Cartilage?

[johnnyh]

Bit of background - 3 broken right legs, all fib and tib, at the ankle and from a life of playing football - repairs involving metalwork and all sorts. Result I had to quit the game and started cycling.

Now to my mind, due to the injuries of my right leg, my left leg and crutches have carried me for 3 or so years more than my right leg, and now I guess I am paying the price.

About 6 weeks ago I started to get "pain" in the inside of my left knee, almost felt like the muscle band just to the upper inside right of the knee cap. Anyhow, cycle commute 30 or 40 miles a day and so I took a couple of weeks off this activity and thought it would ease.

Unfortunately, 3 weeks on and there is a definite sharp pain on the lower inside right front of the knee, feels like just under the knee cap. Also a fair bit of clicking if I bend and straighten the knee. It 'nags' at me when driving, if I stand up for a while etc...

Now I am guessing this is a case of the cartilage having degenerated somewhat, and it is now a case of how long I tolerate it before getting it sorted.

Anyone have any other thoughts?

If I was a horse they'd shoot me!

 

[citybabe]

Sounds like you need to get it looked at if I were you

 

[ttcycle]

go to your GP - have it checked out - with your history of injuries and sports it's best not to leave it to degenerate further if there is a big problem.

Most likely as you're active, you will have to wait a while to get surgery if it involves that.

Look after those knees!

 

[johnnyh]

yep, reckon the Doc is due a visit...

 

[ttcycle]

Good luck- it may be nothing major or something quite common but better to know rather than waiting until it starts becoming cripplingly painful.

 

[Melonfish]

Bit of background - 3 broken right legs,

Do you have 6 legs?

sorry couldn't resist!
defo see your doc, get them to check out the cartilage, i've got crepitus in both knees which the doc says is early onset arthritis. it means i have to be flippin careful how my bike is setup!

 

[johnnyh]

Do you have 6 legs?

Hahahaha nope, just a whole heap of bad luck, should've stopped playing after break number 2, but...

 

[rualexander]

Forget the doctor and go and see a sports physiotherapist. Knee pain is fairly common among cyclists and may well be nothing to do with your previous injuries and probably not cartilage. Could just be a muscle imbalance issue.

 

[Mad at urage]

Forget the doctor and go and see a sports physiotherapist. Knee pain is fairly common among cyclists and may well be nothing to do with your previous injuries and probably not cartilage. Could just be a muscle imbalance issue.

+1

 

[fossyant]

Daft game that footie.

If it is cartilage, then don't worry too much, you'd be told to ride. A colleague, who is also a cyclist, had his done a couple of years ago and is still riding.

 

[vickster]

Which cartilage do you mean - meniscus or articular - the former can be repaired or trimmed, the latter is a bugger to fix especially on the knee cap, can be tidied up but generally once it's gone, it's gone! Transplants can be done on small bits of damage but on the kneecap, in isolation, they are only around 50% successful. Depends how much is gone and how far - a lot and through to bone, you are probably looking at a future with replacement bits.

I'd see a physio first!

 

[JonnyBlade]

Forget the doctor and go and see a sports physiotherapist. Knee pain is fairly common among cyclists and may well be nothing to do with your previous injuries and probably not cartilage. Could just be a muscle imbalance issue.

I think you may find your Doc says what's above

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Do you have 6 legs?

sorry couldn't resist!
defo see your doc, get them to check out the cartilage, i've got crepitus in both knees which the doc says is early onset arthritis. it means i have to be flippin careful how my bike is setup!

Damn beaten to it!!! Only spotted the thread.

As others are saying get it looked at. The GP will/should refer you to a specialist. In the mean time I would take it easy.

 

[johnnyh]

Cheers all,

I take on board what you say about a sports physio, and trust me I have seen my share... yes footie is a daft game

I am seeing the doc in a week or so, so I will ask him his thoughts then and take it from there. 'Tis a pain in the ... err knee!

(I already accept that I will most likely end up with replacement bits, the third time I bust it up they pretty much told me )