* When the patella experiences forces which push it off center and against the sides of the groove it causes pain, inflammation, and roughening of the underside of the patella. This is bad
* Ice is your friend.
* There are many potential causes for PFS. One of my issues is a weak VMO. Specific quad strengthening exercises have been prescribed, so I've been diligent about becoming a gym queen. Ha!
* PFS is an overuse/overload injury. It is strongly recommended to reduce knee activity during treatment. I've been nudging my PT about safe aerobic activity. She recently suggested swimming. Watch this space.
* Some of my exercises require a concerted effort on my part to keep my knee joint properly aligned with my foot to retrain my muscles. Until this becomes second nature, running has a real risk of undoing progress. That would be bad.
* Knee taping is controversial. Studies suggest that it provides short term relief to some PFS patients by helping with patella positioning. I wasn't one of them. No more sharpei knee for me.
* The Euflexxa injections were aimed at fixing some of the roughening damage. PT mentioned today that my knee is noticably less crunchy now. This is good.
There you have it - almost as if I know what I'm talking about.
crunchy ....
ReplyDeleteand knee...not a good combo..but it looks like you are getting more and more knowledgeable about what to train and which muscles help which...
shall I call you doctor from now on????
Wow... That's a lot of learning going on in my head. Thanks for sharing. Hope it's getting better.
ReplyDeleteYou're right about the ice, for sure!
I didn't know it was your patella that was your knee issue...I must've missed where you told us that. Then the taping makes sense. But there are braces, and they aren't expensive, that can be worn to keep the patella in place, and they don't produce Sharpei knee.
ReplyDeleteWow if I ever feel any knee pain forget Dr. McDreamy I am ccoming straight to you :-)
ReplyDeleteSeriously I hope your recovery goes well and that PT makes that knee stronger.
Everything you've mentioned makes sense to me from what I've heard and seen of my husband's knee problems. If he didn't have bad shoulders too, I'm sure he'd be swimming. Keep us posted!
ReplyDeleteGood to know your knee is less crunchy. Hope the improvements continue.
ReplyDelete"less crunchy"....that is a good thing? eeek!
ReplyDeleteNo one can ever say you aren't determined to get that knee stronger and healthier. You are doing a great job. I love reading about your hard work and fighting spirit. Keep on rocking, Queenie.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are learning a lot. At least overuse injuries are correctable with stretching and strengthening. I went through it and I'm once again running pain-free - so it can be done. Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info. I hope that the PT goes well and you can be back to running soon.
ReplyDeleteTake care. :-)
Crunchy knee? Doesn't sound good on SO many fronts.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the information...it's really helpful. I have the knee crunch thing in my right knee which worries me!! It's been like that for years :/
ReplyDeleteBecoming an expert with your own "issues" is a worth while exercise!!
ReplyDeleteThat is a lot to digest but its very interesting too!!
ReplyDeleteHow are you chica!!!???
You DO know what your talking about! I still want to see a drawing on the knee.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to keep my knee over my foot! I had to work so hard on it and now I don't anymore. :<(
ReplyDelete