Pain in knee joint (on the right side)

[Tim Odell]

I was wrestling a couple of weeks ago and after the match I felt that my knee was hurting me...but only on the left leg, and on the right side...and only when i put my leg compleatly straight and flex semi hard. the other time it hurts is when i am stretching out my quads (when you pull you leg behind you...foot to butt style) that is the only time it hurts and it does not impair any of my physical abilitys at all, it just hurts when it is in thoes 2 positions...any ideas on what it is or how to fix it?

oh and the pain is rght under the muscle on the felt...kinda hurts to touch a very small spot under the muscle too

[Jacek S. Janczewski]

Do you feel the pain when you are squatting as well?

Would you categorize the pain as inflammation or does joint feel injured?

I've dealt with chronic knee pain over the last few years so I may be able to provide some insight if you give more details about what you're experiencing.

[Tim Odell]

no it is not when i am squatting only when it is in thoes 2 positions. the pain is like a 2 out of 10

and no there is no infalamation nothing at all

[Jacek S. Janczewski]

I'm not exactly sure what it is your feeling, but I'll offer some advice that's helped me battle through some of my knee pain (I've been as bad as 7/10 before).

After a high impact activity, icing/ibuprofen helps to relieve inflammation. This typically feels like stiffness in the joint and occasionally you'll get a burning discomfort. When my knees have some inflammation, I get similar pain when I try to fully extend my leg (its a mild pain, just like yours is) and I feel it when doing the standing quad stretch as well. Besides icing/ibuprofen, adding fish oil capsules to my diet seems to have helped.

Other things which have helped in my recovery:
Starting Strength:
Squats and deadlifts especially, have strengthened the muscles and joints which has contributed to significantly less pain and the ability to resume sports like basketball.

Trigger point therapy:
Finding a knots in my lower quad muscles (and upper calf) and massaging them out will almost always deliver pain relief if my inflammation acts up. Usually the morning after a basketball game, I'll find the knots have worsened and that my knees feel very stiff. A few minutes spent massaging these spots loosens the knees up quite a bit. If you don't know anything about trigger points, try doing a little research, I also recommend the Trigger Point Therapy Workbook.

I'm currently reading Egoscue's Method of Health Through Motion. Its an interesting read and the exercises he recommends are helping to realign my body, improve my posture, and relieve some common pain (lower back especially).

Long post I know, but I'd suggested just about everything I have picked up from personal experience. Please let me know if you have any further questions.

[Tim Odell]

what if there is no infalimation?

[Jacek S. Janczewski]

There is no inflammation and you've been experiencing this pain without relief for a couple weeks? I would have it checked out by a specialist.

Just a few words of caution. From what I've seen, Orthopedic surgeons will generally try to steer you towards surgery. A common pattern of treatment that I've seen is as follows (again, my condition has always had some sort of inflammation attributed to it, so I'm not sure if you'll experience EXACTLY the same treatment):

Initial checkup -> Anti-inflammatory meds prescribed. (No progress - they may not do this for you)
Second visit-> Cortizone shot. (Some relief, but temporary)
Third visit-> MRI (reveals no soft-tissue damage)
Fourth visit -> Doctor will recommend orthoscopic surgery to "take a look" at whats happening inside and most likely attribute your pain to "simple wear and tear."

I've seen this happen a few times before so I'm just warning you to avoid knee surgery at all costs ESPECIALLY if you get an MRI with no soft tissue damage.

Knee pain sucks. I hope you find a way to overcome. Good luck.

[Steven Low]

Massage, foam/tennis ball roll, ART,etc.

Don't do stuff that hurts.... obviously.

See if it clears up with simple stuff first.

[Tim Odell]

ok thanks all

[Ryan Saul]

Tim,

My advice for the knee is to rub some Vagisil on it and come back to CrossFit. Why are you posting on the board when you should have been at Vertical Ventures today? Just kidding, but seriously, why? Just kidding again.

[Toby Jurging]

Are you having any clicking or popping, knee feels like it wants to give out? Is the pain sharp or a dull ache deep within.

Did you injure the knee while rotating with foot planted?

My concern would be meniscal tear/damage. The meniscus moves ant/post with knee flex/ext and then gets pinched.

my 2cents

toby