After some vigorous tugging, pulling, twisting, pushing and turning of my left leg and knee, the doctor said I have a knee injury common to runners, known as patella femoral. This is also sometimes referred to as runner’s knee (though he said there are a few other similar things that are sometimes classified as runner’s knees as well).  For me, probably weak quads caused the knee to misalign and track outside of the area where the knee bone should be.   I also got an x-ray done and it came back showing the knee cap is tilted.  Ouch.

It just happens I guess since most runners eventually get it at some point. I guess it was an increase in the running (due to the half-marathon training) and not having done too many frequent long runs in June and July — maybe this was a bit too much for my knee to endure. Or maybe my body isn’t built for running — well, I would like to not think that but it is a fact that some people’s legs and bodies make them more prone to injury if they do certain sports (like running) — think about it: people who are genetically bow legged, or have flat feet or have gaits like a duck’s waddle — it’s very hard on the knees if your feet kick outward or inward when you move.

The doctor recommended that I also see the physical therapist he referred me to for a second opinion and get some feedback about whether I should even run the half.  I hope to walk-run it and complete under the time limit! He suggested some quad exercises for me so I am going to start that. I also looked up some more quad exercises and hip exercises too.  I think one of my major mistakes is doing the standing quad stretch incorrectly. I would pull my leg out to the side, or pull it all the way back pushing my hips backwards instead of forward when increasing the stretch. Duh, stupid! (and now, painful!) He also suggested that I get a knee brace with the little cutout for the knee bone — something else to look into as there are so many knee braces out there!

How do you know if you may have patella femoral? Well, I’m not a doctor but here’s what I felt — you be your own judge. Best thing to do? Always go see a doctor when you feel pain in your joints. You never know what is out of place! These are vague but this is what I reported to the doctor:

• Tightness in the knee and around the knee, especially when standing, walking, running.
• Pressure on the top of the knee when bending the knee, almost as if there is something hard in there, pushing down on your knee bone.
• Strange, uncomfortable “grinding” feeling when you walk, bend your knees,  or sit.
• Discomfort lying down, as if your knee bone will fall through your knee; feeling as if your knee is hyperextended (i sleep with a pillow under that knee to keep it elevated).
• Some numbness and pain when walking, standing, sitting, lying down

And Jason of StrengthRunner has some great tips on how to prevent injuries.  I will definitely have to start cross-training to avoid repetitive and cumulative stress on the joints — there’s something to the theory of muscle confusion, after all!

So anyway,  time to go stretch and do my little quad exercises in hopes that this pain will all go away in 5 weeks!!