help knee pain, joining army

Question
Hi John, I first started experiencing knee pain around april of 07.  The pain began in my right knee about half a year after I dramatically increased the intensity in my kung fu training.    the type of stress on the knees in my style can be large due to low stances (long static contractions) jumps, explosive kicks, and shearing forces.  Like an idiot, I worked through the pain with the idea that my body will adjust and the pain will eventually disappear.  I learned my lesson about 3 months later, but by then it was too late, the pain became worse, and the knee began to click and hurt even when I was not training.  I went to an orthopedist surgeon and got the usual stability test, X-ray, MRI etc, but nothing was found.  The physical therapist said it was an alignment issue.  She tried taping it and gave me exercises to do, but they didnt feel very effective, perhaps I also didnt give it enough time. I tried periods of rest, tried to maintin strength and flexibility, and did very minimal training.  The pain was better on some days, worse on others.  NSAIDs helped, but only temporarily.  Here I am about 8 months into the whole thing, and nothing improved significantly.  The knee still gets sore after basketball or squatting, only thing that does seem to improve slightly is recovery time.  To make things worse, I am joining the army and starting basic training in about a week, in the recruitment process for special forces.  The only thing on my mind has been my knee, I am so worried.  I have been able to train a fair amount for the past couple months (nothing like what I used to do but still respectable), I run about 3 times a week between 4 to 10 K.  The knee bothers me a bit but doesn't hurt during short runs, but it can take a day or two for the pain to subside after a 10k (NSAIDS really help on the recovery).  I think part of the reason my knee doesn抰 act up to terribly from running is because the problem didnt arise from running (it is triggered much more from squatting) and because I have very strong and flexible legs.  The stress on the knees however will be much greater in basic training, (running in boots long distances while carrying a lot of weight), and I am afraid my knee might not be as forgiving.  On a good note however, the knee did feel almost 100% after a one week boot camp simulation, probably because of the constant activity and lack of stagnance in the knee.  So there is some hope for the army, but I am still very weary.  After much research I am fairly certain I have condromalacia patella, in the right knee, and early warning signs are beginning to show in the left knee as well.  The right knee gets stiff after inactivity, and the knee cap clicks/pops, and snaps sometimes.  It hurts most when I squat when the knee is at about 90 degrees.  I tried liquid glucosamine for about a month, with no noticeable effect.  I have been taking vitamin C for the past month 500mg 3 times a day, like I saw from your other responses.  Unfortunately at the moment I do not have access to an exercise bike, which seems to be a key part to the rehab process.  How do you suggest I adress this issue? keep in mind I dont have the luxury of laying off the knee in the army (although I think activity will do me better than rest).  I will likely be able to use an exercise bike at the gym in my base.  I also have a strong resistance band I can do quad and hamstring exercises with.  Please let me know what to do to fix this, I am pretty desparate.
Thanks, Orr.


Answer
Hi Orr
You are correct about your situation.Chondromalacia is the problem.Unfortunately with only a week or so before you report to the army there is not much you can do at this time.The program i use with incredible success takes time which you don't have.I would get right on it when you report for duty if you can.Chondromalacia is both an alignment problem and tracking problem which effects the cartilage underneath the knee cap.I wish i could give you better news Orr.I have put together and copied some case history with prescription and testimonials for your consideration that you can take with you to work with you want to.If you have any other questions any time just get in touch Orr.

All the very best

John




Hi Pettina
Just what i thought.I have copied a recent case history on the problem and a prescription on how to take care of it with some follow up testimonials from scott lowell and another youn lady.Pettina,the most important thing is patience,consistincy.Everybody heels at different rates depending on the severity of the situation.My self it took 8 months.If you have any questions just get in touch,and keep me posted on your progress like scott did.Also start taking 500mg of vit c with your three meals a day.This is like gold for active people and athletes and yoga instructors.

To a successfull rehap

John



Subject: Knee recovery

Question:
Hi John,
Its Scott Lovell here again.  Thought I would give you an update on the
knee.  I am into the full swing of refereeing and now doing up to 4x90
min games per week.  Great newsw is I have absolutely no problems at
all.  Am back to normal - jogging, running and sprinting.  Thanks again
for all your advice.  I feel well and truly back on track and actually
feel fitter than ever.  Absolutely no soreness at all now, so you can
imagine I am really happy about it.  I obviously keep up the bike riding
during the week, to ensure no reoccurance

Cheers,
Scott

Subject: runner's knee

Question:
Dear John,

Your program is working like a charm, I felt such a huge noticeable  
difference when walking up stairs. Thanx. My question is how much running
is a little running? I ran 1.5 m 2x on my on and with the running class
I ran 3m. This is in a one week span. I also did 5 spin cycle classes
this week. I tried the kickboxing but it messed me up. So I won't be
doing that any time soon. I'm trying hard not to gain weight while I
rehabilitate. I have quite a bit of a metabolism problem. What do you think?
-------------------------

Followup To

Question -
Dear John,
 I suspect that I have runner's knee. I've been stepping 2 to 3 times
a week for the past three years. I would sometimes have pain around the
knee especially if the next day after class I would wear heels. I
didn't think much of it until recently. Two months ago, I started running. I
loved it so much I was running 6 miles 2x a wk and then 1/2hr with my
running class.  The day after one of my runs I had excruciating pain
about 2 inches under the knee between the knee and the ankle.  It stop me
in my tracks for a few minutes and I had to walk very slowly. The next
day the pain was gone. I done some digging, it looks like I could do
some spinning and I need to do some quad strengthening. My question is
how do I do it? Take a spin class first then do my quad work or in the
reverse? When is it ok for me to go back to running? Do you think my case
is severe? I also found out that my pronation is off and my feet do not
rotate enough. Are there special running sneakers to help me? I run in
reebox speed runners for men because they are so comfortable. Do you
think these are good enough for me?

Answer -
Hi Revel
Pain 2 inches below the knee would be pantella tendonitis.Your case is
no severe and you will be fine and you can continue to run a little as
you work on my prescription for rehap.as explained in the attached
letter from a privious client.Your running shoes are just fine.Don't
change.Start adding 500mg vit.c to your 3 meals a day to assist recovery and
don't ever stop the C.Follow my program and keep me posted how it is
going.You will be is good as new in no time.The key is patience and focus
and consistency Revel.I would lay off the steping for a few weeks till
you get well into my program.Let me know if you have any questions.

To a successfull rehap.

John


Scott Lovell Asks in Category Jogging & Running ...

Subject:  Knee soreness
Private:  no

Question:  Hi,
I am 30 years old and have never really had any knee problems.  I am
very annoyed because I feel I have brought this on myself.  I run about 3
times a week, usually on a treadmill.  2 weeks ago I was doing some
lunges with hand weights at the gym.  Admittingly I strained a little and
had probaly used weights too heavy.  3 days later I had a run at the
gym and after 20 mins my knee was really painful.  I iced it up that
night and the following day and then it felt fine.  I have no soreness
walking and none on a very hard workout on the stepper.  2 weeks later I
had a light 5 min run and suffered no pain, then did a 30 min step with
no pain and no sorenes the next day.  2 days later I did a fitness test,
running 3.2km in 12 mins, then 2x100 meter sprints after it.  During
this I felt no pain, but an hourr later I could feel the pain and its
pretty sore again.  2 days since that, my k nee is feeling fine again.  
Does it sound serious?  Have I just pushed it too quickly?  I'm seeing a
physio in 3 days to be cautious.  The pain feels around my knee cap
really - never suffered this before?

Answer:  Hi scott
Great discription of your situation.Thanks for that.Sure makes my job
easier.You  have a slight case of chondro malacia.It isa disintegration
of the patella and femoral cartilage surfaces,resulting in uneven rough
gliding motion between these structures.Any disruption of the normal
smooth gliding motion of this structure will result in cartilage
damage.This is why your feeling where you do.Bottom line not serious but could
be if you don't adress it now.Your knee tracks like a train on the
railrod tracks,and it got out of the groves,jumped track do to some of
those exercises you just did.
To fix this there are 2 things you need to do.First start riding an
exercise bike for 30 to 40 min.3 to 4 times a week.Not a regular bike
except for rec purposes.You want a med to high spin with med to hard
tension.This will retrack the knee and also sand down the back of the knee
cap and smooth it out and also strengthen quads.Second start doing leg
extensions,curls,adductor,abdductor work.Thats it scott,cancel your
physio save $$$.Your situation does sound miner since it goes away quickly
so you should respond rapidly.I would continue with this routine as a
way to stay ahead of the curve as they say.To stay active you have to
incorporate prevention consistently or things will catch up with you,and
that is a promise.Hope this gives you a plan to work with.Let me know
how it is progressing and if you have any other questions.

To your success

John







Only those who risk going to far can
possibly find out how far one can go

                                      T.S. Elliot