee cap.

A orthopedic doctor can tell you the problem and a physical therapsit can show you how to correct the problem.

My runner's knee is kept in check by orthotics, motion control running shoes(one foot pronates), running on soft surfaces, and limited runnning.

[Bob A]

orthotics

not sure what this is

motion control running shoes(one foot pronates)

I can do this if it's really necessary

running on soft surfaces and limited runnning

not always up to me when I run or where. The people who run at the academy just didn't seem to have a lot of sympathy for me when I said my knees hurt running on asphalt. ;)

I guess once the academy is over in October I can make an appt with a Dr to get this looked at. In the meantime it looks as if I get to suck it up.

[JRT6]

"terrible pain" under the knee cap is called "patella tendinitis". The good news that unlike just a few years ago a rupture in that tendon no longer means permament disablity. Bob, there is no worse injury of the knee. Go see a sports medicine doctor.