The word of the day is: "Chondromalacia"

[giza]

That is what the official cause of my knee pain was. After a few seconds of being examined by Dr. K, he pointed out that my kneecaps were misaligned. He further explained that due to overuse, fluid had built up behind my kneecaps, similar to bursitis. The end result is that while the kneecaps normally move around a little, mine are currently moving around a lot, which causes them to bump into muscles and inflame them.

Treatment for this is simple: knee braces. I just purchased a pair, and I am to wear them for several weeks. This will allow me to return to the gym immediately and start working my legs again, which will also serve to rehab the knee. The alternative was just to rest the knee, and that's a bad idea.

It was also pointed out to me that all the heat I was applying last week didn't do any good, since the injury was still ongoing. So it's ice for the next 48 hours, THEN I can apply heat.

Comments

[wildw0lf.livejournal.com]

Well, it's good you don't need surgery. Hope you heal soon *wags*

[taral.livejournal.com]

It is more likely that you have Patello-femoral syndrome, the reversible, early-stage version of this. CMP is a degenerative condition involving structural damage -- you really don't want to have it. I have an inherited condition that causes CMP. It sucks.

[giza.livejournal.com]

Hmm... I wonder if Dr. K told me CMP because he knew I would Google it and freak out. :-)

Oh, that reminds me, it seems that the eliptical machines, despite being "zero impact", has plenty of impact on the knees, from the "stair climbing" type motion. That's just super.

[taral.livejournal.com]

Yes, and don't put lateral pressure on the knees, e.g. crossing one leg over the other and leaning on the knee.